Mountain State Times

The West Virginia Department of Human Services has announced a major initiative to improve the state's child welfare system. A comprehensive statewide stakeholder engagement tour and an Advisory Committee will be launched, with a start date set for mid-May. This effort is intended to create an open dialogue between the Department and key figures involved in child welfare across the state.

For this statewide tour, the Department will collaborate with a team experienced in managing such broad engagement efforts. The initiative will collect insights from a wide array of community members, including service providers, foster parents, legislators, judiciary members, and others involved with the child welfare system.

"This initiative underscores the Department’s commitment to ensuring transparency and continually improving the child welfare system in West Virginia," expressed Secretary Alex Mayer. "By actively seeking and incorporating the input from stakeholders around the state, the Department aims to make meaningful strides toward enhancing the care and support provided to the state’s most vulnerable children and their families."

The planned engagement opportunities will feature stakeholder sessions across various West Virginia locations such as Charleston, Huntington, Parkersburg, and more. These sessions are designed to gather diverse perspectives and encourage community involvement. There will also be judiciary-specific listening sessions to engage legal perspectives on the challenges related to child welfare.

Additionally, targeted focus groups will take place either virtually or in person, involving legislators, foster parents, and judicial members. The aim is to grasp specific issues and suggestions from these key stakeholders.

After completing these sessions, the Department will compile and analyze the feedback into a comprehensive report. This report will include key findings and actionable recommendations for enhancing the child welfare system's effectiveness and responsiveness. An Advisory Committee will also be established, including department leaders, judiciary and legislature representatives, providers, and session facilitators, to guide the implementation of the report's suggested changes.