New Hampshire DHHS Seeks 5% Wage Boost for ~160 Youth Services Center Staff Amid Critical Staffing Shortage

NewsData.io · United States · Aug 31, 2026

New Hampshire's Department of Health and Human Services is requesting Executive Council approval for a temporary 5% wage enhancement for up to 163 youth counselors, probation officers, and support staff at the Sununu Youth Services Center, at a cost of $1.2 million per pay period through June 2027. The facility faces a 19.6% vacancy rate among youth counselors, with additional staff out on injury leave following violent incidents. The state has already contracted Amergis Healthcare Staffing for temporary staffing support and reclassified eight vacant positions to bolster headcount. The situation illustrates how public-sector staffing shortages in high-acuity environments drive both wage inflation and reliance on temporary staffing agencies.