West Virginia Foster Care Crisis: Children Forced to Live in Hotels Raises Safety Concerns
Foster Care in Crisis: West Virginia’s Children Left in Hotels Due to Placement Shortages
West Virginia is facing a growing foster care crisis, with reports surfacing that some of the state's 6,000 foster children are being housed in hotels and temporary facilities due to a lack of available foster homes and mental health care placements. Kanawha County Judge Maryclaire Akers has called for state officials to appear in court to address the safety and well-being of these children, a move that highlights the ongoing failures of the child welfare system.
This situation is not unique to West Virginia. Across the country, foster care systems are overburdened, often removing children from their biological homes too quickly without having adequate resources to care for them properly. Research suggests that children in foster care face significantly worse outcomes compared to those who remain with their families, even under challenging circumstances.
Judge Calls Out West Virginia DHS Over Foster Care Hotel Crisis
Judge Maryclaire Akers has ordered state and county officials, including the new West Virginia Department of Human Services (DHS) Cabinet Secretary Alex Mayer, to appear in court following reports that children were being placed in hotels due to the lack of foster home placements.
“The court is well aware of the lack of emergency placements available for children across the state of West Virginia.” – Judge Maryclaire Akers
Foster children placed in hotels are often under the supervision of Child Protective Services (CPS) workers, who are already stretched thin with high caseloads. This situation has sparked concerns for both the children’s well-being and the social workers tasked with caring for them.
Alarming Incidents Reported in West Virginia Hotels
Court records indicate serious safety concerns at the hotels housing foster children:
A Guardian ad Litem reported that a foster child allegedly attempted suicide at a hotel
Information about the suicide attempt was allegedly left out of case summaries
Reports of children attacking staff and each other
Children experiencing medical distress, seizures, and suicidal thoughts
Poor living conditions, including reports of mold in one facility
These alarming incidents demonstrate the dangerous reality for children placed in unregulated temporary housing.
Do Children in Foster Care Face Worse Outcomes Than in Their Biological Homes?
Research has consistently shown that children in foster care often experience worse long-term outcomes compared to those who remain with their biological families, even in less-than-ideal conditions. Here are some critical statistics:
Mental Health Decline
50% to 80% of foster children suffer from mental health disorders (CAFO)
Foster children are twice as likely to suffer from PTSD as combat veterans (Child Trends)
Homelessness Epidemic
31% to 46% of former foster youth experience homelessness by age 26 (Youth.gov)
Education Struggles
Only 56% of foster youth graduate high school, compared to 82% of the general population (Foster Care Independence Act)
Only 3% of foster children obtain a college degree (National Foster Youth Institute)
Drug Use and Crime
34% of foster children report struggling with illicit drug use, compared to 22% of their non-foster peers (Psych Central)
70% of inmates in state prisons have spent time in foster care (National Institute of Justice)
Foster Care and Human Trafficking
60% of child sex trafficking victims in the U.S. have a history in the foster care system (Administration for Children and Families)
These statistics paint a devastating picture of the foster care system, showing that children removed from their biological families often face a higher risk of mental health struggles, homelessness, substance abuse, and trafficking.
Lawmakers Push for Urgent Reform in West Virginia Foster Care
West Virginia lawmakers have acknowledged the severity of the crisis, with Del. Shawn Fluharty (D-Ohio) stating that more funding must be allocated to child welfare services:
“The circuit court has an obligation to protect our children, much like our legislature does. Quite honestly, the legislature hasn’t been doing enough.” – Del. Shawn Fluharty
The foster care crisis in West Virginia highlights the urgent need for change. Lawmakers, judges, and child welfare advocates are calling for:
Increased funding for foster care programs
More mental health facilities for children
Support for biological families to prevent unnecessary removals
Better screening and support for foster parents
Conclusion: The Need for Reform and Family Preservation
The West Virginia foster care hotel crisis is yet another example of a broken system failing the children it is supposed to protect. While some children need to be removed from unsafe homes, too often, children are taken without fully exploring options for family preservation.
Research shows that children who remain with their biological families—when supported with services—often fare better than those placed in foster care. Rather than prioritizing removals, child welfare agencies should focus on:
Providing financial and mental health support to struggling families
Expanding kinship care to keep children with relatives
Investing in resources to prevent child welfare involvement in the first place
The situation in West Virginia is a wake-up call. Without major reforms, the foster care system will continue to place children in unsafe conditions, with devastating long-term consequences.
