Help Preston County Children and Families. Right Here. Right Now.
Through CarePortal, local churches, businesses, and neighbors are working together to meet practical needs and make a meaningful difference for children and families throughout Preston County.
CarePortal in Preston County: Building on a Strong Foundation
What Is CarePortal?
CarePortal is Care-Sharing technology that drives action for local children and families in crisis.
Through its online platform, CarePortal connects child-serving professionals who identify needs with local churches and community partners who can help. When a need is identified, nearby participating churches are notified and have the opportunity to respond, either directly or by working with other churches, businesses, organizations, and individuals.
By creating real-time connections between people who need help and people who want to help, CarePortal equips local churches to provide practical assistance, build meaningful relationships, and strengthen children, families, and communities
Already Serving Preston County Families
In participation with the West Virginia Department of Human Services, Chestnut Mountain Village launched CarePortal in West Virginia in April 2025. The network now serves six counties, including Preston County.
Before the school partnership was announced, six Preston County churches were already participating in CarePortal, responding to needs identified by:
- West Virginia Department of Human Services (DoHS), Preston County
- Preston County Caring Council
- James Isaac House
These partnerships have helped establish a local network of churches and community partners serving children and families.
Now Expanding into Preston County Schools
On October 12, 2026, the Preston County Board of Education unanimously approved West Virginia’s first public school district CarePortal pilot.
Beginning during the 2026–2027 school year, South Preston School and Terra Alta/East Preston School will be able to identify and submit practical needs through CarePortal.
Clear Mountain Bank is funding the participating schools’ CarePortal platform costs, and Chestnut Mountain Village is coordinating the program.
South Preston School
Terra Alta/East Preston School
See How CarePortal Works
Step 1: A Need Is Identified
Participating schools and child-serving organizations identify and submit needs on behalf of children and families.
Step 2: Local Churches Are Notified
Nearby participating churches receive notifications about those needs.
Step 3: The Community Responds
Churches and community partners work together to provide assistance and build meaningful relationships with families.
Why Are CarePortal Requests Submitted?
Every CarePortal request serves a specific purpose focused on improving the lives of children and families. Child welfare professionals and school personnel identify how meeting a need will help a child or family.
Requests generally support these goals:
- Keeping Families Together: Preventing foster care placements, strengthening families, and supporting reunification.
- Supporting Foster, Kinship, and Adoptive Families: Helping provide safe, stable, and loving homes.
- Improving Children’s Well-Being: Addressing needs that affect safety, health, and stability.
- Helping Children Succeed in School: Removing barriers to attendance, learning, and educational success.
- Supporting Vulnerable Youth and Families: Assisting youth transitioning out of foster care, expectant mothers, and others facing difficult circumstances.
By connecting practical assistance to specific goals, CarePortal helps strengthen families, protect children, and improve their well-being.
What Kinds of Needs Can Be Met through CarePortal?
CarePortal helps meet practical, everyday needs that can make a meaningful difference for children and families. Some of the most commonly requested items and assistance, both nationally and here in West Virginia, include:
- Beds and Furniture: Beds, cribs, mattresses, couches, dressers, kitchen tables, and chairs.
- Clothing and Personal Essentials: Clothing, diapers, and wipes.
- Food and Groceries: Groceries and other basic food necessities.
- Housing and Utility Assistance: Help with rent and utility bills.
Meeting these needs can help stabilize families, improve children’s living conditions, and prevent manageable challenges from becoming larger problems. Sometimes, meeting one simple need can make a tremendous difference in the life of a child or family.
Everyone Can Play a Part
Churches
Enroll in CarePortal, receive training and ongoing support from Chestnut Mountain Village, and begin meeting practical needs in your community.
Individuals
Become a Community Responder and contribute goods, services, or financial assistance to meet specific needs.
Businesses & Organizations
Become a Community Champion and engage employees, members, and volunteers in supporting local families.
CarePortal Is Making a Difference Across West Virginia
CarePortal was launched in April 2025 and is now active in 6 counties, including Preston. As of October 26, 2026, CarePortal has had the following impact.
- 712 Children have been Served
- 1,046 People have been Served
- CarePortal has had an estimated economic impact of $251,488
- 85.67% of CarePortal Request submitted have been Met
Ready to Get Involved?
Together, we can help more Preston County children and families receive the care and support they need.
Chestnut Mountain Village
304-241-1318
jane@chestnutmountainranch.org
About Us
Chestnut Mountain Village (‘The Village’), a ministry of Chestnut Mountain Ranch, is dedicated to creating Christ-centered communities to provide hope and homes for vulnerable kids and families. To do this, the Village guides and equips church partners to care for vulnerable children and families by providing a proven, step-by-step ministry model …