Children, Youth and Families Prevention, Treatment, and Recovery Programs

The West Virginia Bureau for Behavioral Health’s (BBH) Office of Children, Youth and Families administers programs to promote the behavioral health of children and youth in West Virginia communities through primary prevention and individualized services for mental health, substance use, and intellectual and developmental disabilities.

Prevention services are designed to reduce–or delay–the onset of risky behaviors that can lead to negative outcomes, such as substance use or suicide. Education is a key tool in delivering effective prevention strategies. In addition, prevention services consider social, economic, and environmental factors that influence well-being– to tailor strategies that best meet the needs of each community or population. Because these factors affect everyone, prevention is truly for all individuals and communities.