The West Virginia Department of Human Services (DoHS) has reported a decrease in vacancy and turnover rates among Child Protective Services (CPS) and Youth Services (YS) staff in 2025. This follows targeted efforts to address staffing shortages identified at the beginning of the year, particularly in Doddridge, Pleasants, Upshur, Lewis, and Ritchie counties.
Vacancy rates for CPS positions dropped from 44% on January 1, 2025, to 14.3% by June 30, 2025. Statewide data shows further improvement with an 8.5% vacancy rate as of September 1, down from 12.1% at the start of the year and from 27.3% in 2023. Turnover rates have also declined; CPS turnover stands at 15% in 2025 compared to 22.7% in 2024 and over 34% in 2021. Combined CPS and YS turnover is now at its lowest level in five years at 14.9%.
Alex Mayer, Cabinet Secretary of the West Virginia Department of Human Services, said: “Our workforce is the foundation of child welfare. 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.”
To help new employees adapt to their roles and improve retention rates, DoHS’s Bureau for Social Services (BSS), along with the Office of Human Resource Management’s Talent Acquisition and Retention Programs team, launched a mentorship program pairing new CPS workers with experienced staff for regular sessions during their first nine months.
Additionally, BSS provides job-specific training through its Training, Technical Assistance, and Practical Application (TTAPA) team. TTAPA staff offer one-on-one guidance both remotely and onsite by pairing new hires with trainers for weekly sessions focused on real-world casework.
District visits by Program Managers and Child Welfare Consultants give individualized support on complex cases.
Recognizing challenges faced by child welfare professionals, BSS partnered with Marshall University Center of Excellence for Recovery to form a Trauma-Sensitive Workplace (TSW) team that delivers crisis response services, peer support groups, and trauma-informed training.
DoHS continues efforts to support employee well-being through enhanced training opportunities and streamlined hiring processes. The department emphasizes that workforce stability is essential for child safety outcomes.
More information about DoHS child welfare programs can be found at humanservices.wv.gov. Those interested in careers can visit www.governmentjobs.com/careers/osawv.
