H. C. R. 16
(By Delegates Staton, Amores, Givens, Fleischauer,
Buchanan, Trump and Smirl)
(Originating in the House Committee on the Judiciary)
[March 13, 1997]
Encouraging the interagency workgroup, established to study issues
affecting juvenile placement, to continue to meet regularly
and make recommendations to the Legislature.
Whereas, Facilities, services and programs need to be more
fully developed in West Virginia to accommodate the needs of our
children, who are often placed in residential care based on where
beds are vacant rather than where the services and programs meet
the needs of the child;
Whereas, the Legislature finds that unless a coordinated effort
is made to continue the valuable input from an interagency
workgroup formed to study juvenile issues and make recommendations
to the legislative task force on juvenile foster care, detention
and placement (hereinafter the juvenile task force), placements
which are not appropriate to meet the needs of our children are
likely to continue;
Whereas, Comprehensive strategies have been developed by the juvenile task force, with the assistance of the interagency
workgroup, on the issues of placement, detention, services and
programming, certificate of need, facilities, interlocutory
appeals, the use of technology in education, community-based
services and needs assessments;
Whereas, Keeping children in West Virginia, as well as bringing
children home from out-of-state placements, and developing low-end
programs in the community to replace more expensive residential
services, remain priorities of both the juvenile task force and the
interagency workgroup;
Whereas, Youths' interests will be well served by the continued
input of the interagency workgroup, comprised of representatives of
the department of military affairs and public safety, the
department of health and human resources, the West Virginia supreme
court of appeals administrative office, the department of
education, juvenile probation officers and others; therefore, be it
Resolved by the Legislature of West Virginia:
Oversight and continued input by the interagency workgroup
into the implementation of the comprehensive strategy is invited
and encouraged; and, be it
Further Resolved, That understandings and recommendations
adopted by the interagency workgroup are encouraged to be submitted
by presentation and in writing to the Legislature, which
understandings and recommendations will be duly considered.