Many WVSOM students have young children in their families. This page offers some resource suggestions to help meet your parenting needs.
WVSOM strives to provide a family-friendly environment for its students and has implemented a breastfeeding-friendly initiative to help encourage and support breastfeeding employees and students. With this goal in mind and in accordance with state and federal laws, any student may breastfeed or express breastmilk on campus. Many factors contribute to the number of times a mother must lactate, including the number of feedings and the age of the child. Given that the needs of lactating mothers change with time, a flexible approach is encouraged. WVSOM Student Affairs will work with lactating mothers to provide reasonable measures to support lactating mothers as follows:
Students are encouraged to contact WVSOM Student Affairs to discuss their needs as it relates to breastfeeding.
All WVSOM employees and students (current and prospective) who intend to breastfeed or express milk are encouraged to register for the WVSOM Breastfeeding Support Program. This program offers breastfeeding information, advice, and emotional encouragement with the goal of promoting a successful breastfeeding relationship. For more information, please email Dr. Courtney Eleazer (celeazer@osteo.wvsom.edu). Mothers may also find mother-to-mother support by becoming members of the Breastfeeding USA and La Leche League local chapters.
The mission of MountainHeart Child Care Resource & Referral is to meet the diverse needs of parents, children, providers, and the community through comprehensive, family-friendly services. These services are designed to encourage providers, empower families, and ensure all community members that quality child care for all of our children is a continued priority.
Mountain Heart Child Care Resource & Referral Services is a program of Mountain Heart Community Services, Inc. and is funded through a grant from DHHR, Bureau for Children and Families, Division of Early Care and Education.
The Program was established in 1992. Region VI Child Care Resource and Referral Services and TRAILS Vans are currently provided in the following counties: Braxton, Fayette, Greenbrier, McDowell, Mercer, Monroe, Nicholas, Pocahontas, Raleigh, Summers, Webster, & Wyoming. Financial assistance (subsidies) for child care services are available through this program.
Mountain Heart can assist eligible parents with available federal and state funds for child care services.
The WV DHHR has a number of programs that can be beneficial to low-income families in WV such as SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) or CHIP (Children’s Health Insurance Program). The easiest way to evaluate if you qualify to assistance is via West Virginia Path.
Located within the West Virginia Bureau for Public Health, the Office of Nutrition Services administers several programs and initiatives designed to promote a healthy start for West Virginia's children. These are:
For an up-to-date list of childcare providers in Greenbrier County, contact MountainHeart at 304-647-3800.