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30 Days of Hope 2022: Raising awareness for adoption, fostering in Virginia

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30 Days of Hope 2022: Raising awareness for adoption, fostering in Virginia


ROANOKE, Va.In Virginia, youngsters are in disaster and put into foster care resulting from no fault of their very own. However they’ve an advocate. 10 Information Anchor Jenna Zibton works tirelessly all 12 months lengthy investigating the challenges the foster care system faces and revealing the options so all of us may help. You’ve seen the tales throughout the WSLS 10 Youngsters in Disaster collection and 30 Days of Hope, the place we profile one little one who wants a house every single day throughout the month of November.


“This couch is the place we’ve had youngsters really sleep whereas we’re furiously looking for the suitable residence for them,” stated Andy Crawford, the Bedford County Director of Social Providers as he walked us into the room inside their workplaces.

A disaster Virginia has by no means seen earlier than.

“It’s actually nerve-racking for everybody,” stated Crawford.

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Different states have the identical drawback, however by no means right here.

“Should you’re a baby, and also you’re having to sleep on the Division of Social Providers, then you already know that we don’t have anyplace else so that you can go,” defined Crawford.

Our 10 Information investigation, Youngsters in Disaster, adopted the issue for months this 12 months.

“We’re sending Virginian youngsters everywhere in the United States as a result of Virginia services and providers are insufficient to fulfill their wants,” stated Natalie Elliot Useful, the CEO of Intercept Well being, one of many largest non-public suppliers.

On the time of our report in Could, it was solely working at 60 % capability due to staffing points, one thing we’re seeing throughout the foster care system. In keeping with a survey she put out to folks serving youngsters in Virginia, staffing, pay or the kid’s stage of want was among the many high points.

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“A few of the options that Virginia must take a tough take a look at is round how a lot we compensate of us for this work,” stated Allison Gilbreath, who works with Voices for Virginia’s Youngsters shining a light-weight on foster care points. “It’s generally identified and customary observe that different states are keen to pay way more for a placement than an in-state little one. So an instance could be a baby with the very same case file from Tennessee known as a personal facility in Virginia says they are going to pay $1,200 a day for that little one, that facility takes them. A neighborhood Division of Social Providers in Virginia known as with an nearly an identical little one however says we’re solely going to have the ability to afford $600 a day. They don’t take that little one, they take the $1,200 little one from Tennessee.”

Again in April, we discovered 123 youngsters had been positioned out of state in line with the Virginia Division of Social Providers.

“It doesn’t make any sense. It actually simply harms youngsters in the long term. And it makes it tougher for his or her households to take care of relationships with them and to have the ability to finally reunify,” stated Gilbreath.

After our tales and conversations with native social staff, Hopetree Household Providers in Salem renovated a cottage for non permanent emergency housing for kids in foster care.

“What we needed to supply an area that will be very snug, that will be very inviting and would have all of the comforts of residence that they might come and stick with the youngsters till they will discover that applicable placement,” stated HopeTree President & CEO, Jon Morris.

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HopeTree teamed up with Roanoke Metropolis and County DSS together with different organizations to boost over $50,000 to make this mission doable.

“It doesn’t clear up the issue however it’s a step in the suitable course in offering a extra regular setting for the kid,” stated the Director of Roanoke County’s Division of Social Providers, Sue Goad.

One other drawback 10 Information uncovered this 12 months is the security of kids in danger. We discovered that 1000’s of kids are being diverted from foster care, and despatched to dwell with household or buddies with out the correct background checks.

“Everyone knows that the system is flawed,” stated Eric Reynolds, the Director of the Workplace of the Youngsters’s Ombudsman.

However it might be extra flawed than we notice. Reynolds informed us in Could there have been about 4,900 youngsters in foster care, however he believes out-of-home care by social providers is double that.

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“Companies try to keep away from placing youngsters by the system, however they’re making the willpower that the kid isn’t protected to be at residence. You bought plenty of issues with that from a authorized perspective,” stated Reynolds.

10 Information requested if businesses had been attempting to maintain youngsters off the books, or if they’re attempting to maintain their caseloads down.

“It could possibly be all of the above. I don’t know what the reasoning is. Virginia is likely one of the states that has the bottom foster care price and the bottom variety of youngsters in foster care, however I might argue that we’re not counting all these youngsters which are in these various caregiving preparations,” stated Reynolds.

Since judges aren’t concerned, youngsters might be in these preparations for years and fogeys can lose custody completely as a result of there’s no plan for them to get their youngsters again. Reynolds stated Virginia has been attempting to do one thing about this for years, however new insurance policies or legal guidelines haven’t been capable of stick.

After our story aired, Reynolds stated new discussions began between his workplace and different leaders round Virginia to resolve the problems we uncovered. He stated they’ve had some productive discussions which are nonetheless ongoing.

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Foster care diversion is likely one of the important traits and recurring points recognized in his annual report that simply got here out on the finish of November. That made up 25 % of the investigations his workplace did over the past 12 months.

All of that is much more of a cause for WSLS 10 to boost consciousness and assist in the trouble to search out properties for the a whole bunch of kids in Virginia. It’s one thing we’ve executed for the final six years by our signature mission, 30 Days of Hope.

“The Roanoke Valley is absolutely lucky to have 30 Days of Hope. No different area has such an impactful program that highlights adoptable youngsters yearly,” stated Benjamin Jones, Roanoke County Division of Social Providers Supervisor of Foster Care, Adoptions & Sources.

We labored with the Virginia Division of Social Providers to characteristic 35 youngsters in November. The necessity is so nice, we’re persevering with to share the tales of kids who might be adopted in December.

“The notoriety that 30 Days of Hope provides for the youngsters, the viewing space that it reaches, the numbers, I used to be astonished at how shortly the inquiry began coming in and the way main the change was,” stated Vernee Mason, the VDSS Adoption program supervisor, who stated greater than 600 persons are fascinated with foster care and adoption.

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Mason talked about a few of the messages VDSS is getting, because of 30 Days of Hope. “I didn’t notice there have been so many youngsters on the market, it is a nice initiative occurring. This can be a great point that you simply’re doing and we’re getting if they will’t foster or they’re not in a spot to foster, how can we assist which is at all times a fantastic factor, how can we assist? And I’m at all times greater than keen to level them in a course.”

She stated there have been 250 adoptions on this area two years in the past and final 12 months that quantity grew to 266.

“It’s rising an increasing number of as a result of persons are seeing the necessity for it. Persons are viewing 30 Days of Hope,” stated Mason.

There have been unbelievable success tales to return out of the WSLS initiative. Chelsey and Eric Holland adopted two youngsters after seeing 30 Days of Hope.

“It was like an instantaneous connection. From then on I used to be 100% in,” stated Eric.

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One other household additionally adopted. Ryan Downey with DePaul Group Sources stated, “They noticed 30 Days of Hope. They had been simply touched by the necessity of the youngsters within the foster care system and so they stated, ‘I can do that, I may help.’”

Downey stated the household went by the approval course of, and two sisters moved in. When it grew to become evident they couldn’t dwell collectively completely – the brother of the foster mother took one of many youngsters in so they might nonetheless develop up aspect by aspect.

Different households are fostering youngsters they by no means would have considered.

“You impressed us to foster an older little one and now we will’t think about our little household with out him,” stated one of many many messages Jenna’s gotten through the years.

“Love watching your entire foster care tales. It was this collection final 12 months that pushed us to lastly go for it and to decide on older youngsters,” stated one other message.

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Households who’re fostering youngsters due to the necessity they’ve seen, giving Christmas presents to youngsters we’ve featured, or signing as much as assist foster households by applications like CarePortal.

“There’s at all times a surge of inquiries about foster and adoption following the annual 30 Days of Hope rollout. It’s actually wonderful and once more, different areas don’t have the identical spotlight and push and advocacy that we do and we’re actually fortunate,” stated Jones.


You probably have questions on foster care/adoption, contact the VDSS Division of Household Providers Adoption Recruitment Coordinator, at adoptioninquiries@dss.virginia.gov.

To see different 30 Days of Hope tales go to us right here.

We even have a listing of ceaselessly requested questions on foster care and adoption together with the {qualifications}, price, and coaching required on this hyperlink.

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Copyright 2022 by WSLS 10 – All rights reserved.



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No. 17 West Virginia Upset in Happy Valley

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No. 17 West Virginia Upset in Happy Valley


University Park, PA – No. 17 West Virginia had its lowest run output of the season, and the Mountaineers (34-5) had their 14-game winning streak come to an end after dropping a 3-2 decision to the Penn State Nittany Lions (25-14) Tuesday night.

Penn State redshirt sophomore Jack Porter gave the Nittany Lions the lead in the bottom of the first with a two-out solo home run for the 1-0 lead.

The Nittany Lions added a pair of runs in the fifth after an error at short on a ground ball from junior Paxton Kling, followed redshirt sophomore Jack Porter squeezing a single through the left side, and a passed ball put runners at second and third, redshirt sophomore Bryce Molinaro line a two-RBI single to right field for a 3-0 lead.

West Virginia got on the board in the seventh after senior Brodie Kresser worked a one out walk, then sophomore Spencer Barnett drove the 2-2 pitch well over the right field wall to pull the Mountaineers within a run, 3-2.

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In the ninth, West Virginia senior Grant Hussey received a four-pitch walk. Armani Guzman came into the game for Hussey as a pinch-runner and Kresser advanced the sophomore on a sacrifice bunt, but the Mountaineers could not bring him home as WVU falls 3-2.

The Mountaineers return to the field for the first of a three-game series Friday night at UCF. The first pitch is set for 6:00 p.m. EST. Game two is slated for Saturday at 6:00 p.m. EST and the series finale is scheduled for Sunday at 1:00 p.m. EST. All the action will stream on ESPN+.

MORE STORIES FROM WEST VIRGINIA ON SI

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Ross Hodge Adds Jase Herl to the Coaching Staff

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West Virginia Leaps into the Top 10 in a Pair of National Polls

Logan Sauve Earns a Spot on the Buster Posey Award Watch List



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Hodge is ready, equipped to recruit nationally at West Virginia

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Hodge is ready, equipped to recruit nationally at West Virginia


The landscape of college basketball recruiting has changed with the rise of the transfer portal.

That’s evident by the roster additions for West Virginia so far this off-season, with seven of the eight additions already coming from the database since Ross Hodge took over the program.

That option opens the door for quick revamps and gives college coaches a chance to hit the ground running when they take over new basketball programs. It’s the nature of college sports now with massive roster turnover annually and coaches being forced to replace those pieces with experienced options.

However, there’s still a place for high school and junior college recruiting.

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And the first-year Mountaineers head coach believes he is equipped to handle the responsibilities of recruiting a national stage in his role at the high-major level. That’s because he’s already done it during his time at the junior college level, as an assistant and of course leading the North Texas program.

“I really feel comfortable recruiting nationally,” he said.

While leading the Mean Green, Hodge recruited players from all different pockets including the East Coast, Florida and even internationally to fill out his rosters. And like many other facets in recruiting, it ultimately boils down the connections made throughout the process.

“It’s about relationships. And we’ll work really hard to improve the relationships that we don’t have and meet new ones,” Hodge said.

During his time atop Paris J.C. and Midland, Hodge would go on an East Coast road trip in order to recruit players from large areas such as Washington, D.C., Baltimore, Philadelphia, New Jersey and New York. So, while there are certainly strong Texas roots with Hodge, it isn’t the only area he has effectively recruited.

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And with his role at West Virginia, one of the key pieces of the puzzle outside of the tradition that Hodge evaluated when taking the job is the resources that he will have at his disposal. The Mountaineers have the funding to take care of players and reward their success as well as top-notch facilities to attract others.

“Our practice facility situation and locker room situation is as good as anybody’s in the country,” Hodge said. “I was blown away.”

So, with the experience and infrastructure checked off the box as well as the commitment to putting a high-level basketball product on the floor with the upcoming revenue sharing aspect Hodge is prepared for the challenges of recruiting to Morgantown.

“You have to be able to do those things to be competitive,” he said.



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Virginia's top nursing home advocate sees 'troubling trend' in industry: 'We need to do better'

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Virginia's top nursing home advocate sees 'troubling trend' in industry: 'We need to do better'


RICHMOND, Va. — Virginia’s top advocate for people living in nursing homes and assisted living is speaking out after several CBS 6 investigations alleging abuse, neglect, and a lack of basic care in some skilled nursing facilities in the area.

“It’s a conversation long overdue, and it’s a problem too long kept under wraps,” said Joani Latimer, Virginia’s Long Term Care Ombudsman at the Department of Aging and Rehabilitation (DARS). “We need to do better, we have some serious issues.”

Latimer oversees 33 long-term care ombudsmen located all over the state.

Half of them work part-time.

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Residents and their families can reach out to the ombudsmen for help overcoming problems and concerns.

The ombudsmen visit the facilities and try to talk through solutions, but they do not have any enforcement powers, as in, they cannot force a facility to make a change.

Latimer estimated that the ombudsmen respond to about 1,000 facilities overall.

“It’s a really tall task,” Latimer said. “In an ideal world we could be at everyone’s bedside offering assistance as needed. Our ability to do that is limited.”

Latimer said the largest portion of the complaints the ombudsmen receive relate to basic care: things like having a diaper changed promptly, or being turned every two hours if they have a bed sore.

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“So, residents in these facilities, they are entitled to that care?” CBS 6 investigative reporter Melissa Hipolit asked Latimer.

“They are entitled to being turned every two hours if that is in their plan of care,” Latimer replied.

“They are entitled to having their diaper changed whenever they use the restroom?” Hipolit responded.

“Right, right, and these are all things that are reasonable expectations within the realm of clinical practice,” Latimer responded.

Do you have to accept that you are going to have to wait two hours for your diaper to be changed or longer?” Hipolit asked.

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“No absolutely not. I’ll say that, and I think sometimes folks in these situations, in LTC facilities, particularly in those that are just not doing what they need to be doing, which is not all of them, when that is the culture, I think people become convinced that their expectations are unreasonable,” Latimer responded.

At Colonial Heights Rehabilitation and Nursing Center, prosecutors allege a woman was left in her bed for days in her urine and feces and was not turned to the point that her wounds caused sepsis, which killed her.

“Are there facilities that are providing this basic level of care so folks are not getting bed wounds, or if they do get bed wounds, they’re not worsening to a stage four? Can that be done? Is it possible?” Hipolit asked Latimer.

“I think it is possible,” Latimer replied. “Yes, there may be a person who is more inclined because of their clinical condition to develop these skin integrity problems, but the main thing is there are some things that can be done to prevent that from occurring and so one of them, of course, is not letting someone lie in their own waste.”

Latimer said there are several options available to people to request help to improve a situation, and an investigation into concerns.

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  • She advises people to initially reach out to her office at elderrights.virginia.gov if they are not exactly sure where to go first.
  • However, if someone feels abuse or neglect may be going on, such as in a case of diapers not being changed or ulcers being developed, she recommends using the DARS Adult Protective Services portal to submit allegations of maltreatment.
  • Residents and families can also submit a complaint with the Virginia Department of Health’s Office of Licensure if they have concerns about the quality of care being provided at a particular facility.
  • If a resident or family member believes a facility or providers may be charging Medicaid for services that are not being provided, they can submit a report to the state Attorney General’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit here.
  • Likewise, if they feel a facility or providers may be charging Medicare for services that are not being provided, they can submit a report here.
  • And, finally, when a resident or their family is concerned that a licensed provider, like a doctor or a nurse, may not be providing safe and competent care, they can file a complaint with the Virginia Department of Health Professions here.

A CBS 6 investigation found nursing homes are required by law to have a Medical Director to oversee the care being provided, but those doctors are not required to see patients.

We uncovered one Medical Director who oversees care at 31 different facilities.

Watch: Daughters concerned about amount of time doctors spend in nursing homes

Daughters concerned about amount of time doctors spend in nursing homes

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“It just seems kind of humanly impossible to be there, present to those care needs in an effective way if you have that many folks you are overseeing, so to speak,” Latimer said.

CBS 6 also previously reported that search warrants in Colonial Heights allege two nurses talked about stealing drugs from patients, and one of them described a resident using foul language.

Local News

What alleged texts between nurses at Colonial Heights nursing home reveal

Latimer said the public needs to band together to demand change.

“We have facilities that are doing it, can do it, and are showing that it can be done, that there can be a culture of caring that permeates all aspects of that operation, but I think we have seen a troubling trend in something other than that in many facilities, whether it has to do with ownership patterns, the changes in the workforce, whatever it is it is really disheartening,” Latimer said.

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