Lifetime Families, Life – Long Commitments

“Too many children in our country do not succeed because crises leave them without a family to whom they can turn for the kind of support that most children take for granted.”
(Annie E. Casey Foundation)

Adoptions are as old as civilization itself with one of the oldest recorded adoptions being that of baby Moses. Adoption is a good choice for teens and women experiencing an unplanned pregnancy. We are dedicated in our belief that all children deserve a permanent and secure family. We provide support, counseling and other services to all members of the adoption triad.

The triad members consist of the birth parents, the child and the adoptive parents. Our Adoption program assists in finding homes for children so they can experience healthy development in a permanent secure family. We have experienced staff that is sensitive to the needs of those involved in the Adoption process. It is our belief that a strong foundation is built upon professionalism, individual and personal attention and sensitivity to each individual’s needs.

Whether you are considering an adoption plan for your child or you are seeking to be adoptive parents we are here to help you make an informed decision.

To learn more about adoption, we invite you to review the information provided within this web site and contact one of our Adoption Social Workers at 304-345-3894. Our goal is to provide information to all individuals interested in adoption.

Click here for more information concerning Adoption.

Become A Foster Parent

You can change tomorrow by helping a child today!

Foster Care Inquiry Form

	Fostering is an important long-standing component of the child welfare system in the United States
	In West Virginia, we have approximately 6,300 children in out-of-home care every day. Many of these children live in family foster care homes. Foster care is a planned, goal-directed service for children who cannot live with their birth families for some period of time. Foster care is designed primarily as a temporary service that responds to crises in the lives of children and families. Some children, however, remain in foster care for extended periods of time. With the current drug epidemic the need for foster families in West Virginia has reached crisis levels. Over the last few years, we have realized a drastic reduction in the number of available foster parents. A big part of this shift is due to foster parents adopting their foster children. We think this is a great outcome, however this trend reduces the number of available foster homes while the number of children coming into care stays the same.
	Make a difference to a child
	Becoming a foster parent says a lot about who you are and the values you hold. It says, “I care about the future, and I’m doing my part to help secure a young person’s future.” Being a foster parent is often one of the most fulfilling things you can do. People talk about giving back to the community or to a worthy cause – this is the time. Think of fostering as giving to the future, a child’s future.
	Our Foster Parents Provide
	Foster children with basic needs such as food, shelter and clothing in a safe environment. Foster parents also provide love, guidance, emotional support and discipline. Foster parents will enroll the child in school and provide opportunities for recreational activities. Foster parents encourage and support the religious beliefs, heritage, and language of the child and his or her family. Foster parents respect the foster child and their family.
	To Be Foster Parents You Will:
	Be at least 21 years old and have a steady source of income. Be in good physical and emotional health. Meet State licensing requirements for housing, safety and space. Have a high school diploma or GED.
	Steps to Become A Foster Parent
	Call one of the Society’s offices listed at the bottom of this page. You will complete an application form. A background check will be conducted. The homefinder will conduct a home assessment to determine if the home meets safety, space and health standards. You will receive extensive training from the Society. A home study will be completed.
	After You Are Approved
	The Society’s foster care social worker will contact you with a potential placement when a child becomes available. The Society’s foster care social worker will provide you with as much information as available regarding the child. You will be able to meet your potential foster child prior to placement. You will have the opportunity to ask the Society’s foster care social worker questions.
	To Make A Difference
	Please call us at one of our Foster Care locations listed below to be involved or to receive more information on how to become a foster parent: Region I Morgantown E-mail : Brandi Davis, Director 304-284-0992 Region I Parkersburg E-mail:  Jodi Null, Supervisor 304-485-0650 Region I Wheeling E-Mail: Stephanie Strope, Supervisor Region II Charleston E-mail: Charlotte Barnett, Supervisor 304-345-3894 Region II Chapmanville/Logan E-Mail: Michelle Ford, Supervisor, 304-310-2514 Region II Huntington E-Mail: Diana Lucas, Supervisor, Region III Martinsburg E-mail: Amanda Shank, Supervisor 304-264-0225 Region III Romney E-mail : Sally Johnson, Director 304-822-4652 Region IV Lewisburg E-mail: Mary Carr, Director 304-647-3430 Region IV Summersville E-Mail: Natasha Tucker, Supervisor, 304-205-9375 Region IV Princeton E-mail : Ruth Bailey,   304-431-2424 Region IV Northfork E-Mail: Kegan Nealen, 304-862-4951

 

How You Can Help

The Children’s Home Society has 12 service locations that provide statewide services. There are many ways you can volunteer in your community by:

• Participating on an Advisory Council
• Volunteering at one of our 10 Emergency Child Shelters/Helping with a Special Project
• Tutoring
• Fund Raising Activities/Event Planning
• Little Red Stocking Campaign Volunteer
• Assist with the recruitment of foster and adoptive families
• Help with program sustainability through monetary and in-kind contributions
• Be a voice for the Children’s Home Society – tell others!

WE CAN

WE CAN is a community-based program that works to help vulnerable children and their families. Volunteer mentors assist professionally trained staff in providing needed services to children and families.

Intervention programs such as WE CAN help promote positive outcomes while focusing on the strengths and interest of the child.









The Impact OF Mentoring

Children who have an adult mentor are:

46% less likely to begin using illegal drugs
27% less likely to start drinking
52% less likely to skip school

Source: www.mentoring.org

Becoming A Mentor Is Easy

Be at least 18 years old
Have a valid driver’s license and auto insurance
Submit an application
Provide 3 references
Complete WV State police and CPS background checks
Attend training sessions
Agree to spend 2-6 hours weekly for a 6 month period

Join us by calling today. You Can Make A Difference:

Morgantown – Andrea Morris (304) 342-8477
Logan – Ellen Browning (304) 792-6261
Lewisburg – Lesley Tolliver (304) 647-3430
Martinsburg – Celestine Boyd (304) 260-0400
Parkersburg – Heather Reinike (304) 485-0650
Princeton – Laura Suroski (304)425-8738

Donations

	Donation Types
	Contributions. Contributions of any amount are appreciated and all gifts are tax deductible. You can be assured 100% of your gift will go to programs and services. Donor wishes are always honored. You may designate a specific program or site to receive your gift. Memorial/Honor Gifts. A contribution given “in memory of” or “in honor of” a friend or relative can be a very gratifying tribute while providing assistance to children in crisis. Memorial gifts are acknowledged immediately to the family of the deceased per your instructions, giving the name of the donor only. Honor gifts are acknowledged to the person you designate, giving the name of the donor only.
	Janet Smith Vineyard Forever Families Center for Permanency More Information Here
	Donate Online
	Gifts to the Society may be made via credit card on-line through Network for Good. This site accepts Visa, Master Card, American Express and Discover and will forward your gift to the Society. Go directly to the CHS page at
	Donate By Phone
	Call Children’s Home Society at 1-304-346-0795 and ask for Director, Development & Philanthropy.
	Use our optional Form
	Donate by Mail
	Please make checks payable to Children’s Home Society of West Virginia and mail to: Attention Director, Development & Philanthropy PO Box 2942 Charleston,WV 25330
	Use our optional Form
	Donate By Fax
	Please fax your personal information and credit card information (Visa or Master Card only please) to 1-304-346-1062
	Use our optional Form
	Donate Through EBay
	MissionFish helps you support your favorite causes (Children’s Home Society of West Virginia) through trading on eBay! Since 2000, MissionFish and eBay have been helping nonprofits raise hundreds of thousands of dollars, using a unique online auction process that turns in-kind donations into cash. MissionFish is a nonprofit service of the Points of Light Foundation. You as a donor can auction that old rocking chair in the garage and give all or part of your proceeds to the Society. In fact, you can sell almost anything online and have the proceeds go to help the Society. Simply click on the link below to go to the Society’s page on MissionFish! Don’t throw it away! Click the logo below to Auction it online!
	Apply donation toward (eg. General Fund, Specific Event): PayPal

Neighborhood Investment Program

The Neighborhood Investment Program (NIP) is a program overseen by the West Virginia Development Office. Each year approved non-profit organizations are allotted state tax credits that can be given to donors who contribute $500 or more for a specific cause. Our projects include; improvements to our 10 emergency child shelter facilities, expansion of our adoption and foster care programs statewide, increasing our early intervention services and programs and to expand our WE CAN mentoring program statewide.

Saving money is easy: when a business or individual contributes $500 or more to the Children’s Home Society of West Virginia for the purpose of funding our current projects they become eligible to receive up to 50% of the amount contributed in the form of state tax credits. These credits are in addition to any federal tax deductions.

For example, a $10,000 contribution to the Society would result in $5,000 in State tax savings and a possible Federal tax savings of roughly $2,800 and the cost to you could be as little as $2200.

The NIP program is simple. Send us a contribution of at least $500 and we will send you a tax credit voucher for 50% of your contribution. Attach the voucher to the appropriate tax form and deduct the credit from the amount of taxes owed.

The NIP program provides the donor an excellent way to stretch the value of their charitable contributions while helping to care for children and families all across the state.

Please consider a donation of $500 or more today and see how beneficial the NIP program is while helping to make a difference in the lives of children.

Please contact Mary White at 304-345-3894 or your accountant for more information or simply send a contribution to the Society at PO Box 2942, Charleston, WV 25330 and mark your check or the envelope as a “NIP Contribution.”

YOU CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE