It's one of the more important jobs when it comes to keeping kids safe, but unfortunately, it often goes unnoticed. Child welfare workers perform a difficult and critical job.

“They’re our front-line workers,” said New York State Office of Children and Family Services (OCFS) Commissioner Suzanne Miles-Gustave said. “They’re on the ground for us making sure our families are thriving.”

Child welfare workers are dedicated to helping children, young adults and their families navigate problems life can bring.

“My children and I wouldn’t be together without all of the work that you do,” said Moriah Baer.

It’s stories like Baer’s, a recipient of preventative care, that highlight the difference the workers make on a daily basis.

“My team has taught me how to utilize food pantries, churches, local transportation networks, different types of support groups for single mothers, or mothers with children with special needs, and so much more,” she said.

That’s why this week, OCFS is honoring its child welfare workers across the state.

“Today, we elevate our gratitude for the child welfare workforce,” said Acting Deputy Commissioner Gail Geohagen-Pratt.

Raising up people like Madlyn Aldridge.

“I started this work to put myself out of business,” Aldridge said.

Aldridge has been with Child Protective Services for more than two decades. She calls being a family's guiding light a privilege.

“We’ve got capable families, we’ve got capable community services,” she said. “We have folks out there that truly give everything and care everything for the children in our community and for our parents.”

Unfortunately, there are not as many people like Aldridge as the state would like, with some counties reporting vacancies as high as 50%.

“It’s a hard job. It’s a tough job,” Miles-Gustave said. “Things happen 24/7. It's a 24/7-operation, so the workforce is in crisis.”

Using its state-of-the-art Human Services Training Center, which houses a number of classrooms and a number of hands-on training simulations, the state is dedicated to recruiting and retaining as many child welfare workers as possible.

“We have professional actors in the roles of family members, simulating scenarios as close to our work in the field as we can facilitate,” explained child welfare trainer Jennifer Booe.

So while not glamorous, it’s one of the most rewarding professions.

“The people who are on these positions care,” Miles-Gustave said. “They care about their communities. They care about children and families.”