“FOREVER CHANGED”-
“The WV Bar Foundation has made it possible for the Hope girls (not their real last name) to finally find healing and closure. The sibling set of 3 have made regular visits to the Child Protect office over the past six months.  First, for forensic interviews in which the girls (ranging in age from 6 to 12) had the opportunity to tell investigators about the long-standing sexual and physical abuse they all were enduring in their biological home. This led to the girls being removed from their home, placed in a safe environment, and criminal charges being brought against their perpetrators.

The girls began intensive therapy at Child Protect immediately after their interviews, receiving trauma-focused therapy on a weekly basis with Child Protect’s highly-trained, on-site therapist.  Gradually, as each girl has made strides in her own road to healing, their visits have become monthly ones. If they continue as they have, they will be able to “graduate” from therapy in another 6 months.

WV Bar Foundation grant funds are providing approximately 62 hours worth of therapy services at Child Protect- just about the amount needed to fund the remainder of services for the Hope girls. Their lives will be forever changed by the time this sibling group finishes therapy services at Child Protect and the WV Bar Foundation’s funding has made it possible for these girls to imagine a future free of abuse and full of possibility.”

Shiloh Woodard, Executive Director

Child Protect of Mercer County

In the photo above, Shiloh Woodard, the Executive Director of the highly respected Child Protect program, talks with Family Court Judge Mary Ellen Griffith (Princeton), a Board member and a Bar Foundation Fellow, about the large caseload of children, who receive the necessary services from Child Protect, as illustrated in the story told by Shiloh, above. Participating in the conversation at the Child Protect offices in Princeton is Rob Morrin, VISTA Community Liaison at Child Protect.

Because of YOUR generous financial support and donations, the Bar Foundation has made more than 50 grants and commitments over the past decade, totaling more than $300,000, to assist worthwhile activities to improve the administration of justice and the provision of legal services here in West Virginia.

Please consider making a tax deductible contribution to the Bar Foundation’s Justice Fund (WV Bar Foundation, P.O. Box 4845, Charleston, WV 25364 or online at wvbarfound.org ) to continue to have the lives of WV children, like the three Hope girls, “forever changed” and for them to be able  “to imagine a future free of abuse and full of possibility.”

As many as 200 judges, lawyers and their guests from all parts of the state will attend this excellent black tie optional event. The reception will begin at 6:00 PM, followed by dinner and the honoring of this year’s class of Fellows. It will conclude before 9:30 PM.

After final responses are received, another outstanding group of more than twenty Fellows will be announced in the next Bar Brief. They will join approximately 300 other judges and lawyers as Fellows—there are more than 5,000 lawyers and members of the judiciary here in West Virginia.

The criteria for Bar Foundation Fellows is—-“Those lawyers whose professional, public and private careers have demonstrated outstanding dedication to the welfare of their communities and honorable service to the legal profession with the individuals selected reflecting the diverse nature of the legal profession in West Virginia.”