Policy & Practice | Spring 2024

from our partners By Laura Haffield

Providing Consistency in Chaos: How to Stabilize the Human Services Workforce

“Every worker needs more hands, more eyes, more ears, more time to complete all the requirements of this job and to do it well. We have seen huge turnover in child welfare for the last several years and it all goes back to that feeling that there is simply more to be done than what is possible.” T his quote from Loree Walker, protective services program administrator for Jackson County Job and Family Services (JFS), sum marizes a common issue for human services agencies across the country that feel the effects of the ongoing workforce crisis. Overwhelmed staff is trying to keep up with demands, while resources remain limited. As noted in a recent caseload study, 1 understaffing only leads to more understaffing as pressure grows with every departure and position that sits unfilled. “There is a need to urgently and quickly respond to families’ needs, and all this leads to increased pressure, overwhelming stress, and burnout,” Walker said. Despite these challenges, thoughtful leaders are tackling staffing shortages in ways that both address immediate needs while positioning the industry to be more sustainable in the future. They are looking for new ways to solve old problems. In Ohio, Jackson County JFS is leading the charge. Solving the Caseworker Crisis with Jackson County JFS Consider all the paperwork that workers are responsible for— requesting records, summarizing extensive case information, processing

staff and partners with workers to complete work, support case reviews, and connect with external providers on their behalf. As a result, workers can focus on the peoplework, while receiving dedicated support on the critical yet burdensome paperwork. “Case Aide Services provides staff with the ability to reallocate their time and dedicate themselves to focusing on child safety and well-being,” said Tammy Osborne-Smith, director of Jackson County JFS. “Staff is actually able to shift their focus, provide services and support, and share resources with families and children versus working hours on end on data entry and obtaining documentation.”

referrals, preparing documents for court, and organizing files. Often caseworkers feel they have more admin istrative tasks to complete than hours in the day, which limits their ability to prioritize time with clients—the “peoplework” that drew many of them to human services in the first place. Since 64 percent of burnout stems from these work-related factors, 2 Jackson County JFS recognized it can support workers by removing these time-consuming tasks from their to-do lists altogether. This is why Jackson County JFS partnered with Northwoods to provide Case Aide Services to child welfare workers. With Case Aide Services, a team of Northwoods’ social services experts becomes an extension of the agency’s

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Illustration by Chris Campbell

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Spring 2024 Policy & Practice