Earlier this summer, the Department of Health and Welfare (DHW) launched a hiring campaign to fill 63 new positions aimed at improving outcomes for children and families across the state. 

While some of the new roles strengthen traditional response services, many are designed with a different goal in mind—keeping families together before a crisis ever occurs.

More than 40 of those new positions have already been filled, but there’s still time to be part of the department’s shift toward more prevention-focused child welfare work. DHW is continuing to recruit passionate, community-minded professionals who want to make a difference.

If you’re ready to help keep families strong and connected, explore the remaining openings and apply today.

These new prevention-focused roles will help identify families at risk and offer the support they need to stay stable, connected, and safe. That might mean helping a parent find mental health services, connecting a caregiver with housing assistance, or working alongside schools to ensure a child’s needs are met at home and in the classroom.

This approach isn’t just compassionate—it’s strategic. Research shows that prevention services can reduce the need for foster care placements, shorten the length of time children remain in care, and improve long-term outcomes for families. It’s also more cost-effective in the long run, reducing the burden on an already strained system.

That’s why Gov. Brad Little and Idaho Legislature invested $23 million into this effort, and why the Department of Health and Welfare launched its statewide hiring campaign to bring the strategy to life. 

The new positions include family services workers, community resource workers, and prevention coordinators—roles that will be embedded in communities across the state. These professionals will work closely with schools, clinics, and nonprofit partners to build a safety net around families in need.

This shift toward prevention represents a culture change within the child welfare system—one that prioritizes early help over late-stage intervention. It’s about seeing the signs, stepping in with support, and empowering families.

To learn more about these new roles or apply, visit: https://statecareers.idaho.gov/search/human-services/jobs?q=dhw. 

Jean Fisher is Division Administrator for Youth Safety and Permanency at the Department of Health and Welfare. 

The Idaho Department of Health and Welfare is dedicated to strengthening the health, safety, and independence of Idahoans. Learn more at healthandwelfare.idaho.gov.