• PRINT EDITIONS
  • | CONTACT
  • | TEL: 304.645.1206 | E: hello@wvdn.com
Sunday, March 26, 2023
  • Login
  • Register
SUBSCRIBE
West Virginia Daily News
  • Home
  • News
    • All
    • Business and Tech
    • Crime
    • Local News
    • National News
    • State News

    Gov. Justice awards $9.7 million in trails program grants across West Virginia, including over $1.6 million for Greenbrier County projects

    Lewisburg City Council to meet in special session June 2

    Lewisburg City Council announces that river trail will be fully open this summer

    WVSOM students achieve 100% residency placement

    WVSOM students achieve 100% residency placement

    City of White Sulphur Springs offering free spring pickup

    City of White Sulphur Springs offering free spring pickup

    A backhoe operator works his machine atop a pile of debris, as he pulls down the walls of the old Seneca Health building in downtown Lewisburg. Photo by Sarah Mansheim

    Crews demolish old Seneca Health building, municipal parking lot to be built

    A vehicle crashed into City National Bank in Rupert on Saturday, March 18.

    Vehicle crashes into City National Bank in Rupert

    Trending Tags

    • Lewisburg
    • Alderson
    • White Sulphur Springs
    • Rainelle
    • Ronceverte
    • Greenbrier County
    • Monroe County
    • Rupert
    • Beckley
    • Smoot
    • Local News
    • State News
    • National News
    • Crime
  • Community
  • Obituaries
  • Sports
    • All
    • College Sports
    • High School Sports
    • Local Sports
    Annie Whited in mid run during her overall high scoring day in Pikeview (Photo by Meredith Whited)

    Gbr East Girls Track Team Places 2nd Overall in Pikeview Meet

    Josi Ervin, pictured here in a game earlier this week, struck out 13 Woodrow hitters in East's 2-1 win. (Photo by Photography by Maddi Richmond)

    Josi Ervin shines as East beats Smallwood, Beckley

    Marcus Constantino / Courtesy Mister Bee Potato ChipsThe James Monroe Mavericks celebrate with the state championship trophy after the West Virginia boys single-A championship game at the Charleston Coliseum and Convention Center, Saturday, March 18, 2023, in Charleston.

    James Monroe: 2023 Class A WV state champions

    Smoot Field after Renovations

    Locals rebuilding fields for Western Greenbrier Little League

    Greenbrier East's 8 seniors on senior night (Photo by Fly304 Productions)

    Greenbrier East boys’ basketball 2023 recap

    Ian Cline (21) (Photo by Greenbrier East football social media)

    Spartans’ Ian Cline named top 5 RB in state

    Trending Tags

    • Greenbrier East
    • Greenbrier West
    • Marshall Sports
    • WVU Sports
    • Local Sports
    • High School Sports
    • College Sports
  • Government
    • All
    • City
    • County
    • State

    Greenbrier County Commission to meet March 28

    WSS City Council hears pedestrian bridge concerns; police chief warns about vehicle break-ins

    White Sulphur Springs City Council to meet March 13

    Greenbrier County Commission to meet Monday, March 13

    A Greenbrier County grand jury handed up the following indictments in Greenbrier County Circuit Court on June 9.

    Greenbrier County Board of Zoning Appeals to meet March 7

    Ronceverte Woman’s Club to hold candidate forum

    Ronceverte City Council to meet March 6

    Lewisburg Parks Commission to meet March 7

    Trending Tags

    • Greenbrier County
    • Politics
    • Senate
    • Monroe County
    • White Sulphur Springs
    • Rainelle
    • Lewisburg
    • Alderson
    • City
    • County
    • State
  • Lifestyle
  • Election Center
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
    • All
    • Business and Tech
    • Crime
    • Local News
    • National News
    • State News

    Gov. Justice awards $9.7 million in trails program grants across West Virginia, including over $1.6 million for Greenbrier County projects

    Lewisburg City Council to meet in special session June 2

    Lewisburg City Council announces that river trail will be fully open this summer

    WVSOM students achieve 100% residency placement

    WVSOM students achieve 100% residency placement

    City of White Sulphur Springs offering free spring pickup

    City of White Sulphur Springs offering free spring pickup

    A backhoe operator works his machine atop a pile of debris, as he pulls down the walls of the old Seneca Health building in downtown Lewisburg. Photo by Sarah Mansheim

    Crews demolish old Seneca Health building, municipal parking lot to be built

    A vehicle crashed into City National Bank in Rupert on Saturday, March 18.

    Vehicle crashes into City National Bank in Rupert

    Trending Tags

    • Lewisburg
    • Alderson
    • White Sulphur Springs
    • Rainelle
    • Ronceverte
    • Greenbrier County
    • Monroe County
    • Rupert
    • Beckley
    • Smoot
    • Local News
    • State News
    • National News
    • Crime
  • Community
  • Obituaries
  • Sports
    • All
    • College Sports
    • High School Sports
    • Local Sports
    Annie Whited in mid run during her overall high scoring day in Pikeview (Photo by Meredith Whited)

    Gbr East Girls Track Team Places 2nd Overall in Pikeview Meet

    Josi Ervin, pictured here in a game earlier this week, struck out 13 Woodrow hitters in East's 2-1 win. (Photo by Photography by Maddi Richmond)

    Josi Ervin shines as East beats Smallwood, Beckley

    Marcus Constantino / Courtesy Mister Bee Potato ChipsThe James Monroe Mavericks celebrate with the state championship trophy after the West Virginia boys single-A championship game at the Charleston Coliseum and Convention Center, Saturday, March 18, 2023, in Charleston.

    James Monroe: 2023 Class A WV state champions

    Smoot Field after Renovations

    Locals rebuilding fields for Western Greenbrier Little League

    Greenbrier East's 8 seniors on senior night (Photo by Fly304 Productions)

    Greenbrier East boys’ basketball 2023 recap

    Ian Cline (21) (Photo by Greenbrier East football social media)

    Spartans’ Ian Cline named top 5 RB in state

    Trending Tags

    • Greenbrier East
    • Greenbrier West
    • Marshall Sports
    • WVU Sports
    • Local Sports
    • High School Sports
    • College Sports
  • Government
    • All
    • City
    • County
    • State

    Greenbrier County Commission to meet March 28

    WSS City Council hears pedestrian bridge concerns; police chief warns about vehicle break-ins

    White Sulphur Springs City Council to meet March 13

    Greenbrier County Commission to meet Monday, March 13

    A Greenbrier County grand jury handed up the following indictments in Greenbrier County Circuit Court on June 9.

    Greenbrier County Board of Zoning Appeals to meet March 7

    Ronceverte Woman’s Club to hold candidate forum

    Ronceverte City Council to meet March 6

    Lewisburg Parks Commission to meet March 7

    Trending Tags

    • Greenbrier County
    • Politics
    • Senate
    • Monroe County
    • White Sulphur Springs
    • Rainelle
    • Lewisburg
    • Alderson
    • City
    • County
    • State
  • Lifestyle
  • Election Center
No Result
View All Result
West Virginia Daily News
No Result
View All Result

Gov. Justice awards $9.7 million in trails program grants across West Virginia, including over $1.6 million for Greenbrier County projects

March 24, 2023
Annie Whited in mid run during her overall high scoring day in Pikeview (Photo by Meredith Whited)

Gbr East Girls Track Team Places 2nd Overall in Pikeview Meet

March 24, 2023
Charles Benton “Benny” Elmore

Obituary: Charles Benton “Benny” Elmore, 87

March 24, 2023
Shanté Ellis

Community conversations on diversity continue with Shanté Ellis 

March 24, 2023
Area students named to New River CTC president’s and dean’s list students

Fantastic Fridays writing workshop planned at New River CTC 

March 24, 2023

Tags

Alderson Art Business Carnegie Hall Charleston college Community Court Dear Abby Education EPA Family Featured Grant Greenbrier Greenbrier County Greenbrier East Greenbrier East High School Greenbrier East Sports health High School Home Jim Justice Justice Land Last Lewisburg Local Man NY Park Plan Project Ronceverte School Son State The Greenbrier University US VA Virginia West Virginia White Sulphur Springs WV
QR Code

Bill to dissolve WV’s ailing DHHR headed to the governor

BY LEAH WILLINGHAMbyBY LEAH WILLINGHAM
in State News
February 22, 2023
Reading Time: 3 mins read
0
Bill to dissolve WV’s ailing DHHR headed to the governor

FILE - West Virginia Gov. Jim Justice delivers his annual State of the State address in the House Chambers at the state capitol in Charleston, W.Va., on Jan. 11, 2023. The House of Delegates passed a bill Tuesday, Feb. 14, 2023, that would split the Department of Health and Human Resources into three new departments. Justice last year vetoed a bill passed by lawmakers that would have split the agency into two parts. (AP Photo/Chris Jackson, File)

5
SHARES
39
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) — A bill that would dissolve West Virginia’s Department of Health and Human Resources and separate it into three new departments is heading to the desk of Gov. Jim Justice, just under a year after he vetoed a different proposal to split up the ailing agency.

State senators voted in favor of the legislation overwhelmingly Wednesday with little discussion, just over a week after it was approved by House lawmakers.

The Republican governor addressed the bill during a briefing shortly after, but did not say whether he would sign it.

“When it makes its way to my desk, I will approach it in a positive way,” Justice said.

The bill to dissolve the Department of Health and Human Resources at the start of next year comes after the agency has faced repeated allegations of abuse and mistreatment of the state’s most vulnerable residents in its care. The department is the largest in the state and runs West Virginia’s foster care system, state-run psychiatric facilities and a slew of other offices and programs.

The Senate passed its own proposal to break the department into three during the first day of the 60-day legislative session January. House lawmakers decided to advance their own bill instead of taking up the Senate’s.

When the bill passed the House, Republican Health Chair Amy Summers repeated some examples of abuse and mismanagement allegations facing the department. One story was about a mother in Greenbrier County dealing with mental health issues who had received state services, having been involved with the foster care system for most of her life. Child Protective Services received a report about abuse and neglect in Oreanna Myers’ home, but it was never investigated. She killed herself, her three children and two step children in late 2020.

“The list goes on and on,” Summers said then.

Last year, Justice vetoed a proposal passed by lawmakers that would have split the agency in two parts, saying he first wanted a review of its “issues, bottlenecks, and inefficiencies.”

In November, a consulting firm hired by Justice to review West Virginia’s health agency concluded the department should not be split as lawmakers wanted.

The McChrystal Group of Alexandria, Virginia, was hired to review the Department of Health and Human Resources. The report said the current configuration “is not an option” but that splitting the agency would “divert time, funding, and leadership’s focus away from serving West Virginians.”

Under the bill headed to the governor, the agency would be separated into three separate departments: Health, Health Facilities and Human Services. The current department has been one agency since 1989.

Lawmakers have said the current setup of the department is too large to manage in a crisis and that separating the department into three will also increase transparency in the budget process. The DHHR’s $7.6 billion budget currently accounts for around 40% of annual state spending.

Additionally, they have said the department’s current composition leads to “organizational conflicts of interest” between providers of foster care and psychiatric services and those tasked with regulating and investigating them.

The bill dictates that the three departments would still maintain an office of shared services containing more than 400 employees who would be responsible for compiling quarterly reports on the efficiency of the new agencies. The reports would be presented to the legislative oversight commission on health and human resources.

Changes would also be made to the office of a state advocate for foster kids and families to allow it to independently investigate the state and provide recommendations for changes to the Legislature. Previously, the office could not interact with the Legislature, according to lawmakers.

The state Senate also greenlit other bills Wednesday to help child protective services workers employed by DHHR. One bill would allow the state to implement a merit-based pay system for CPS workers and make decisions about where to send CPS workers based on county population and caseload.

The same bill would also require the state to create a back-up system for people to report allegations of abuse and neglect in case it’s 24/7 phone line goes down.

Another bill passed by the Senate would require that law enforcement serve child abuse and neglect petitions to families instead of CPS workers, who serve petitions in some counties now. Both proposals now head to the House for consideration.

BY LEAH WILLINGHAM

BY LEAH WILLINGHAM

Tags: AlexandriaAmy SummersChild protective servicesCrisisFoster careGovernorGreenbrierGreenbrier CountyhealthJim JusticeJusticeMcChrystal GroupSenateSenatorsStateTreatmentUSVAVirginiaWest VirginiaWV

Related

State News

Gov. Justice awards $9.7 million in trails program grants across West Virginia, including over $1.6 million for Greenbrier County projects

March 24, 2023
State News

Gov. Justice accepts resignation of WVSP Superintdant Jan Cahill, will hold press briefing today at 1 p.m.

March 20, 2023
The Laneville Bridge over Red Creek (USDA Forest Service photo)
State News

Interagency team wins Forest Service Award presented by chief Randy Moore

March 15, 2023
Bill banning marriages under age 16 passes in West Virginia
State News

Bill banning marriages under age 16 passes in West Virginia

March 13, 2023
Load More

Next Post

WVa employee raises switched by committee from 5% to $2,300

West Virginia Daily News

The West Virginia Daily News has been serving the Greenbrier Valley and southeastern West Virginia since 1852.

Learn more

Information

  • Login
  • Home
  • Subscribe to The WV Daily News
  • Privacy Policy
  • Ethics, Standards & Corrections
  • Submit News and Events
  • Terms & Conditions
  • Contact Us

Copyright © 2022 The West Virginia Daily News, powered by ECENT CORPORATION. All Rights Reserved.

No Result
View All Result
  • Login
  • Subscribe
  • _____________
  • Home
  • Editions
  • News
    • Local News
    • National News
    • State News
    • Crime
    • Business and Tech
  • Community
  • Obituaries
  • Sports
    • Local Sports
    • High School Sports
    • College Sports
  • Government
    • City
    • County
    • State
  • Lifestyle & Culture

Copyright © 2022 The West Virginia Daily News, powered by ECENT CORPORATION. All Rights Reserved.

Welcome Back!

Sign In with Facebook
Sign In with Google
OR

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password? Sign Up

Create New Account!

Sign Up with Facebook
Sign Up with Google
OR

Fill the forms bellow to register

All fields are required. Log In

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In
west virginia daily newstaxi how muchupdown

Subscribe For Full Access

Flipbooks are available to paid subscribers only. Subscribe now or log in for access.