MORGANTOWN, W.Va. (WVDN) – Governor Patrick Morrisey today outlined West Virginia’s ongoing efforts to strengthen the child welfare system and ensure every child has access to a safe, stable home while speaking at the Child Welfare Summit at Chestnut Mountain Village.
“Every child in West Virginia deserves a safe, stable place to call home, and we are committed to building a system that delivers exactly that,” said Governor Morrisey. “We are making real, structural changes that focus on outcomes, strengthen families, and ensure that when children need help, we are there to support them.”
The “A Home for Every Child” initiative is part of a national effort to increase the number of foster homes and improve outcomes for children in care. The initiative allows states greater flexibility to modernize child welfare systems and focus on measurable results.
In a short period of time, the Morrisey Administration has taken significant steps to reform a struggling system by expanding partnerships with providers, community organizations, and faith-based groups to intervene earlier. There is also a focus on preventing unnecessary foster care placements, as well as increasing capacity for high-needs youth within the state.
Additionally, the administration is restructuring leadership and operations statewide to improve accountability and consistency, while implementing real-time data monitoring to better track performance and identify challenges. Additionally, West Virginia is modernizing decision-making through the SAFE (Safety Assessment and Family Evaluation) Model, an evidence-based approach designed to improve safety outcomes and reduce unnecessary removals.
Furthermore, efforts are underway to expand foster home capacity, improve placement stability, and reduce barriers in the certification process so more families can step forward. These changes are helping keep children closer to home and reducing reliance on out-of-state placements.
“Strong families are the foundation of strong communities, and strong communities are essential to West Virginia’s long-term success,” Governor Morrisey said. “By investing in our children and improving stability in their lives, we are also making one of the most important investments we can make in our state’s future.”
The Child Welfare Summit brought together state leaders, child welfare professionals, providers, and community stakeholders to discuss ongoing reforms and collaborative solutions to better serve children and families across West Virginia.
