Governor Patrick Morrisey announced on May 7 that West Virginia will participate in the national “A Home for Every Child” initiative, a collaborative program with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Administration for Children and Families. The effort aims to improve outcomes for children and strengthen the foster care system across the state.
The initiative is intended to increase the ratio of foster homes to children in foster care while providing states more flexibility to modernize child welfare systems, reduce bureaucracy, and focus on measurable results for children and families.
“Every child deserves the opportunity to grow up in a safe, stable, and loving home,” said Governor Morrisey. “West Virginia is committed to strengthening families, supporting foster parents, improving permanency outcomes, and ensuring our child welfare system is focused on what matters most – protecting children and helping them thrive. This partnership allows us to continue modernizing our system while empowering frontline workers and community partners to better serve children and families across our state.”
Morrisey made this announcement alongside Assistant Secretary Alex Adams during an event highlighting ongoing reforms within West Virginia’s child welfare programs. These reforms include expanded prevention efforts, stronger coordination with providers and faith-based organizations, implementation of the SAFE (Safety Assessment and Family Evaluation) Model, improvements in recruiting and retaining foster parents, as well as enhanced accountability measures throughout the system.
“Momentum continues to build behind A Home for Every Child. The Trump administration is thrilled to welcome West Virginia as the 19th state to join our national initiative aimed at increasing the ratio of foster homes to children in foster care,” said Assistant Secretary Alex J. Adams. “Under Governor Morrisey’s leadership, the state will be able to strengthen efforts that keep families safely together and support foster family recruitment and retention to ensure no child has to wait on a safe, loving, stable home.”
The “A Home for Every Child” program forms part of President Donald J. Trump’s broader agenda focusing on prevention-based reforms within child welfare systems nationwide.
