Family & community support resources
WVU Center for Excellence in Disabilities
The WVU Center for Excellence in Disabilities is a helpful resource for families who are seeking services related to ASD and other disabilities. They provide social skills groups, parent support groups, group parent/teacher trainings, support for transition periods in a child’s life, and 1:1 individualized training. No diagnosis is required to receive these services. They can be contacted at (304) 293-4692.
WV Developmental Disabilities Council
WV Developmental Disabilities Council provides resources and access to trainings which support innovative practices that promote the independence, productivity, integration, and inclusion of people with developmental disabilities and their communities. Christy Black is their resource specialist. You can reach them at 304-558-0416.
Special Olympics
Special Olympics provides year-round sports programs for people with intellectual, developmental, and physical disabilities. Special Olympics programs are available for anyone age 8 and older. The Young Athletes program is designed for children ages 2-7. For more information about the West Virginia chapters email info@sowv.org.
Exceptional Possibilities WV
Exceptional Possibilities WV creating events and shares resources for individuals with exceptionalities and their families in the Charleston, WV area. For more information, email exceptionalpossibilitieswv@gmail.com.
Healthy Grandfamilies
Healthy Grandfamilies is a free initiative led by West Virginia State University to provide information and resources to grandparents who are raising one or more grandchildren. The program is funded by the United States Department of Agriculture's National Institute of Food and Agriculture. Healthy Grandfamilies provides information about parenting in the 21st century, changing family dynamics, technology and social media, nutrition, legal issues, healthcare, stress management, negotiating the public school system, locating community resources, advocacy, and other valuable topics and resources.
Children's Mobile Crisis Response Center
Children's Mobile Crisis Response Center (CMRC) will send a behavioral health crisis responder to the home or other location in the community 24/7 for children ages 0-21 years. Their goal is to respond within 1 hour or less following a crisis call. The CMRC serves the following WV counties: Barbour, Beckley (or within a 1-hour drive from Beckley, WV), Braxton, Doddridge, Gilmer, Harrison, Lewis, Marion, Monongalia, Preston, Raleigh, Randolph, Taylor, Tucker, and Upshur. For pre-enrollment through FMRS for Beckley or Raleigh counties, call (304) 256-7100 and ask for a member of the Children's Mobile Crisis Response team. For pre-enrollment through United Summit Center for Barbour, Braxton, Doddridge, Gilmer, Harrison, Lewis, Marion, Monongalia, Preston, Randolph, Taylor, Tucker, and Upshur counties, call (844) WV-KIDS-1 and ask for a member of Children's Mobile Crisis Response team.
Resilience for Appalachia
Resilience for Appalachia (RAPP) – Youth Overcoming Trauma Project is funded by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration and is a collaboration between FMRS Health Systems, Inc., Southern Highlands Community Mental Health Center, and Seneca Health Services, Inc. The primary goal of RAPP is to bring evidenced-based, trauma-informed treatment to the children of Southern West Virginia. Therapists across three comprehensive agencies are trained in evidenced-based treatment models to better serve our region, including Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT) and Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT). RAPP is working to change how all child-serving agencies approach children and families by facilitating trauma informed care training throughout the region. Call Leah Kidd, RAPP coordinator at (888) 811-1844 to find the therapist closest to you.
WV Autism Training Center
The West Virginia Autism Training Center is also a helpful resource for families in the state who need recommendations and referral sources. It also offers a “futures program” or Positive Behavior Support program that develops action plans to help ensure productive futures for children and adults on the autism spectrum. They can be reached at 1-800-344-5115. The West Virginia Autism Training Center website (www.marshall.edu/atc) also offers a variety of helpful resources, such as the 2019 Autism Awareness Toolkit that services as a Resource Guide for West Virginia Schools.
Best Buddies
Best Buddies creates opportunities for one-to-one friendships, integrated employment, leadership development, and inclusive living for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Best Buddies gives people with special abilities a chance to make friends, speak up, and be heard and advocate for themselves and others within their community. They also have an e-Buddies program designed to develop friendships through virtual events for anyone age 13 and older.
Project Life Saver
Project Life Saver is a national search and rescue system using radio transmitters and electronic tracking equipment. This transmitter bracelet is worn by individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder and other cognitive disabilities. Because the equipment is paid for through donations, the monthly maintenance cost to the client is $10.00 per month. For more information, please contact Monongalia Sheriff's Office, Deputy A.D. Bise at (304) 291-7260 or Russell Kirk (304) 291-7260 or check out their website www.monsheriff.com/lifesaver. Other counties have access to this program as well. To search for the closest agency in your county, please visit their website here and type in your zip code.
FMRS Health Systems
FMRS Health Systems, Inc. provides behavioral health services for Fayette, Monroe, Raleigh, and Summers counties. They provide a variety of services including Parent Peer Support specialists to help children and families navigate services and ensure they receive the most appropriate level of care. Parent Peer Support is typically used when a family has multiple needs due to caring for a child with severe behavioral or developmental problems. The Parent Peer Support specialist can assist the child and their family in navigating complex systems by providing advocacy and linkage/referral to community resources. The Parent Peer Support specialist facilitates parent support groups and meets one on one with families throughout the region. FMRS Health Systems, Inc. also provide Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT), Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT), Adolescent Substance Abuse Services, Children's Mobile Crisis Response, Children's Wraparound, School-Based Mental Health Services, Regional Youth Support, and Life Space Crisis Intervention. FMRS Health Systems, Inc. accept children and youth ages 3+ regardless of insurance or ability to pay.
WV Wraparound
WV Wraparound is a statewide home and community-based services program for children/youth ages 3 to 21, whom must be residents of the state and have a serious mental illness (SMI) and serious emotional disorder (SED). The services are voluntary. Anyone interested in the services must fill out a Child with Serious Emotional Disorder (CSED) Waiver application. The application process can be started by calling the WV Crisis and Referral line at 844-Help4WV (844-435-7498).
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