Please note: This analysis was conducted by the Prenatal-to-3 Policy Impact Center at Vanderbilt University’s Peabody College of Education and Human Development in partnership with The West Virginia Center on Budget and Policy. Introduction Paid family and medical leave policies are proven to strengthen families’ economic security, support the health and wellbeing of children and parents,…
Reports & Briefs
Introduction Amid an extended period of high inflation and a slowing economy, voters and politicians alike are looking for policies to make life more affordable for workers and families. READ THE FULL POLICY BRIEF. During the summer of 2025, Congress passed the “One Big Beautiful Bill” (H.R. 1), which included a temporary “no tax on…
Introduction The State of Working West Virginia 2025 is the 18th edition of an annual series that examines West Virginia’s economy through the lens of its workers–the people whose labor powers the state and our economy. While each year’s report has a different focus, examining data on topics such as employment, income, racial and gender…
Introduction Commercial and private health care costs in the United States and West Virginia are rising at a concerning rate. West Virginia outpaces the nation with the highest health care spending of any state, comprising more than one-fourth of the state’s gross domestic product. A groundbreaking RAND Corporation study found that West Virginia residents bear…
Introduction We are currently in a mental health crisis both nationally and in West Virginia. Before the COVID-19 pandemic, youth across the country were experiencing mental health challenges, but during the pandemic there were steep increases in the number of youth experiencing anxiety and depression. The pandemic led to new stressors for youth, including school…
Introduction Nearly everyone agrees that policymakers and citizens should do all we can to make West Virginia a place where families and businesses can thrive. Vibrant communities, safe neighborhoods, high-quality education, strong infrastructure, and healthy residents are shared goals for most West Virginians. READ THE FULL REPORT. Recently the conversation about improving West Virginia has…
Overview According to the state constitution, West Virginians are guaranteed “a thorough and efficient system of free schools” provided by the Legislature. However, the ability of our state to fulfill this guarantee for the nearly 90 percent of school-aged children in West Virginia who attend public schools is currently threatened by a variety of challenges.…
Overview and Key Findings Medicaid is one of the most important health care programs in West Virginia. During the COVID-19 public health emergency (PHE), it served up to 655,000 people—or one in three West Virginians. It helped folks across the state stay afloat and connected to their health care during an unprecedented time. Between April…
Introduction This report is the 17th edition of the State of Working West Virginia, an annual series that examines West Virginia’s economy through the lens of its workers—the people who power our state and our economy. Previous editions have examined data on employment, income, racial disparities, job quality, and economic performance. While each year’s report…
This report was co-released by the WVCBP and the Midian Leadership Project. Introduction In the spring of 2023, we at the Midian Leadership Project teamed up with the American Friends Service Committee to host listening sessions with young adults who had spent part of their childhood in the criminal legal system. Read the full report.…