FAIRMONT, W.Va. — Fairmont State University is building on strong early momentum in 2026 through its Middle College and RISE programs, both aimed at supporting West Virginia youth who have experienced foster care.
Middle College gives West Virginia students who have experienced foster care the opportunity to earn a high school diploma and an associate degree simultaneously. RISE — Resilience, Independence, Support, Empowerment — is a supportive network of foster care and kinship care alumni, advocates and allies.
The programs kicked off the year by hosting the inaugural Foster Care and Child Welfare Day at the Capitol in Charleston on January 14, where more than 50 organizations gathered to celebrate and support the child welfare system. The event gave child welfare organizations the opportunity to build stronger relationships, highlight the power of community voices and provide West Virginia legislators with insight from lived experiences.
While in Charleston, Middle College and RISE students were able to speak with West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals justices about their experiences within the child welfare system. Students also attended Fairmont State Day at the Capitol on January 23, giving them another opportunity to speak with delegates and legislators about the work they do across the state.
Later this semester, Middle College and RISE will host on-campus initiatives to honor National Child Abuse Prevention Month in April and National Foster Care Month in May.
As part of those efforts, RISE is launching Small Bears, Big Impact: A Community Bear Hug for Kids in Care, a community-wide collection of teddy bears to be donated and distributed in partnership with West Virginia CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates).
“When a child enters foster care, everything changes in an instant, from their home and belongings to the people around them. It can be scary and lonely. In the days that follow, a single teddy bear can represent so much: comfort, safety, something of their very own, and a reminder that they are loved,” said Shanna Gray, State Director of WV CASA. “WV CASA is grateful to the Fairmont State University RISE students for leading this effort and turning their lived experience into tangible encouragement for children still in care.”
RISE aims to collect 6,000 bears — enough for each child currently in the West Virginia child welfare system. Students will work with Fairmont State student organizations and community volunteers to handwrite letters for the children receiving the bears. Bears should be new, have no visible wear and be no taller than 12 inches.
Donations can be delivered to Fairmont State University’s campus during the week of April 6. Those interested in hosting a collection site can register and coordinate teddy bear drop-off at tinyurl.com/risebearcollection.
Middle College and RISE will also celebrate their first class of high school graduates on May 22 in the Falcon Center Conference Rooms. Those same students will graduate with their associate degrees in the fall.
More information about Middle College and RISE at Fairmont State is available at fairmontstate.edu/middle-college.
