The West Virginia Department of Human Services (DoHS) today released the full schedule for its upcoming Child Welfare Community Listening Sessions and officially opened public registration.
Beginning May 12, 2025, these in-person sessions will take place across eight locations statewide as part of the broader West Virginia Child Welfare Listening Tour. The initiative is designed to gather candid input from families, caregivers, providers, case workers, legal professionals, and community members on how to strengthen the child welfare system.
“We are asking West Virginians to help shape the future of our child welfare system,” said Alex Mayer, Secretary of the West Virginia Department of Human Services. “The Department is committed to listening with intention and turning that listening into action. Whether you’ve lived through the system or work within it – your perspective matters.”
Register Today to Attend a Community Session
West Virginians can register for a session in their area here:
Sign up here: https://forms.office.com/r/7xU0DWXaxa Community Listening Session Schedule:
May 12 – Hurricane | Valley Park Conference Center | 1 Valley Park Rd, Hurricane, WV 25526
May 13 – Beckley | Beckley Armory | 200 Armory Dr, Beckley, WV 25801
May 14 – Wheeling | Wheeling Armory | 25 Armory Dr, Wheeling, WV 26003
May 15 – Parkersburg | Wood County Resiliency Center | 238 2nd St, Parkersburg, WV
May 19 – Burlington | BUMFS Gymnasium | 120 Hope Ln, Burlington, WV 26710
May 20 – Philippi | Battler’s Knob | 101 College Hill Rd, Philippi, WV 26416
May 21 – Martinsburg | Martinsburg Armory | 731 Novak Drive Martinsburg, WV 25405
May 22 – Morgantown | WVU County Extension Center | 270 Mylan Park Ln, Morgantown, WV 26501
What to Expect at a Session:
- A welcoming, inclusive space – no prep or titles required
- A focus on solutions and ideas for improvement
- A chance to be heard and influence change
Why This Matters:
This effort reflects a growing recognition that lasting improvements must be informed by those who experience and support the child welfare system every day.
The Listening Tour is structured to meet people where they are, both geographically and relationally. It includes:
Community Listening Sessions
- Open to all, these interactive in-person sessions invite a wide range of voices to share ideas, barriers, and co-create community-driven solutions.
Targeted Focused Conversations
- Focused small group conversations with child protection services caseworkers, kinship caregivers, legislators, judges, and legal professionals – designed for more intimate dialogue and to surface role-specific insights that inform both policy and practice.
Feedback from all sessions will be anonymous, synthesized into a statewide report, and translated into an implementation roadmap to guide future improvements.