Key Takeaways
- Grove generalist Jan Welsh draws on 27 years of social work experience to support caseworkers.
- Most caseworkers say they never want to return to working without Grove support.
- Caseworker Maya Zoulek gained time for home visits and deeper family relationships.
- Grove handles records requests, note transcription, and follow-up calls that pile up fast.
- Maya found Grove team members feel like a natural extension of her own agency.
- Both perspectives emphasize that support is about people feeling seen, not just paperwork.
Ask 10 caseworkers what they need most, and you’ll likely hear the same answer: more time. Managed services like Grove (formerly Case Aide Services) are built to give that time back.
But the real story is in how that support feels day to day for the people doing the work. At Northwoods, we asked two people close to that experience to share it in their own words.
Real Perspectives from the People Behind the Work
When we talk about Grove, we often focus on the numbers: time saved, reduced burnout, better retention. But what really matters is how it feels for the people living it every day—both those providing the service and those receiving it.
This month, we’re sharing firsthand insights from two voices who know the impact of managed services inside and out:
- Jan Welsh, one of our own Grove generalists here at Northwoods
- Maya Zoulek, M.A., a family services caseworker at Athens County Children Services
Meet Jan: Grove Generalist, Northwoods
For Jan Welsh, supporting caseworkers through Grove isn’t just a job—it’s personal.
With 27 years of experience in community social work, Jan knows the emotional weight frontline workers carry. Now, in her role as a Grove team member, she helps lift some of that weight by managing the behind-the-scenes work that so often pulls caseworkers away from what matters most: the families they serve.
“Caseworkers don’t have enough time to do everything they’re required to do or want to do for the families they serve. Case Aide Services [Grove] gives them some of that time back so they can focus on face-to-face visits and better coordinate services.”
Jan’s days are filled with everything from handling record requests to troubleshooting new challenges that come in from the field. But what drives her is knowing the difference that support makes.
“Most workers say they never want to go back to how things were before Case Aide Services [Grove].”
It’s not always easy—the work can be intense, fast-paced, and deadline-driven. But Jan understands the stakes. She’s lived it herself.
“Burnout is real. Getting support from Case Aide Services [Grove] can help caseworkers feel like they have someone there to back them up. When workers feel supported, they not only continue the work—they do it at a higher level.”
Get an inside look at how our Grove team works.
Meet Maya: Family Services Caseworker, Athens County Children Services
For Maya Zoulek, the biggest challenge before Grove was time. There simply wasn’t enough of it.
“I didn’t have the capacity as one person to complete all the tasks involved in providing effective case management.”
Since adopting Grove, Maya’s been able to shift her focus back to what matters most—her clients.
“Case Aide Services [Grove] has given me time back to focus on direct service with the families I serve. I can spend more time completing home visits and building stronger, more collaborative relationships.”
The difference shows up in the details, getting help with an array of tasks:
- Submitting records requests and referrals
- Typing handwritten notes
- Making important follow-up calls
These may all seem like small tasks, but they pile up fast.
“As new challenges arise, Case Aide Services [Grove] has been there to tackle them with me. The more I’ve used it, the more consistent and helpful the support has become.”
Maya admits she was initially unsure about how it would feel to work with people outside her immediate agency. But those concerns quickly disappeared.
“I was surprised by how natural it feels. The Case Aides [Grove team members] feel like an extension of my agency coworkers because of how communicative and collaborative they are.”
Explore results from health and human services agencies that partner with Northwoods.
The Bottom Line: It’s About People, Not Just Paperwork
The common thread in both Jan’s and Maya’s stories is simple: Support matters.
It’s not just about managing paperwork.
It’s about making space for caseworkers to connect, to breathe, and to do the work they signed up for in the first place. It’s about creating a work environment where people feel seen, valued, and equipped to succeed.
As Jan puts it:
“Case Aide Services [Grove] helps those special people who want to serve others, with little regard for recognition, to keep going. It’s worth the investment so they have what they need to do their very difficult job well.”
See how Grove affects the metrics that matter most for your agency.
Ready to Hear What Grove Could Mean for Your Team?
Jan and Maya’s stories are just two of many.
Get in touch with Northwoods if you’re curious what Grove support could look like for your caseworkers. We’d love to chat!
