President Nygren Announces Long-Awaited Salary Boost for Child Welfare Employees After Decades

WINDOW ROCK – After 30 years, tribal employees with the Navajo Division of Children and Family Services (NDCFS) will finally receive their long-overdue salary adjustments—an average increase of over 22.13%.

On Thursday, September 18, Navajo Nation President Buu Nygren and his cabinet members from the Navajo Division of Children and Family Services and the Navajo Department of Health signed a memo addressed to Reycita Toddy, division director of the Navajo Division of Human Resources, to implement the salary adjustments.

“Our goal is to achieve equitable, competitive salaries across all divisions and programs,” said Navajo Nation President Buu Nygren. “I pledge to prioritize creating a work environment where every employee feels valued, appreciated, and motivated to serve our community.”

With 450 employees across six different programs, they will benefit from these salary adjustments. Many employees under NDCFS are federally funded and have waited years to receive their Cost-of-Living Adjustments (COLA).

Reaching this milestone involved more than two years of dedicated effort from NDCFS Director Thomas Cody and his team, who launched a campaign to bring COLA to tribal employees—a move aimed at improving morale through targeted salary increases.

Salary Increase Effective Dates of NDCFS Department/Program:

• October 1, 2024 – Department of Child Care & Development
• July 1, 2025 – Development Disabilities Program and Arizona Long Term Care Services
• October 1, 2025 – Department of Family Services, Department for Self-Reliance, Navajo Indian Child Welfare Act Program, Navajo Treatment Center for Children & Their Families, Financial Assistance Unit

“Appropriate compensation for Navajo Nation employees is a priority of this administration, particularly as we compete to recruit, hire, and retain qualified professionals with competitive salaries and benefits,” President Nygren said. “I am committed to ensuring the NDCFS remains staffed with qualified professionals who serve the most vulnerable members of the Navajo Nation.”