Partners in Prevention
Partners in Prevention is a unique model of communities working together to strengthen families and help West Virginia’s children grow up free from abuse and neglect.
This model is based on the belief that child well-being hinges on the capacity of local communities to support families and protect children. Partners in Prevention (PIP) teams focus on the Strengthening Families Protective Factors Framework, developed by the Center for the Study of Social Policy (CSSP). At the foundation of this approach are five protective factors that make positive outcomes more likely for young children and their families, and reduce the risk of child maltreatment. The protective factors include:
- Parental Resilience
- Social Connections
- Knowledge of Parenting and Child Development
- Concrete Support in Times of Need
- Social and Emotional Competence of Children
In 2024, the Partners in Prevention network expanded to 50 community teams across West Virginia implementing various community projects and working together to keep children safe. They offer family support, resource distribution, educational workshops, and referral to other services when needed. You can view a summary of each team’s prevention work here.
Participating PIP teams receive annual grants to conduct local projects that strengthen families, protect children, and engage the public in these efforts.
The goals of the teams are to:
- Raise awareness about the prevention of child abuse and neglect
- Develop and expand effective services that prevent or reduce child maltreatment
- Inform policymakers about best practices in the prevention of child abuse and neglect
The Partners in Prevention Community Grants are supported by The West Virginia Children’s Trust Fund and the WV Department of Health and Human Resources.
Community Teams
Partners in Prevention teams are now present in 50 counties in West Virginia. In FY 2024, each team received $7,500 in grant funds to implement various community projects that increase protective factors for families and mitigate risk factors for child abuse and neglect.
For additional information about Partners in Prevention, please contact Jessica Dianellos, PCAWV Community Partnerships Coordinator, at (304) 552-4000 or by email at jessica@teamwv.org.
Our Story by the Numbers
During the past year, Partners in Prevention teams across the state of West Virginia:
2024 Innovation Grant Recipients
Since 2003, Partners in Prevention teams across the state have implemented a wide range of community-based activities focused on strengthening West Virginia families and helping children thrive. Thanks to funds from the WV Department of Health and Human Resources (WV DHHR), we have awarded six outstanding Partners in Prevention teams with “Innovation Grants” to advance their efforts through larger scale projects.
The teams below received $25,000 each to implement projects that prioritize primary prevention (i.e. strengthening protective factors to prevent child maltreatment before it occurs) and that exceed those activities currently funded by the annual Partners in Prevention mini-grants of $7,500.”
High Rocks Academy, New Beginnings Leadership Journey
Through the New Beginnings Leadership Journey, High Rocks will equip young West Virginians with the knowledge, competencies, and skills to serve as social emotional health peer advocates. Ultimately, the goal is for these individuals to become confident leaders in their peer groups, schools, and communities, modeling healthy choices and helping their peers to find and utilize social and emotional health resources.
Mineral County Family Resource Network, Eternally Home
Eternally Home, a program from the Mineral County Family Resource Network, will provide assistance to families with unmet needs. Staff and volunteers will utilize existing partnerships within the community such as the Gerri Mason Family Support Center, Communities in Schools, and others to address both immediate and long-term needs of these families. This will include supplying them with food, furniture, clothing, bedding, etc, while also working to address long-term needs such as job loss, financial planning, mental health needs, and more. Utilizing a small home-like environment for families to feel safe and welcomed, they will be able to share their strengths and weaknesses while learning to obtain resources, strategies and tools in the community.
Regional Family Resource Network, On the Move
In collaboration with the Putnam Wellness Coalition and other local agencies and organizations, the Regional Family Resource Network will utilize a mobile unit to focus on youth physical, mental and emotional wellness in Putnam County. The On the Move Mobile Unit will travel to rural areas that have been identified for substance misuse and child neglect and provide educational resources and on-site “pop-up” activities for children and families. They will partner with the local library, health department and others to organize events both in communities and nearby schools.
Morgan County Partnership, Mountain Movers
The Mountain Movers program will focus on middle school males to foster positive masculinity by equipping them with the skills, values and attitudes necessary to thrive in today’s world. The program will promote self-awareness, empathy, diversity, personal growth, responsibility, and dream building within a trauma informed framework. Male leaders in the community will lead monthly group meetings during the school day for participating students. Mountain Movers will support the acquisition of new skills that help young males achieve success at school, in their inter-personal relationships, and in their daily lives.
Ohio County Family Resource Network, Girls on the Run: Wheeling
Through collaborative efforts with the Ohio County Family Support Center and Bridge Street Middle School, the Ohio County Family Resource Network will host a Girls on the Run program at Bridge Street Middle School in Wheeling. Girls on the Run is a nationally recognized research-based program that focuses on social emotional learning in school aged female identifying students. The program includes ten 2-week sessions as well as an end of the season 5k in Morgantown. In addition, the program will prioritize family engagement including two family involvement nights. All participants will have their fees paid and receive a $100 shoe voucher, transportation home following the practices, and incentives throughout the program.
Step by Step, Inc., Communities of Self and Family Care
The Lincoln and Logan County Partners in Prevention teams will implement layers of self and family care along with peer support strategies by training cross agency staff at Step by Step family support sites. The staff will then work with both family and youth peer networks to develop individual care strategies, identify support systems, and plan community events that promote social and emotional intelligence, parental resilience and social connections. The program will include three workshops in at least 12 communities, the distribution of self-care materials and two family planned field trips.
