Caring for the Carers: How Child Welfare Workers (and Their Employers) Can Prioritize Health

Child welfare work is not just a career- it’s a calling.
Every day, child welfare professionals step into some of the most complex and emotionally charged situations imaginable, carrying the weight of children’s futures on their shoulders. It’s meaningful work. It’s life-changing work.
But it’s also exhausting work.

And over time, the impact of that chronic stress shows up- in our bodies, our minds, our relationships, and our workplaces.

Here’s the truth we don’t talk about enough:
You can be deeply committed to the mission and take care of your health. In fact, your health is essential to the mission.

When workers are well-supported, everyone wins- including the families and children they serve.

Whether you’re a frontline worker or part of leadership, here’s how we can start shifting the culture toward sustainable, healthier caregiving:

For Child Welfare Workers:

1. Create small moments of regulation throughout the day.
You may not be able to control the chaos around you, but you can create pockets of calm within it. Step outside between visits. Take a few deep breaths before you walk into a home. Listen to calming music on your commute. Tiny resets like these can help your nervous system recover from the constant adrenaline.

2. Prioritize whole foods and regular meals.
Skipping meals or living on coffee and granola bars might feel necessary in the moment, but over time it destabilizes blood sugar and worsens stress responses. Aim to fuel your body with real foods as consistently as you can…not to be “perfect,” but to support your energy and resilience.

3. Protect your evenings and downtime.
The work will never be “done.” That’s the reality of this field.
But you are allowed to rest. You are allowed to have a life outside of your job.
Making time for family, friends, hobbies, or simply a walk in the fresh air isn’t selfish- it’s how you build the capacity to keep showing up.

For Employers and Leaders:

1. Build a culture that normalizes wellness.
Wellness shouldn’t just be a poster in the break room. It needs to be woven into the fabric of how your organization operates. Talk about it in team meetings. Encourage leaders to model it. Celebrate when workers take care of themselves- not just when they “power through.”

2. Make regulation and recovery accessible.
Consider simple policies that support employee wellbeing:

• Encourage use of vacation time without guilt.
• Offer walking meetings when possible.
• Allow flexible scheduling where feasible.
• Bring in resources like wellness coaches, trauma-informed training, or peer support groups.

3. Train for sustainable caregiving, not just skills.
Ongoing training shouldn’t just cover case management or safety plans. Invest in equipping your team to care for themselves in the midst of the work.
The better supported your staff is, the longer they’ll stay- and the better they’ll be able to serve the mission.

The Bottom Line:

Burnout is not a personal failure. It’s an organizational and cultural issue- and one we can change.

The mission matters.
The kids matter.
And the workers matter too.

By taking intentional steps to support the health of child welfare professionals, we can build stronger, healthier systems that last- for everyone.