Developing and implementing statewide prevention plan

Senate Bill 521 requires West Virginia's Department of Human Services (DoHS) to develop and implement a statewide prevention plan by January 1, 2027. The plan must provide trauma-informed, evidence-based services to children under 18 and their families - including those in foster care, with open child welfare cases, aging out of foster care (up to age 21), post-adoption, or transitioning between care levels. DoHS must ensure services are accessible through a mix of physical locations and telehealth, track outcomes, and report annually starting December 2027 on family counts, costs, and regional outcomes (using de-identified data). The bill also directs DoHS to seek federal funding under the Family First Prevention Services Act to maximize state resources for these programs.