Slow progress is being made toward improving circumstances for state Child Protective Services workers and the young people they serve. Last week, state Department of Human Service Secretary Alex Mayer announced decreases in child welfare vacancies, which sit at a rate of 8.5% as of Sept. 1, compared with a peak of 27.3% in 2023.

In his announcement, Mayer focused on CPS vacancies in Doddridge, Pleasants, Upshur, Lewis and Ritchie counties, about which concerns had rightly been raised by 3rd Judiciary Circuit Court Judge Tim Sweeney in February. Mayer had been among those DHS and Bureau of Social Services officials ordered by Sweeney to appear to receive assignments as CPS workers at the Ritchie County Courthouse Feb. 20.

Though Sweeney had his hand slapped for the move, it does appear to have spurred action to the benefit of children served in the region. Ritchie County still has vacancy issues, as does Lewis County. But Doddridge, Pleasants and Upshur counties now have zero vacancies.

“Our workforce is the foundation of child welfare,” Mayer said. “By continuing to reduce vacancies and turnover, we are strengthening stability not only for our frontline staff, but also for the children and families who depend on them. We remain focused on giving our workforce the tools, training, and support they need to be successful in this critically important work.”

Among the changes made have been implementing a mentorship program with CPS workers, and traveling Training, Technical Assistance and Practical Application teams that offer one-on-one guidance and support for complex cases. The bureau is also working with Marshall University on a new Trauma-Sensitive Workplace team.

Good. Slow progress is better than none at all.

But Sweeney was right to risk public admonishment for the sake of Mountain State children in desperate need of allies. Here’s hoping Mayer and his colleagues continue to work toward ensuring neither Sweeney nor any other West Virginia judge feels compelled to do so again.