West Virginia Judge Orders Monitor for Foster Care Amid Safety Concerns

A Kanawha County judge has appointed a monitor to oversee the West Virginia Department of Human Services (DoHS) in response to serious concerns about the improper placement of foster children in hotels and camps. This decision follows a tragic incident in which a 12-year-old boy attempted suicide after being housed in a hotel. Judge Maryclaire Akers emphasized the need for immediate improvement, citing troubling reports of children exhibiting violent behavior and experiencing mental health crises in these placements. The appointed monitor, Cindy Largent-Hill, will collect data and report on the conditions of these unlicensed facilities over the next year. West Virginia, facing an overwhelming foster care crisis exacerbated by the opioid epidemic, currently has over 6,000 children in foster care. The situation reflects broader national concerns, as similar issues of inadequate placements for vulnerable children have been reported in other states.