Chestnut Mountain Village, in partnership with the West Virginia Department of Human Services (DoHS), is introducing a new opportunity for Harrison County churches and local child welfare professionals to take action together through CarePortal.

CarePortal is Care-Sharing technology that drives action for local children and families in crisis. It connects DoHS child-serving professionals directly with churches that are ready to help. When a need such as a bed, clothing, or transportation is entered by a child serving professional at DoHS, nearby enrolled churches receive it immediately and can respond in real time.

CarePortal is deployed nationally and has been shown to increase the stability of families and reduce the number of children entering foster care by connecting communities of faith directly with families in need.

This platform is already making a difference in Monongalia and Preston Counties, where churches have served more than 270 children, met over 200 needs, and created nearly $60,000 in community impact in just a few months. The same effort is now expanding in Harrison County and will launch publicly later this year.

Earlier this year, following a successful pilot project in Monongalia and Preston Counties, the West Virginia Department of Human Services and Chestnut Mountain Village announced a partnership to expand CarePortal into four additional counties, including Harrison County, connecting churches and communities to help families stay strong and together.

The success of this effort in Harrison County depends on churches in the county stepping forward. Every church body has something to offer, whether it is providing a bed so a child has a safe place to sleep, delivering a crib for a newborn, or offering transportation so a parent can get to work. When churches join CarePortal, they become part of a movement that keeps families together and shows the love of Christ in practical, life-changing ways.

For churches and local community members who wish to get involved or ask questions, they can contact Chestnut Mountain Village at TheVillage@chestnutmountainranch.org, call (304) 943-7412, or visit https://cmvwv.org/harrison/.