West Virginia Launched Kinship Resource Tool

Foster and kinship families across West Virginia can now access private screenings to identify support needs online.

Updated on Sept. 29, 2026 in Special Needs

Screen-print poster illustration of a wooden house-shaped silhouette formed by intertwined ribbons, representing family support services in West Virginia.
The West Virginia Department of Human Services has introduced the Kinship Hub, an online platform allowing foster and kinship families to perform private, anonymous needs assessments. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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The West Virginia Department of Human Services has introduced the Kinship Hub, a digital platform offering anonymous screenings for caregivers and families. The new tool allows residents to assess specific needs related to caregiver and child well-being from any mobile or desktop device.

Why it matters

Navigating support for foster and kinship families can be complex, and this tool aims to streamline how households identify and secure necessary resources. By offering a private entry point, the department seeks to help families proactively manage their specific well-being requirements.

The Kinship Hub features 3 distinct screening categories covering caregiver, child, and family needs. Each evaluation is designed to be completed in 2 to 8 minutes.

The players

West Virginia Department of Human Services

The state agency responsible for overseeing child and family welfare programs and support services.

The details

Users access the platform through an online portal compatible with mobile devices, tablets, and computers. Once logged in, families select from expert-designed screenings that evaluate their unique circumstances. These private assessments help identify specific resource gaps and potential support systems.

Timeline

  1. September 29, 2026: The West Virginia Department of Human Services launched the Kinship Hub.

Health Landscape

This launch reflects a broader trend of integrating digital self-service tools into state social welfare infrastructure to improve resource accessibility. It sits alongside existing, more traditional pathways for family support managed by the West Virginia Department of Human Services.

If you are a kinship or foster caregiver, these screenings offer a way to identify potential support gaps without initial institutional interaction. It is worth discussing your screening results with a licensed social worker or your family's care coordinator to understand how to access identified resources.

The takeaway

The Kinship Hub provides a private way to assess the well-being of caregivers and children in foster or kinship settings. Consider using the screenings to organize your family's needs before discussing your findings with a qualified case manager or healthcare professional.

Further reading

For additional context on resources for families with unique requirements, visit Special Needs.

Source note: This article includes information reported by WOWK 13 Huntington.

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Do you believe state agencies should prioritize online tools to help local foster and kinship families?