WSAZ Investigates | DHHR changes course on group home in Cabell County

CABELL COUNTY, W.Va. (WSAZ) – Now we have an replace to an investigation we reported Monday concerning the West Virginia Division of Well being and Human Assets deliberate group residence alongside Norwood Highway.

It might home folks charged with crimes however deemed incompetent to face trial. The group house is already beneath development and sits close to numerous bus stops, faculties, and a daycare.

Lower than 24 hours after our investigation aired, the DHHR is altering course, asserting that residence will now be used for youth in foster care.

WSAZ’s Sarah Sager spoke with neighbors and lawmakers who say the change is a begin however brings a brand new set of considerations.

“If my voice may be heard to anybody, I’d advise towards placing forensic sufferers there,” mentioned neighbor Jennifer Lester on Monday once we instructed her concerning the state DHHR’s plan to place a gaggle residence for mentally unwell sufferers charged with crimes — simply two doorways down from her home in Huntington.

The property alongside Norwood Highway sits in the midst of a residential space — close to faculty bus stops, a daycare and never removed from faculties.

However the DHHR modified course on the plan Tuesday. Whereas the company ignored our request for an on-camera interview, they despatched out a information launch late Tuesday afternoon.

The discharge states partially, “On the time this facility was envisioned in 2021, leaders at DHHR agreed its greatest use for the Huntington group was as a forensic group residence. Nonetheless, now, with so many kids in state custody in want of residential psychological well being intervention being served out of state, we revised its goal to as a substitute be a house to serve West Virginia’s youth with psychological well being wants.”

So, Sager reached again out to Lester to share the information.

“Inform me what your emotion was while you picked up your cellphone and noticed the textual content?” she requested.

“I began crying pleased tears, as a result of I’ve two lovely ladies myself who’re 9 and beneath. There are the identical age ladies in a really small radius of that facility, and I don’t need to suppose that they’ll’t exit and play of their yard. I maintain a detailed eye on them, however I don’t suppose I may stroll away for a second if that was a forensic facility.”

Whereas engaged on her authentic investigation, Sager reached out to native leaders and lawmakers, together with state Sen. Mike Woelfel and Cabell County Commissioners Kelli Sobonya, John Mandt Jr., and Liza Caldwell.

On Tuesday, the Cabell County Fee launched the next assertion:

“The Cabell County Fee is deeply involved concerning the mission being developed on Norwood Highway in Huntington, West Virginia, and the shortage of communication to the commissioners and the general public by the West Virginia Division of Human Assets of their proposed plans.

“We take into account transparency a high precedence and shifting ahead, we are going to be certain that each effort beneath our authority protects the security and high quality of lifetime of residential neighborhoods and the welfare of our youngsters.

“Whereas we’re happy to study, by means of WSAZ, that their authentic plans will change from a forensic grownup program to a facility to accommodate foster kids, it may nonetheless go away the door open for future modifications by DHHR.

“Transferring ahead, the Fee will solicit the enter of the residents of Cabell County in growing insurance policies that afford such protections and demand that the WV DHHR create a seat on the desk of dialogue with any future plans that contain Cabell County.

“We consider the WV DHHR ought to make monetary funding into its current services which are designed for the forensic inhabitants as a substitute of seeking to residential neighborhoods for such a placement.”

With the DHHR now saying the ability will home youth in foster care, we reached out asking if these positioned there may have a historical past of psychological or behavioral points — and if they are going to be coming from out of state services.

A spokesperson responded, saying it is going to be a residential psychological well being therapy facility for kids who traditionally have been served in out of state services.

Sager requested Lester is she has any fearful concerning the new path of the ability.

Lester mentioned, “I do have a little bit little bit of concern. You already know, a variety of time foster children, particularly older foster children, they’ve been abused and they’re nonetheless attempting to determine the world. There’s a variety of behaviors, and so they prefer to run away. I determine I could find yourself with some in my yard, however at my facility we even have these kids there, as effectively.”

“Do you continue to have any considerations?” Sager requested Del. Matthew Rohrbach.

Rohrbach replied, “Effectively, I’m all the time involved, and that’s why I’m going to maintain wanting into this example as a result of that’s simply not one thing that must be positioned in that neighborhood.”

We additionally obtained an announcement from state Senator Woelfel who represents the world the place the house is being constructed. It reads, “I’m happy that DHHR has reversed its chosen goal for this web site and hopeful the company will see match to contain the group sooner or later. DHHR ought to study from its errors and act extra responsibly sooner or later.”

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