WV Birth to Three is a statewide system of services and supports for children under age three and their families who have a delay in their development, or may be at risk of having a delay. The Department of Health and Human Resources, through the Bureau for Public Health and the Office of Maternal, Child and Family Health, WV Birth to Three, as the lead agency for Part C of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), assures that family centered, community based services are available to all eligible children and families.

The Office of Maternal, Child and Family Health, Bureau for Public Health has within its realm of services a Birth Defects Surveillance system. Currently, the program collects data from the birthing facilities within the state to study the rates and trends of birth defects to aid in determining possible causes.

A Newborn Hearing Screen test is required by law in the state of West Virginia.

There are two types of equipment used to evaluate babies’ hearing. Babies may have one or both of these tests. In the first test, Otoacoustic Emmissions (OAE), the baby will hear a series of clicks through a small ear plug. The second type of test is an Auditory Brainstem Response test (ABR). In this method, the baby hears a series of clicks through small headphones and the screener measures the baby’s response to the sound. The results of the test will be reviewed with the parents and sent to the baby’s primary care provider.

If a baby does not pass a screening exam, the primary care provider caring for the baby and personnel from the Right From The Start Program will contact the family to schedule diagnostic hearing testing for the infant.

This project is a comprehensive statewide initiative for government sponsored pregnant women whose incomes are at or below 185% of the federal poverty level. It also provides case management services for at risk infants up to age one year. A major component of RFTS is to provide in‑home care coordination services whereby nurses and social workers visit eligible prenatal clients in their homes throughout their pregnancy and until their infants reach one year of age to assess educational, social, nutritional and medical needs and to facilitate their access to appropriate service providers.