Mission West Virginia Inc

06/12/2026

We're so proud to share this story from West Virginia Watch about our Bridge Program students. This year, our Mentors served over 600 students, and 98% of our seniors graduated with a high school diploma – and every one of them has a plan for what comes next. College, trade school, a career they worked hard to reach. Their success is well-deserved and worthy of celebration.

Thank you to Amelia Knisely for such a great write-up!

https://westvirginiawatch.com/2026/06/11/bridge-program-sees-success-encouraging-wv-kids-in-foster-kinship-care-to-graduate-from-high-school/?fbclid=IwY2xjawSY41NleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZBAyMjIwMzkxNzg4MjAwODkyAAEeisr35Na6HRiGWUFlDcN2JuAhK1uPiHQkEtd20vU_MYHYLeMmXmTQPnpcVbI_aem_mOaiNO_H4Y0KPCagxaYcGA

This year, 98% of seniors in Mission West Virginia’s Bridge Program graduated with a high school diploma and concrete future plans.

06/12/2026

Kids Count Data from Annie E. Casey Foundation reports WV Teen Birth Rates Have Again This Year.

The Teen Birth Rate in WV has dropped 58% Since 2007!
That's a milestone worth celebrating as the numbers continue to move in the right direction, with a 3.8% decrease in the past year alone.

While we're encouraged of how far our youth has come, we know there is still work to do. Today's youth face new challenges, from unhealthy relationships and mental health concerns to online risks and misinformation. That's why Mission WV remains committed to providing education, resources, and support that help young people thrive.

Thank you to the funders, researchers, schools, families, and community partners for helping make a difference for West Virginia's youth.

06/11/2026

Our Adoption Recruiters just got back from another year at the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption's Wendy's Wonderful Kids Summit in Columbus! Three days of inspiring speakers, great breakout sessions, and some good team bonding. These summits always leave our team recharged and full of new ideas. We're already looking forward to next year!

06/11/2026

Mission West Virginia's FrameWorks Director, Rachel Kinder, was recently featured on West Virginia Public Broadcasting's Us & Them podcast. 🎙️

Rachel oversees our kinship care and family support programs and has worked in child welfare for more than 20 years. In this encore episode, "Our Foster Care Crisis," Rachel shares what the data really looks like for Mountain State families and the children who need homes.

West Virginia has one of the highest rate of foster care placements in the country. Rachel helps explain why, and what that means on the ground here in WV.

Link to listen in the comments. 👇

06/08/2026

Mission WV Leadership Team had the privilege of participating in Live2Lead training led by Kimberly Hambrick Consulting, LLC at Area 34.

We believe that when we continue learning and growing, we are better equipped to support our staff, strengthen our programs, and serve West Virginia's children, youth, and families.

We're grateful for opportunities like this that encourage us to keep learning, keep growing, and keep leading well. Thank you, Kimberly!

06/05/2026

As Internet crimes against children continue to rise, Mission WV is taking action through education and prevention.

This week, Mission West Virginia partnered with local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies, along with the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children, to present Behind the Screen: Clicks, Consequences & Prevention—an in-depth training focused on Internet Crimes Against Children and the evolving threats facing youth online today.

We were honored to host experts Whitney Barnhart, FBI - Pittsburgh - Charleston Resident Agency, Sergeant J.M. Burns, Kanawha County Sheriff's Office, Corporal Erica Schoolcraft and Sergeant Rachel Blankenship, West Virginia State Police, Aya Sophie Nassif, National Center for Missing & Exploited Children and Jim Harris Live, Marshall University.

Participants gained insight to the dark world of online predators and received actionable tools to help youth with both prevention and response to threats.

The conversation continues throughout June, Internet Safety Month, with our (free) webinar series on online safety, sextortion prevention, and digital citizenship featuring ENDTab and sponsored by FRIS.

06/04/2026

Our very own Cherie Collins, Lead Data Systems Coordinator for the THINK program, graduated from Leadership Putnam this week.

The program provided valuable learning opportunities, incredible networking, and exposure to the many people and organizations working to strengthen our community. As a nonprofit, we don't always get a chance to be involved in those areas, so this was extra meaningful. We are grateful to the Putnam County Chamber of Commerce for hosting this outstanding leadership development program and highly recommend it to anyone looking to grow their connections and community impact.

Congrats, Cherie!

05/25/2026

If you work with youth, this training is for you.

Behind the Screens: Clicks, Consequences and Prevention will give you the tools to recognize warning signs, respond with confidence, and better support young people facing online risks.

From sextortion and grooming to human trafficking and AI, these are conversations we can’t ignore.

📅 June 2 | Charleston, WV
✔️ 5.5 CEUs
✔️ Lunch included

Plus, we’ll end the day with a powerful self-care session from Dr. Jim Harris.

👉 Save your seat: https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/ticketing/behind-the-screens-clicks-consequences-and-prevention

05/25/2026

Mission WV is closed today in observance of Memorial Day as we honor and remember those who gave their lives in service to our country.
We will reopen the next business day.

05/21/2026

💙 Our hearts are full after this year’s Walk With Me! 💙

THANK YOU to every family, volunteer, sponsor, and community member who joined us for our 14th annual Walk With Me on May 16. Seeing more than 400 people come together in support of children and teens in foster and kinship care is as meaningful as ever.

You helped make this day special – whether you walked, volunteered, donated, or shared. During National Foster Care Month, moments like this remind us just how strong and supportive this community truly is.

We are so grateful for each and every one of you!!

A special thank you to our sponsors who helped make this event completely free for foster, adoptive, and kinship families:

Wellpoint, Robert Noone Legal Services, Aetna, Mountain Care Network, Putnam County Bank, United Bank, Goddard Law, Moses Auto Group, Tara Martinez, StepStone, Genesis, Children's Home Society of WV, KVC West Virginia, Blueprints, OVP Family, Necco, Pressley Ridge, WV Fostering Together, National Youth Advocate Program, and River Ridge Church.

Our amazing entertainment vendors who kept the day fun: Edsel Entertainment, Alto Design FacePainting, Kona Ice, Itty Bitty Therapy Horses, Putnam Princess Parties, Rob Cleland - our Caricature artist, M and M Inflatables, and DJ Ollie.