Hi my name is Hannah Hebel, and this blog will focus on foster care in Appalachia. With the prominence of the opioid epidemic in this region over the last decade, the foster care system has felt the trickling repercussions. With nearly 7,000 children in the West Virginia system alone, here you will find what programs, policies and community efforts are being put in place to combat this issue, as well as how residents feel about them.

Growing up in West Virginia, Appalachian issues have always been close to my heart. It has also always been very important to me to show how strong and beautiful our communities are and what new changes are happening to the region. I am currently studying journalism and philosophy at West Virginia University to do just that.

For more updates on this topic follow me @hannah_hebel on Twitter!

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