BARBOURSVILLE, W.Va. (WSAZ) – The Barboursville School will be shutting down in February, the West Virginia Department of Human Services confirmed to WSAZ on Tuesday.<\/p>\n
The River Park Hospital runs the facility, which they describe as a \u201csecure 24 hour residential facility that provides treatment for both male and female adolescents ages 12 to 17 with severe emotional and psychiatric issues.\u201d<\/p>\n
The facility was built in 1986 and sits on state-owned property.<\/p>\n
A spokesperson with River Park Hospital told WSAZ the decision to terminate their lease of the state-owned property is due to recent flooding and costs required to renovate the buildings. <\/p>\n
\u201cAfter much consideration, the decision has been made to close Barboursville School,\u201d the spokesperson wrote in a statement to WSAZ. \u201cOur intention to close by February 4, 2026, comes after completing a comprehensive, careful review and evaluation of multiple factors including the environmental impacts of recent flooding and cost required to renovate the aging leased building.\u201d<\/p>\n
They also said the renovations would take about nine months to a year to complete – and during that time they would not be able to effectively offer treatment.<\/p>\n
The hospital said eight of the 22 beds at the facility are full at this time, and they are \u201cworking with the families and guardians of each current resident to ensure a smooth, well-supported transition to other appropriate facilities.\u201d<\/p>\n
But West Virginia Del. Mike Pushkin, D-Kanawha, told WSAZ that any loss of treatment for children in the state is too much, especially as the state has had to send children out of state to receive proper care.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere are too few options for children in our state right now who are experiencing these issues,\u201d Pushkin said. \u201cSo it\u2019s really devastating news to hear we\u2019re going to be losing these 22 beds in Cabell County.\u201d<\/p>\n
Del. Evan Worrell, R-Cabell, is the chairman of the West Virginia House of Delegates Health and Human Resources Committee. He told WSAZ he is working to make sure those children continue to get the care that they need.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt was definitely surprising,\u201d Worrell said in an interview with WSAZ. \u201cI\u2019m just concerned about the children that are there, and what their placements will be.\u201d<\/p>\n
Worrell and Pushkin both told WSAZ they are hoping the state finds another provider to take over the facility and continue the services currently offered there.<\/p>\n
\u201cI know the DHS has been working with other providers. Is there a potential they can work with bringing a provider into that building,\u201d Worrell said. \u201cI know they\u2019re licensed for 22 beds but they\u2019re not facilitating that many children there. Is is possible for a provider to take that school over and actually use all of those 22 licensed beds? That\u2019s what I\u2019m really focused on.\u201d<\/p>\n
In a statement to WSAZ, a spokesperson for the West Virginia Department of Human Services wrote that Universal Health Services, which is the parent company of River Park Hospital, informed them of the decision in early November. The lease was set to run through May 1, 2029.<\/p>\n
\u201cDoHS is actively exploring all available options to ensure continuity of care, and the safety and well-being of the children we serve remains our highest priority,\u201d the statement read.<\/p>\n
They also told WSAZ that they are exploring all available options to ensure continuity of care.<\/p>\n
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