West Virginia Launched Online Kinship Care Resource
The Department of Human Services introduced a digital tool for foster and kinship families.
Updated on Sept. 29, 2026 in Special Needs
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The West Virginia Department of Human Services has launched the Kinship Hub, an online resource designed to assist foster and kinship families. The digital platform provides private, anonymous screenings to help users identify necessary support and resources.
Why it matters
This initiative aims to streamline how kinship and foster caregivers identify their specific needs, ensuring they can access appropriate resources more efficiently. By providing expert-designed assessments, the tool helps maintain the well-being of both children and their families.
The Kinship Hub features 3 distinct screening categories covering caregiver, child, and family needs. Each screening is estimated to take between 2 to 8 minutes to complete.
The players
West Virginia Department of Human Services
This is the state agency responsible for overseeing social services, including foster care and family assistance programs in West Virginia.
The details
Users can access the Kinship Hub through any mobile device, tablet, or computer to navigate expert-designed assessments. These private, anonymous screenings evaluate the unique resource requirements of each family unit.
Timeline
The West Virginia Department of Human Services launched the Kinship Hub on September 29, 2026.
Culture Shift
The launch of the Kinship Hub reflects a broader shift toward digitizing state-run social services to increase accessibility for families. This movement mirrors a move away from legacy, paper-based administrative processes toward immediate, user-led assessment technology.
Families in West Virginia can now use the online tool to receive personalized resource recommendations in under 10 minutes from home. The anonymous nature of the site allows caregivers to seek support without the immediate pressure of a formal government interview.
The takeaway
Caregivers can utilize these new digital screenings to proactively identify gaps in their current support systems. Implementing these assessments early can help families better navigate the complexities of foster care and kinship arrangements.
Further reading
For more information on family support services, visit the Special Needs section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by WOWK 13 Huntington.
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