Clay County approves replacement hire for child protection social worker amid turnover concerns

The Clay County Board of Commissioners on July 8 authorized social services to replace a social worker in the child protection division following a resignation.

Quinn, director of social services, told the board the role is a case-management position responsible for child safety, court-related activity, documentation and coordination with community partners. Quinn said the job supports “mandated timelines” and noted the division faces high turnover tied to secondary trauma and administrative burdens: “the average tenure of a CPS worker is 1.8 years. I ran the math. This staff was at 1.96 years.”

Nut graf: Maintaining staffing in child protection, Quinn said, is essential to meet legal timelines and court requirements. The position is fully budgeted at grade 18, step 3; a new hire would likely start at step 1, producing an estimated annual savings of $6,899 relative to the vacated step.

Quinn asked the board to approve a backfill hire rather than reassigning existing staff. Commissioners thanked CPS staff for difficult work and asked whether additional peer support or therapeutic resources could help retention; Quinn described prior uses of reflective supervision and said the office uses multiple strategies but had no immediate single remedy.

Commissioner Abinger moved approval to hire and backfill the child protection social worker; Commissioner Kravinoff seconded. The chair called for the ayes and the board approved the hire by voice vote.

The action restores the vacant, budgeted post; Quinn said the replacement hire would help prevent strain on remaining staff and support retention efforts.