The Vermont Department for Children and Families’ (DCF) mission is to foster healthy development, safety, well-being, and self-sufficiency of Vermonters. The Department is structured around six Divisions that deliver programs and services to Vermonters; one of those Divisions is the Family Services Division (“FSD”). FSD administers several programs that engage families, foster and kin caregivers, partner agencies and the community to ensure child and youth safety, wellbeing, and increase law abidance for Vermont youth. The Family Services Division frequently handles high-stress and high-risk situations. The lasting impact of this stress can be harmful to employees, and FSD works to imbed wellness support into the culture of this division. Wellness navigation services can connect employees with services that will benefit physical and mental well-being, create and sustain a culture of wellness in child welfare work, and help employees navigate the benefits/health systems that they have access to. Staff experience and input will drive this initiative. FSD shall prioritize staff needs, medical and non-medical, aligning their wellness initiatives with what is being presented in the districts. FSD is seeking to enter into a contract or contracts with one or more vendors to provide wellness navigation services to its staff. This therapeutic professional would work with the Workforce Development Director to support the entire FSD staff, with tailored work to be done in each of the 12 district offices as well as facilitate a wellness workgroup for FSD.
