By JAN McLAUGHLIN
BG Independent News
Working with abused and neglected children on a daily basis can take a toll.
At the start of 2023, one in five children’s services caseworker positions in Ohio were vacant. By the end of that year, another 20% of the remaining caseworkers had resigned. In 21 counties, turnover reached 40% or more, and nearly half of all caseworkers statewide had less than two years of experience.
A project started at Wood County Job and Family Services is designed to reverse those trends.
The Ohio Child Protective Services Fellowship Program is building a pipeline of talent for children’s services workforces. The program has been so successful that state officials have decided to invest $2 million to expand it to other counties.
The fellowship program partners with universities to recruit students entering their junior year to start the fellowships in their senior year. College students majoring in human services related fields – like psychology, family science and sociology – can apply to work part-time at county public children services agencies, where they will receive valuable training and hands-on experience in these in-demand jobs.
The ultimate goal is to provide students a pathway to full-time employment at the end of the fellowship – and provide needed services to children.
In charge of the program is Jen Whiting, who has 22 years of experience investigating child abuse, neglect and exploitation in Wood County. She designed the curriculum, trained children’s services workers in 12 counties, met with college students, and created a mentor program.
The additional state funding will allow the program to expand to 35 counties.
“We want to show students what Children’s Services is and make them want to be a part of the program,” Whiting said.
The fellowship program allows students still in college to get some core training that is required of children’s services employees.
“So that when they graduate and are offered full-time children’s services jobs they have a lot of required training done,” Whiting said.
Working on child abuse and neglect cases can be overwhelming – especially for new caseworkers. So the fellowship program also teaches students how to balance field work, required documentation, and other mandates.
Some young inexperienced students want to work in professions that help children, Whiting said.
“They have no idea what we really do,” she said. “I would rather they find out while in college.”
The burnout rates are quite high for children’s services workers. And staffing shortages lead to larger caseloads for those still in the profession.
“You have to be built for it,” Whiting said. “You see the darker side of things. Some people have the biggest hearts, but can’t deal with it.”
“It’s a calling. We are public servants. Your community comes to rely on you,” Whiting added.
Students accepted into the fellowship program will earn $15 per hour for up to 26 hours per week, allowing them to work around their class schedules. The students have the chance to gain immediate experience with caseworker duties such as transporting clients, attending home visits and court hearings, documenting cases, and making follow-up calls.
The students learn to conduct drug screens and safety assessments.
“It helps our students with their confidence to go out and knock on that door,” Whiting said.
The program also offers retention incentives and mentoring opportunities to keep students engaged and prepare them for caseworker jobs after graduation.
Research shows that when children’s services caseworkers leave their jobs, the kids they were helping often spend more time in foster care. Expanding the fellowship program not only provides learning and working experience for students striving to make a difference in their communities, but it also ensures that Ohio’s most vulnerable children and families continue to receive the care and stability needed during critical times in their lives.
Wood County Job and Family Services will continue to manage the program during this phase of expansion. The $2 million investment will nearly double the number of fellowship programs from 19 to 35 counties.
Funding will support 75 part-time fellowship positions for students.
