WV DoHS launches new tool to help staff with abuse, neglect cases

CHARLESTON, WV (WOWK) – The West Virginia Department of Human Services is getting ready to launch a new tool to help improve their centralized intake system for abuse and neglect.

The DoHS says they’ve partnered with the non-profit Evident Change – formerly known as the National Council on Crime & Delinquency and the Children’s Research Center – to create and implement a new Structured Design Making® intake tool. The project launches, today, July 17 with a kick-off to give staff an overview of the new tool. They’ll continue the kick-off on Thursday with additional staff training.

According to the DoHS, the project kick-off event is the first stage of planning for the Structured Design Making® development process to implement the program statewide by January 2026.

“We are excited to collaborate with Evident Change as this initiative represents a significant advancement in our efforts to ensure the safety and well-being of children and adults across West Virginia,” said Jeff Pack, DoHS Bureau for Social Services Commissioner. “By using the Structured Decision Making® tool, we can make more informed decisions that will positively impact the lives of families in our communities.”

According to the DoHS, the goal of the new system is to promote the safety and well-being of both children and adults. The tool uses a series of evidence-based assessments during “key points” of child and adult protection casework in order to help staff make the most consistent, accurate and fair decisions as they work with families.

The DoHS says the Structured Design Making® intake tool will also help them to better understand their data, direct resources to families with the greatest needs and help manage limited resources.

“The introduction of the Structured Decision Making® tool is not just a milestone for child and adult protective services; it is also a pivotal first step toward establishing a differentiated response system within the Centralized Intake for Abuse and Neglect,” said Cynthia Persily, Ph.D., DoHS Secretary. “This system will enable the Department to better serve families in West Virginia, particularly in cases that do not meet the standards for abuse and neglect investigation but still require our attention and support. This Department’s goal is to provide a more tailored and effective response to the unique needs of each family in West Virginia, ultimately strengthening the community as a whole.”

Persily first announced publicly that the DoHS had been working on a way to better filter referral calls during the controversy following the death of Kyneddi Miller, a Boone County 14-year-old found dead and in an emaciated state in April. Her mother and grandparents are facing charges in her death.

At that time, Persily also announced they would be tightening the protocol for intake calls.

The decision to tighten those protocols came because a WVSP trooper who had gone to the office in March 2023 to see if there was a way to get Kyneddi in touch with someone who could help her with her fear of COVID-19 . However, because there was no formal report or any concern of abuse or neglect at that time, there was no follow-up on Kyneddi. In early June, Persily said any informal report will now trigger an automatic call to the abuse and neglect hotline.

Anyone who suspects abuse or neglect of a child or adult is urged to call the Centralized Intake for Abuse and Neglect hotline at 1-800-352-6513 .

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