Behind every policy, program, and process in human services, there’s a person—someone showing up each day to serve families, children, and communities. These helpers are the backbone of the system. And yet, they’re often asked to do the impossible: juggle overwhelming caseloads, manage mountains of paperwork, and still be fully present for the people who need them most.
At Northwoods, we believe the best way to honor these frontline workers is by making sure they feel supported. That means giving them tools and services that ease their administrative burden so they can focus on what really matters: people.
A Human-First Approach
When agencies use Traverse, caseworkers gain more than a digital case file—they gain time. Time to prepare for visits. Time to respond to families. Time to connect instead of chase paperwork.
When agencies add Case Aide Services (CAS), that support goes even further. Trained case aides step in to handle critical but time-consuming tasks—like records requests, data entry, or preparing review documents—so workers can devote their energy to families.
And when workers are empowered, the ripple effect is enormous.
Supporting Families through Kinship Care
September marks Kinship Care Month, a time to recognize relatives and extended families who step in when children can’t remain with their parents. Supporting these families is essential to permanency and stability, but it’s also complex, requiring caseworkers to locate and connect with extended family members.
Technology can make that job easier. As one Mesa County caseworker shared:
I was able to locate extended family for a child who was really struggling with behaviors and unable to be stabilized in any local placements.
This is just one example of how giving caseworkers the right tools helps them achieve better outcomes for kids and families.
Why It Matters
Research shows that consistency is key: children who remain with a single caseworker throughout their time in care achieve permanency 74.5% of the time. But when turnover forces them to work with multiple caseworkers, those odds plummet. In fact, with six or more caseworkers, permanency rates drop to just 0.1%.
That’s why reducing burnout and turnover isn’t just about helping workers—it’s about helping children find stability and permanency faster.
Honoring Helpers, Together
At Northwoods, we see our role as simple: make life easier for the people doing the hardest jobs. Traverse and CAS were designed with this mission in mind—so caseworkers, supervisors, and leaders can spend less time on tasks and more time with people.
Want to see how agencies are putting this into action? Join us for our upcoming webinar:
Less Admin, More Impact: The Case Aide Services Advantage
Learn how today’s most forward-thinking agencies are using CAS to meet growing demands without burning out their staff.
Thursday, Sept. 18 | 2:30–3:30 PM EST
Register here
You’ll hear directly from our case aides and a customer about how CAS is transforming the way agencies support their workforce.
Final Thought
Frontline workers are the heart of human services. By investing in the tools and services that support them, we honor their commitment and help build stronger families and stronger communities.
