Funded by Public Defender Services through the iCAN Grant Program
Charleston, WV – Public Defender Services (PDS) of West Virginia today has launched Your Case Plan, often referred to as “MyChart for Foster Care” to improve communication and legal representation in child abuse and neglect proceedings. Funded through the iCAN (Impacting Child Abuse and Neglect) grant program, this initiative brings an innovative tool to families, attorneys, parent resource navigators, and CASA volunteers across the state.
Your Case Plan is a native mobile and web application available for download on iOS and Android devices as well as accessible via web browsers. The platform allows biological parents, attorneys, parent peer navigators and other stakeholders like older youth in foster care, CASA volunteers, foster parents and caseworkers to securely share documents, coordinate schedules, and communicate in real time via chat, voice, or video. By strengthening transparency, accountability, and collaboration, Your Case Plan helps reduce delays in court proceedings and improves outcomes for children and families.
The launch directly supports the iCAN program’s mission to strengthen legal representation and services for families in abuse and neglect cases by:
Providing training, education, and tools for attorneys to enhance case preparation and reduce delays.
Supporting parents and other parties in child welfare cases with real-time updates, reminders, and accessible resources to better understand and comply with case plans.
Reception to the implementation of Your Case Plan in West Virginia has received broad support from stakeholders across the state.
“As a foster parent, I saw how all too often, communication breakdowns stand in the way of timely permanency for children,” said Ryan O’Donnell, CEO and Co-Founder of Your Case Plan. “We built Your Case Plan with families, attorneys, and child welfare leaders to bring the best technology that exists to eliminate those barriers by providing a safe and secure platform that keeps everyone on the same page.”
Mallory Thompson, Program Director at West Virginia Public Defender Services, noted: “This initiative demonstrates how technology can directly improve the quality of legal representation in child abuse and neglect proceedings. By equipping attorneys and parents with secure, real-time tools, Your Case Plan helps us avoid costly delays, keep families engaged, and ensure that children’s cases move forward efficiently and fairly.”
Shanna Gray, State Director of West Virginia CASA, said: “Navigating the child welfare system is complex. Your Case Plan offers practical solutions that streamline case management and improve coordination among all stakeholders. By reducing administrative burden and improving communication, this platform allows professionals and parents to focus on what truly matters—supporting children and families in times of need.”
With the statewide rollout underway, West Virginia joins Oklahoma and other states that are deploying Your Case Plan to improve communication, transparency, and legal advocacy in child welfare. The system was configured, tested, and launched with training for pilot users in less than 90 days—demonstrating the speed and efficiency of using a commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) solution. In contrast to multi-year, multi-million-dollar custom built solutions, Your Case Plan delivers immediate impact while maintaining strict compliance with HIPAA and confidentiality standards.
Earlier this summer, Your Case Plan was selected to present at two national child welfare law conferences to share the results of their first statewide pilot with the Oklahoma Office of Family Representation. Attendees at the The National Council of Juvenile Family Court Judges conference and the National Association of Counsel for Children conference learned how technology can be a powerful tool to improve attorney-client engagement and communication in child welfare cases.
