Preston County Schools has approved West Virginia’s first CarePortal pilot in a public school district. The program will connect students and families with local churches and community partners ready to help.
Funded by Clear Mountain Bank and implemented by Chestnut Mountain Village, the new school partnership creates opportunities for more Preston County churches to help children and families.
KINGWOOD, W.Va. (November 3, 2026) — On October 12, 2026, the Preston County Board of Education voted unanimously, 5-0, to approve a CarePortal pilot. This is the first CarePortal pilot approved by a public school district in West Virginia.
The program will connect students and families in need with local churches and community partners willing to help. It will begin at South Preston School and Terra Alta/East Preston School during the 2026–2027 academic year.
Chestnut Mountain Village will implement the pilot as CarePortal’s statewide implementing partner in West Virginia. Clear Mountain Bank will provide funding for the participating schools’ CarePortal platform costs.
The partnership builds on an existing CarePortal network in Preston County and creates new opportunities for churches, businesses, community organizations, and individuals to help local children and families. Chestnut Mountain Village is encouraging additional
Preston County churches to enroll as the network expands to serve the two schools.
How the CarePortal Pilot Connects Schools with Community Support
CarePortal is an online platform that connects practical needs identified by trusted child-serving professionals with local churches and community partners ready to help.
When authorized school personnel identify a student or family who could benefit from assistance, they can submit a verified request through CarePortal with the family’s consent. Nearby churches receive notifications and can choose to meet those needs directly or work with others to provide assistance.
Individuals, businesses, and community organizations can also participate directly through CarePortal. Individuals can join as Community Responders and offer goods, services, or financial contributions to specific needs. Businesses, nonprofits, and other organizations can enroll as Community Champions. They can organize employees, members, and volunteers to respond to requests.
Local churches can meet needs directly through their own volunteers and resources or help coordinate assistance offered by other churches, businesses, organizations, and individuals, connecting community support with the families who need it.
Family participation is voluntary, and requests are shared without personally identifiable information, protecting the privacy and dignity of those receiving assistance.
Meeting Practical Needs for Students and Families
Typical needs met through CarePortal requests include beds and bedding, clothing and shoes, winter coats, backpacks and school supplies, personal hygiene products, groceries, and basic household furniture. Other requests may involve transportation assistance, help with utilities, or essential home repairs.
Meeting these practical needs can remove barriers to regular school attendance and help students arrive ready to learn. It can also ease financial pressures on families. imely assistance can also help families stay stable and keep manageable challenges from becoming bigger problems.
“Our teachers and school personnel regularly see how challenges outside the classroom can affect a child’s ability to succeed,” said Bradley Martin, Superintendent of Preston County Schools. “Sometimes a relatively simple need can become a significant obstacle for a student or family. CarePortal gives us a practical way to connect willing families with people in their own communities who want to help. We’re excited to see what this partnership can accomplish.”
The pilot will initially designate one trained CarePortal representative at each school. The district and Chestnut Mountain Village will evaluate its effectiveness before considering expansion to additional schools.
Building a Stronger Network of Preston County Churches and Community Partners
CarePortal already operates in Preston County, where six churches already participated before the school pilot was proposed. These churches have been helping meet needs identified and entered by the West Virginia Department of Human Services (DoHS),
Preston County Caring Council, and James Isaac House.
With two schools joining the network, additional church participation will strengthen the community’s ability to respond to needs as they arise.
“Preston County Schools has taken an important step by opening the door to this partnership. Now we need more local churches to walk through that door with us,” said Greg Clutter, Director of Chestnut Mountain Village. “CarePortal makes it possible for churches of all sizes to respond to real needs right in their own communities. A church doesn’t need a large budget or an established ministry to make a difference for vulnerable children and families. Churches can meet needs directly or work with businesses, organizations, and individuals who want to help. Sometimes meeting one simple need can have a tremendous impact on a child or family.”
How Local Churches Can Get Involved
Churches can enroll and receive training and ongoing support from Chestnut Mountain Village. They can choose which needs to meet based on their available resources and collaborate with other churches and community partners when additional assistance is needed.
Clear Mountain Bank is covering the CarePortal platform costs for both participating schools during the 2026–2027 pilot, allowing the district to participate without that expense.
“Strong communities depend on people and organizations looking out for one another,” said Christopher W. Morris, Commercial Banking Executive at Clear Mountain Bank. “We’re proud to support this new partnership and help connect Preston County schools with the churches, businesses, and neighbors who are willing to make a difference for local children and families.”
A Nationally Established Program Growing in West Virginia
Founded in 2015, CarePortal has helped meet 210,365 requests nationwide, serving 554,736 children and generating more than $210 million in estimated economic impact, according to the most recent figures.
CarePortal is also used by school-related agencies across 33 states, with more than 66,000 children served through those agencies as of August 2026. Its school-agency network includes service areas in major communities such as Los Angeles and Riverside counties in California and El Paso County, Texas. Documented school district partnerships include Park Hill School District in Missouri and Nacogdoches Independent School District in Texas.
Since Chestnut Mountain Village introduced CarePortal statewide in April 2025, the network has expanded to six counties: Monongalia, Preston, Harrison, Marion, Taylor, and Barbour.
Today, 62 churches are enrolled statewide. CarePortal has helped meet 280 requests, serving 718 children and 1,056 people overall. These responses represent more than $256,000 in estimated economic impact across West Virginia.
An Invitation to Local Churches and Community Partners
For churches that want to make a meaningful difference but may not know where to begin, CarePortal offers a practical way to serve without building an entirely new ministry.
With guidance and support from Chestnut Mountain Village, churches can engage their congregations in meaningful service, strengthen relationships with neighbors, and collaborate with other churches and community organizations. Participation gives members opportunities to put their faith into action while encouraging fellowship, discipleship, and spiritual growth.
Chestnut Mountain Village invites Preston County churches to connect with The Village, enroll in CarePortal, and begin responding to needs in their communities.
Local residents, businesses, nonprofits, and civic organizations are also encouraged to participate. Individuals can become Community Responders, while businesses and organizations can become Community Champions, bringing together their resources, employees, members, and volunteers to help meet needs. Their contributions can complement local churches’ efforts and strengthen the community’s overall capacity to care for children and families.
To learn more or get involved, visit www.cmvwv.org/preston or contact Chestnut Mountain Village at (304) 943-7412 or via email at TheVillage@chestnutmountainranch.org .
About Chestnut Mountain Village, the CarePortal Pilot Implementing Partner
Chestnut Mountain Village, a ministry of Chestnut Mountain Ranch, guides, equips, and connects churches across West Virginia to care for vulnerable children and families, including those involved in foster care, adoption, and kinship care. Through church-led, volunteer-driven Family Advocacy Ministries (FAMs), churches provide practical, emotional, and spiritual support through activities such as Care Communities, CarePortal, family support programs, and caring for child welfare professionals. The Village serves as CarePortal’s implementing partner in West Virginia and provides churches with the training, tools, resources, coaching, and connections they need to build sustainable ministries that care for vulnerable children and families and strengthen their communities.
Learn more at cmvwv.org/preston.