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West Virginia Governor Jim Justice is taking steps to address child abuse and neglect referrals in the state, following the tragic death of 14-year-old Kyneddi Miller. During a virtual administrative briefing, Justice announced that more grant money would be made available to high school graduates in financial need for attending college in the fall.

The internal investigation into Miller’s case revealed that Child Protective Services had prior contact with her family in 2009 and 2017, but those visits were unrelated to Miller. Last year, two troopers made a welfare check on Miller after family members reported not seeing her for a while. However, the troopers’ referral to CPS was not followed up on, and Miller was later found dead in a “skeletal state.”

To prevent similar tragedies in the future, state officials are now requiring all child abuse and neglect referrals to be made through the state hotline, even for in-person visits to regional Department of Human Services offices. Justice emphasized that while these steps may not guarantee another child fatality won’t occur, they are necessary to screen for potential problems.

In addition to addressing child welfare issues, Justice signed Senate Bill 1007, providing $83 million in funding for incoming college students and higher education institutions. The bill aims to help students affected by FAFSA delays and cover PEIA 80/20 employer/employee match costs.

Justice’s proactive approach to improving child welfare and supporting higher education highlights the state’s commitment to protecting its most vulnerable residents and ensuring access to education for all students.