The purpose of this bill is to facilitate the participation of mental health providers in juvenile abuse and neglect cases.

HB 5407 requires West Virginia's child welfare department to share medical, dental, and mental health records of children in abuse/neglect cases with their school counselors within 30 days of placement. This directly affects the department, mental health providers, school counselors, and children involved in juvenile court cases. The key mechanism is a mandatory record-sharing process to improve collaboration among professionals supporting the child's well-being. The bill aims to streamline information flow without changing existing court procedures or standards of care. It is a procedural amendment to existing child welfare law, not a new substantive policy.