Senate committee advances bill to pilot private community‑based child‑welfare lead‑agency model

CHARLESTON, W.Va. — The Senate Judiciary Committee on Thursday advanced a committee substitute for Senate Bill 937 that would test a private community‑based child‑welfare model in two West Virginia regions before any broader rollout.

The substitute, as explained by committee counsel, would create a pilot program scheduled to begin January 1, 2027, in two separate regions: an urbanized area covering Berkeley and Jefferson counties and a more rural area covering Raleigh, Fayette, Summers and Monroe counties. If the Legislature takes no action after a required 12‑month evaluation, the substitute sets a default statewide expansion date of July 1, 2029 (the committee amended the original 2028 expansion date during debate).

Why it matters: Supporters say the lead‑agency, public‑private model shifts day‑to‑day case management and service coordination from the state to vetted private lead agencies and their subcontracted provider networks, which can build local capacity and reduce placements away from home. Opponents warned the change could strain an already tight workforce and raise fiscal and legal questions unless payment, oversight and procurement details are tightly specified.

What the bill would do: Counsel told the committee the state bureau would retain authority for referrals, the initial abuse and neglect investigation, safety assessments, emergency custody decisions and preliminary hearings. After courts order services, lead agencies would assume case management, coordinate providers, oversee placements and carry certain contractual risks under negotiated case‑rate payments and shared‑risk provisions. The substitute also adds rulemaking authority and a 12‑month reporting requirement on outcomes and fiscal experience.

Evidence and witness testimony: Carrie Bohm, CEO of the National Center for Community Based Child Welfare, testified that community‑based care programs in other states have reduced time in state custody and increased kinship placements when coupled with strong oversight, clear contracts and performance measurement. “Community‑based care represents an investment, not simply in services, but in system design,” she said.

Angie Hamilton, executive director of Pressley Ridge, described two years of experience operating a single‑source lead agency in eastern Texas and gave performance figures the committee asked her to substantiate: from April 2024 to September 2025 her region reported more than 700 youth discharged from care, with high percentages placed with family or adopted and a majority remaining in their region. She said Texas used phased implementation, open procurement and negotiation on budgets to ensure lead agencies could pay providers and maintain services.

Mia Johnson, CEO of Burlington United Methodist Family Services, urged caution. She told senators her Martinsburg office has fallen from 15 staff to five and described long waits for mental‑health appointments and housing assistance in the Eastern Panhandle. “If we cannot find the funding to help do that, where is the funding going to come from to make this happen?” she asked.

Jeremiah Samples, a lobbyist who represents provider groups, warned of fiscal complexity. He told the committee the Bureau for Social Services’ FY‑27 budget proposal approaches $700 million and the Medicaid contract for foster‑care services is about $200 million, and said actuarial work and potential infrastructure grants mean the pilot could require tens of millions of dollars of dedicated resources, even if funded out of existing appropriations.

Committee changes and safeguards: Lawmakers debated alterations designed to reduce procurement, fiscal and operational risk. The committee adopted an amendment requiring the bid process to begin on or before Jan. 1, 2027; contract awards by July 1, 2027; service implementation by Jan. 1, 2028; and a progress report to the Legislative Audit/Committee body by Dec. 1, 2026. The substitute also keeps statutory provider qualifications: organizations must be in good standing, demonstrate accreditation or equivalent capacity, show financial solvency and operational readiness, and be able to serve assigned cases. Counsel noted existing code requires insurers or providers to carry liability coverage (statutory BRIM/insurance limits are referenced elsewhere in code).

Opposition and support: Senators expressed a range of views — some urged caution and additional safeguards on finances, data systems and unwinding options if pilots fail; others argued the state must try new models where current systems are not meeting children’s needs. The committee debated adding a statutory sunset or a specified pilot duration before statewide rollout; the adopted approach keeps a staged timeline with reporting checkpoints rather than a hard automatic statewide conversion without legislative action.

Outcome and next steps: The committee voted 13–1 to report the committee substitute for SB 937 to the full Senate with a recommendation that it pass. The roll call and accompanying amendments will be included in the committee record; the full Senate will consider the substituted bill next.