Federal Audit Finds Major Failures in West Virginia Child Welfare
A federal audit released November 14, 2025 found widespread noncompliance in how the West Virginia Bureau for Social Services handled child abuse and neglect reports, raising concerns for local families in McDowell County. The findings highlight workforce shortages and process gaps that could prompt new training and oversight changes affecting county child welfare operations.
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General published an audit on November 14, 2025 that concluded the West Virginia Department of Human Services Bureau for Social Services failed to meet federal requirements in a large share of child abuse and neglect cases. The audit sampled 100 screened in family reports and found that 91 percent did not meet at least one requirement under the federal Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act.
Key deficiencies identified included incomplete interviews of children and adults, a high number of initial assessments not completed within the required 30 day timeframe, and weaknesses in supervisory oversight and documentation practices. The OIG linked many of the problems to chronic workforce shortages and heavy caseloads, a pattern that the audit said reduced the Bureau's capacity to execute timely assessments and follow up on cases.
The Bureau for Social Services agreed with the audit recommendations and described corrective steps and planned actions to address the gaps. The OIG issued four principal recommendations, which include enhanced training for supervisors, improved system edits to prevent incorrect safety decisions, and new written policies to ensure supervisors monitor case progress and aging reports. The federal office requested updates on the implementation of those recommendations by March 2026.
For residents of McDowell County the audit matters because statewide shortcomings in child welfare practice translate into concrete local risks where staff are limited and needs are high. Rural counties often face recruitment and retention challenges that make meeting federal timelines and documentation standards more difficult. The report signals potential changes in training, resourcing, and oversight that could alter how the county Department of Health and Human Resources and its child welfare partners operate in the coming months.
State and local officials will now be under increased federal scrutiny as they work to implement the OIG recommendations and report progress by March 2026. Families and advocates in McDowell County should expect updates from county DHHR offices about any procedural changes, staffing adjustments, or new supports intended to improve the timeliness and quality of child protection work.
