West Virginia’s Department of Human Services (DHS) is currently traveling the state to host a series of child welfare listening sessions aimed at improving the foster care system.
The tour began this week in Hurricane and will continue through several cities including Beckley, Wheeling, Parkersburg, Burlington, Philippi, Martinsburg, and Morgantown. The goal is to gather input from foster families, case workers, and other key stakeholders.
These sessions come at a critical time for the state. According to WV MetroNews, approximately 6,000 children are currently in state custody.
That number represents thousands of stories, each tied to a child in need of stability, care, and support. Listening sessions like these are a step toward making sure those stories are heard and addressed with compassion and urgency.
At the first stop in Hurricane, foster parents made it clear that one of the biggest issues they face is a lack of communication. One parent shared her experience of being left in the dark when a child was placed in her home.
“From the beginning, we felt like we didn’t get all of the information that we should’ve got,” she said.
“You’re asked to have a child in your home, and you know absolutely nothing about them, and I know that’s what you sign up for, but we felt like a lot of the information that we did get wasn’t even the full truth.
I don’t know if that was intentional, but I just think there needs to be better communication across the board.”
This parent’s concern isn’t just about paperwork or logistics — it’s about trust. Foster families are often stepping in during the most difficult time in a child’s life.
When the system doesn’t provide the information and support they need, it creates unnecessary emotional strain for both the child and the foster family.
She went on to say, “We feel like, sometimes, we are the only ones that are on her side and in her corner, and that’s really hard when she’s been in care for that long and you feel like you’re the only one for her.”
Her words are a powerful reminder that foster families often serve as the front line in a child’s healing process. And when they feel unsupported, it undermines the entire system that’s supposed to protect vulnerable children.
The Department of Human Services deserves credit for initiating these listening sessions, but the real test will be in how they respond. Hearing these stories is not enough — action must follow. That means creating a culture where caseworkers, social services, and foster families all communicate clearly and work together for the child’s best interest.
These children have already experienced trauma. They deserve a system that functions not just administratively, but emotionally — with empathy, transparency, and unity of purpose.
As more voices come forward during the statewide tour, DHS officials must fulfill their responsibility to listen, learn, and make real changes. Foster parents are doing critical work — they shouldn’t feel like they’re doing it alone. A better foster care system is possible, but it starts with the basics: better communication, trust, and shared support.
