Why CPS Reform and Family Accountability Matter

West Virginia’s child welfare system has one of the most serious responsibilities government can carry: protecting children while making decisions that can permanently change families. That responsibility demands fairness, transparency, strong oversight, and meaningful accountability.

CPS reform is one of the issues Ronnie believes deserves serious attention in Charleston, not to weaken child protection, but to strengthen a system that must be trusted by the children, families, workers, and communities it serves.

Protecting Children and Respecting Due Process

Protecting children must always come first. At the same time, families deserve clear procedures, fair hearings, accurate records, and decisions that can withstand real scrutiny. A strong child welfare system should be able to protect children while also respecting due process and the rights of the people involved.

Accountability Must Be Real

When policies are ignored, records are inaccurate, conflicts of interest go unchecked, or families are left without meaningful ways to challenge decisions, trust in the system breaks down. Ronnie supports stronger oversight, clearer standards, and real consequences when the system fails the people it is supposed to protect.

A Better System for West Virginia Families

West Virginia can protect children while also building a system that is more transparent, more consistent, and more accountable. Reform should focus on better oversight, stronger safeguards, clearer procedures, and making sure every decision is centered on the best interests of children while respecting the rights of families.

Learn More About Ronnie’s Priorities

Visit RonnieOakley.us/issues-priorities to read more about Ronnie’s positions on CPS reform, government accountability, infrastructure, healthcare, education, veterans, economic opportunity, and other priorities for District 39.