The Senate Judiciary Committee meeting held on March 21, 2025, focused on the challenges faced by the Department for Children and Families (DCF) in Vermont, particularly regarding staffing shortages and employee turnover rates. The meeting began with discussions on the difficulties in hiring qualified personnel due to the high cost of living in Vermont and the ongoing trend of residents moving out of the state.

A representative from DCF reported that the agency currently has 17 vacancies, down from a peak of 28 vacancies six months prior. Efforts to address these shortages include targeted recruitment strategies and the reassignment of family services workers to central office roles to better manage workloads. Despite these efforts, the representative emphasized the need for more workers who possess the necessary skills and dedication for the demanding roles within the agency.

The committee also inquired about turnover rates over the past five years. The representative indicated that while the turnover rate had previously peaked at 16%, it has recently decreased to 6%. Exit interviews revealed that reasons for leaving include work-life balance issues, interpersonal relationships within the office, and the high cost of living, which has prompted some employees to relocate.

The discussion highlighted that both newer employees and those with longer tenure are leaving, indicating a mix of factors contributing to the turnover. The representative expressed concern over losing valued employees and reiterated the importance of retaining skilled workers to ensure the effectiveness of DCF services.

The meeting concluded with a commitment to further investigate the turnover data and continue efforts to improve recruitment and retention strategies within the department.