In Charleston, West Virginia, a judge has mandated the supervision of child protective services’ placement strategies, particularly concerning children being housed in hotels and temporary camps. This directive follows a disturbing incident where a 12-year-old boy, under state care, attempted suicide in a hotel room. Coinciding with these developments, a federal judge dismissed a longstanding class action lawsuit targeting West Virginia’s welfare system on behalf of foster children.
The appointed overseer for the Department of Human Services, Cindy Largent-Hill, is tasked with the oversight role for a year, as ordered by Circuit Court Judge Maryclaire Akers. Hill is responsible for gathering data and producing public reports on the conditions of children placed in non-licensed facilities. The decision stems from troubling reports of children experiencing severe mental health crises and violence while being inadequately housed.
This issue isn’t isolated to West Virginia. Across the United States, agencies have long faced challenges in providing suitable emergency accommodations for foster children, especially for those with complex needs. Recent scrutiny in Kentucky revealed concerning instances of children spending nights in offices while awaiting placement. In Kansas, a class-action lawsuit resulted in a settlement mandating the state to cease housing foster children in non-welfare facilities.
West Virginia, severely affected by the opioid crisis, has the highest rate of foster care placements relative to its population, with over 6,000 children currently in the system. The class action lawsuit, originally filed in 2019, highlighted the state’s systemic failures, including a dearth of caseworkers and insufficient mental health support. While dismissing the suit, U.S. District Judge Joseph R. Goodwin acknowledged the suffering of children in state care but emphasized that the responsibility for systemic reform lies with state government, not the courts.
The court’s focus intensified following the attempted suicide of a boy in a hotel after being removed from a problematic foster care setting. The child, who has faced significant trauma and mental health issues, had previously required hospitalization. Judge Akers expressed concern over the lack of communication regarding the child’s situation, noting it as a repeated failure by the state to disclose critical information. An absence of a Child Protective Services worker due to illness contributed to this issue.
Akers insisted on implementing better communication protocols to prevent future lapses, stressing the state’s moral and legal duty to protect vulnerable children who lack the power to make decisions about their well-being. Alex Mayer, the new Cabinet Secretary of the Department of Human Services, who recently assumed his role after working in South Dakota, pledged to address these systemic problems. Recognizing the nationwide flaws in foster care systems, Mayer is actively engaging with service providers to enhance the quality of care.
Mayer supported the introduction of the monitoring system, advocating for more appropriate environments for foster children instead of temporary hotels. “Our aim is to ensure these children receive the treatment and supportive care they require,” he stated.
