Addressing the placement of foster children and creating a central reception center and emergency resource homes.

HB 4796 establishes a Central Reception Center to provide short-term care (max 72 hours) for foster children disrupted from placements, including behavioral assessments and case coordination. It also creates "Emergency Resource Homes" to offer immediate overnight foster care, requiring specialized training for caregivers, financial incentives, and prioritization for adolescents, justice-involved youth, and children with special needs. The West Virginia Department of Human Services must contract with at least two 24/7 Central Reception Centers and expand Emergency Resource Homes statewide, with annual reports tracking child placements, success rates, and recruitment progress. This bill directly affects foster children awaiting placements and the state’s child welfare system, replacing practices like hotel placements by formalizing emergency care pathways.