Download or read book Using Systems Theory and Social Exchange Theory to Understand Factors that Impact Retention Turnover and Motivation to Work in a Public Child Welfare Agency written by Nicole G. Willis and published by . This book was released on 2010 with total page 332 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Public child welfare work can be extremely challenging in a system with more complex client needs, limited funding and greater demands placed on caseworkers. Retention and maintaining motivated employees is a challenge among child welfare agencies. An exploratory, mixed-model secondary data analysis research study utilizing systems and social exchange theories was conducted to explore the impact of demographic/personal, professional and organizational factors on motivation to work, as well as the impact of Title IV-E training and level of motivation to work on intent to remain employed and intent to leave among CPS caseworkers (N=610) in Texas. Results from the standard multiple regression analysis were consistent with systems theory, demonstrating motivation to work was impacted most strongly by variables from all three sub-systems: practice skills, collegial support and age. Content analyses on qualitative data revealed thematic differences between low and high motivated groups in terms of intent to remain and leave, in terms of perceived competency/purpose, importance of job stability and helping children. Those with higher motivation levels express stronger congruence between personal/professional mission and the agency mission. Social exchange theory supports qualitative results regarding the impact of Title IV-E, suggesting workers appraise levels of "fit" within many systemic domains, in terms of the appraised costs and benefits between worker values, professional qualifications, organizational climate as well as attractiveness of other agencies in decisions made about remaining employed or leaving employment. Findings from the study suggest CPS must offer professional opportunities, pay commensurate with skills/education, more stability and make sure that hires have professional goals that are best fit with CPS in order to impact the quantity of 'preventable' type of turnover. Findings also suggest that energies need to be focused more on quality of turnover. Staff transitions that are fluid will help reduce caseload absorption on remaining staff and reduce interruption of caseworker-client relationships. Future research on motivation to work, organizational turnover/retention should focus on better definition/conceptualization of the constructs. In addition, future research should focus on exploring the transition process of CPS caseworkers, in order to develop more efficient transitions and agency stability.

Download or read book Why Do They Stay Building a Conceptual Model to Understand Worker Retention and Turnover in Public Child Welfare written by Amy Denise Benton and published by . This book was released on 2010 with total page 224 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Retention of public child welfare workers has been a recognized problem and a topic of interest among child welfare researchers for many years. However, findings in the literature are conflicting and the research is largely atheoretical. While many variables relevant to retention and turnover have been identified, the literature lacks explanation of how the variables are related. The goals of this study were, thus, twofold. The first objective was to build a conceptual model using qualitative data generated from interviews of child welfare workers, theoretical works, as well empirical research which might explain retention and turnover specifically in the field of child welfare. The second objective was to test the conceptual model using logistic regression techniques on a large quantitative sample (N=1,121). This study employs mixed methods and draws its data from a larger ongoing study, utilizing a voluntary sample of child welfare workers who have participated in a Title IV-E MSW program in the state of California, have completed their work obligation period, and have either chosen to remain in public child welfare (stayers) or leave (leavers). Results suggest that the conceptual model successfully identifies the complexity of the process that leads to retention and turnover behavior. Variables from three categories (individual, organizational, and response to job factors) are identified as predicting retention. Previous county employment, supervisor support, and client-related stress were all related to predicting retention. The implications of the study findings for social work education, agency practice, theory building and research are offered.

Download or read book Perspectives of Transformational Leadership by Child Welfare Workers written by Taekyung Park and published by . This book was released on 2018 with total page 284 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: It is not a new phenomenon that there is a high turnover rate among social workers. In particular, child welfare has shown the highest rates of staff turnover. To address the issue, turnover and retention of child welfare workers have been studied for decades. The history of research produced a long list of determinants for child welfare worker turnover, more than 20 factors, and showed conflicting findings with the same variables. Moreover, the long list of factors for workers' decisions to leave has poorly contributed to organizational practices for retaining child welfare workers. Therefore, this study aims to examine organizational factors, particularly leadership, for child welfare worker turnover intention, in order to help child welfare agencies to invent a practice model to prevent qualified worker's turnover. To do so, it is important to examine the effect of organizational commitment on employees' turnover intention. Therefore, following is the primary research question: Does the use of transformational leadership style in social work organizations explain child welfare worker turnover intention? A cross-sectional survey research was employed among workers in public child welfare agencies in a Midwest state, United States (N=214). Five models were examined in terms of the direct and indirect effects of transformational leadership on turnover intention of child welfare workers using STATA ver. 15. The study finding showed that transformational leadership styles of local office directors had a direct and negative effect on child welfare workers' turnover intention. As a result, this study recommends that child welfare provide local office directors with leadership training to reduce preventable turnover of child welfare workers. However, the findings should be cautiously interpreted due to the sampling strategy used in this study.

Download or read book Travels in the Trench Between Child Welfare Theory and Practice written by George Thomas and published by Psychology Press. This book was released on 1994 with total page 296 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Travels in the Trench Between Child Welfare Theory and Practice examines how the child welfare field's rush to establish credibility and permanence through program growth during the post World War II era gave rise to a massive but fragile conglomerate unprepared to prove its merits when challenged by an increasingly dubious public. Author George Thomas proposes a broad-based shift from program growth to knowledge-based growth in policy, management, education, research, and information technology initiatives to revitalize performance and restore public confidence in the system.Thomas's book proposes to shift the leadership emphasis away from the "big business" flavor of child welfare and re-define it into a mediator role of trusting worker and client competencies. Travels in the Trench Between Child Welfare Theory and Practice shows how the two sides merge and concentrate on five key issues: Policy--Contrasts the impact of the two orientations on shaping the field's sense of mission, defining its role, establishing its priorities for growth relative to size, specialization, and knowledge base, and stimulating or reducing client adversarialism and public perceptions of chronic mission failure. Management--Examines how the priorities of the two orientations differ relative to preserving hierarchical authority, rewarding work that exceeds mandates, promoting innovation and experimentation, and relying on process as distinct from client outcome accountability. Education--Examines how the priorities of the two orientations differ relative to relying on manpower and brain power, on "one right way" of doing things versus doing what is legal and ethical. Research--Examines how the priorities of the two orientations differ relative to confirming the "rightness" of the field's existing knowledge base and testing it to expand its scientifically validated portion through discovery. Information Technology--Explores how the priorities of the two orientations differ relative to disclosing and preserving privileged communications, developing common and specialized language, and breaking down or protecting authority and status differentials.This historical and cross-sectional analysis forms a framework proposing that the field's future value in meeting the nation's child welfare needs must have a willingness to shift its commitments from problem to competency-oriented theory and practice, to accept a de-emphasis on growth and a reduction in specialization, and to redirect investments in education, research, and information technology. According to Thomas, this enables readers to revitalize practice wisdom, grow the scientifically validated portion of the field's knowledge base, and begin to restore public confidence in the system.The book's contents are presented in interview style to enliven the material and make it more accessible to a wide audience. The reader determines the sense and direction of the analysis and the appropriateness of the questions from which it flows. Travels in the Trenches is intended to promote critical analysis of the link between long range vision and its impact on daily practice.

Download or read book Evaluation Research in Child Welfare written by Katharine Briar-Lawson and published by Routledge. This book was released on 2018-10-24 with total page 222 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Since the 1980s, child welfare agencies and social work programs in more than 40 states have come together to address recruitment and retention issues by preparing social work students for child welfare practice—and to enhance the delivery of child welfare services. This book documents the outcomes of these partnerships to help you assess their value and sustainability! Evaluation Research in Child Welfare: Improving Outcomes Through University-Public Agency Partnerships is a critical examination of the diverse outcomes—and strategies for assessing them—of university/public child welfare agency partnerships designed to prepare social work students for public child welfare practice. This informative book addresses outcomes of these specialized training efforts which were supported by federal Title IV-E and Title IV-B Section 426 funds. Special attention is paid to programs addressing diversity and cultural competence through staff development. The book follows the process of tracking the career paths of students in several states (large and small, rural and urban), as well as cross-state collaborations that include university, agency, consumer, and student partnerships. From the Editors: “Rising drug problems such as crack and cocaine addiction, along with co-occurring challenges such as poverty, domestic violence, and mental health issues, have helped to reinforce the need to have the most effective services delivered by the most well-prepared staff. Moreover, such challenges compel the most relevant, scientifically based approaches, requiring a closer connection of public child welfare systems to social work education programs and related academic disciplines. The articles featured in this book serve as progress markers for this re-professionalization initiative. They constitute snapshots of some of the current progress in workforce development, including social work based education, training, and capacity building in public child welfare. They also reflect social work/public child welfare partnerships and the lessons that are being learned when the research, educational, and service resources of schools of social work are harnessed to build a better trained work force that can provide improved services.” In this informative book, you'll find a national overview of historical efforts to promote professional social work practice in child welfare, as well as examinations of: special challenges presented by privatized systems curricula and agencies training opportunities that grow from research partnerships the importance and impact of racial and ethnic diversity for future social workers the cultural competency needs of BSW and MSW students the differing cultural perspectives of universities and agencies—which must be bridged to create successful partnerships the benefits of these partnerships in terms of outcomes for students, clients, agencies, and social work education programs

Download or read book Toward the Theory of Administrative Tethering written by Kevin Marino and published by Rowman & Littlefield. This book was released on 2022-02-15 with total page 159 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Toward a Theory of Administrative Tethering is the culmination of a seven-year commitment to investigate and explore the highly complex and chaotic nature of collaboration, specifically in child protective services (CPS). This journey began with an atypical relationship between a doctoral student practicing in CPS and an academic mentor. Examination of the CPS system in North Carolina necessitated more in-depth study to foster change relevant to improve service delivery for front-line staff and to engage executive leadership at the local and state levels. All CPS actors must function in a highly coordinated fashion to provide the orderly delivery of this social product to the public as needed and as expected. Herbert Simon's work is stitched into each chapter, and his perspectives provide the binding agent to the emerging Administrative Tethering (AT) framework (2002, 2000, 1962). Administrative Tethering (AT) can be conceptualized as a strategic management design that employs a series of inter-agency bonding actions and techniques to address the multi-dimensional nature of a complex, pressing public problem. This work concludes with the identification of new research and its potential utility and overall impact for the both the practitioner and academic.

Download or read book Charting the Impacts of University Child Welfare Collaboration written by Katharine Briar-Lawson and published by Routledge. This book was released on 2014-04-08 with total page 249 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Train—and keep—a child welfare workforce that will make a difference! Charting the Impacts of University-Child Welfare Collaboration addresses the challenges of implementing workforce development initiatives designed to recruit students into the public child welfare field. Edited by Dr. Katharine Briar-Lawson, Dean of the School of Social Welfare at the University at Albany in New York, and Dr. Joan Levy Zlotnik, PhD, ACSW, Executive Director of the Institute for the Advancement of Social Work Research, the book reflects the ongoing effort to counteract the “de-professionalization” phase of the 1970s and 80s that has impeded child welfare service delivery. A panel of practitioners, educators, and researchers focus on training and administrative funding, collaborative practices, delivery of educational content, preparation challenges faced by educators, and future challenges. Charting the Impacts of University-Child Welfare Collaboration examines strategies for specialized educational efforts supported by federal Title IV-E and Title IV-B Section 426 funding. The book addresses the process for preparing and maintaining a professional workforce, including collaborations between social work educators and their partnering public child welfare agencies that have led to experimental and innovative changes in practice and curricula. Topics include: determining a graduate's emotion capacity for child welfare service delivering educational content in human behavior in the social environment courses determining the return on funding investments using cognitive-affective models of student development using design teams to promote practice innovations, systems change, and cross-systems change and an examination of the California Collaboration, a competency-based child welfare curriculum project for MSW candidates. Charting the Impacts of University-Child Welfare Collaboration is an essential resource for continuing the campaign for workforce development and re-professionalism in child welfare practice. The book is invaluable for educators and professionals working to develop reliable, relevant, and competent staffing.

Download or read book Factors Influencing Retention of Child Welfare Staff written by and published by . This book was released on 2005 with total page pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The well-being of children served by the child welfare system is put at risk by the problems child welfare agencies have in recruiting and retaining competent staff. Staff turnover results in staff shortages and high caseloads which impair workers' abilities to perform their jobs effectively. This research review was undertaken to answer the question: What conditions and strategies influence the retention of staff in public child welfare? The study addresses both personal and organizational factors affecting staff turnover, and identifies a number of effective recruitment and retention strategies that child welfare agencies can implement to address this problem.

Download or read book Child Welfare Workforce Turnover written by Melanie Dawn Sage and published by . This book was released on 2010 with total page 183 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Public child welfare agencies experience front line worker turnover rates as high as 25% a year. Worker turnover has significant financial costs to agencies, and has been linked to negative outcomes for children in care. Prior research has linked organizational factors, such as organizational climate, culture, and supervisor satisfaction, to turnover intent in child welfare populations. This research uses an empowerment framework to turn to workers directly to answer the question, "What are the organizational factors that lead frontline child welfare workers to stay or leave the agency, and what, then, are the implications for agency administrators?" This study relies upon secondary data of a workforce study conducted by the Child Welfare Partnership at Portland State University's School of Social Work. The data was collected via a pilot Internet survey of approximately 400 State-employed Oregon child welfare case workers across all geographic regions in the state, and focuses on workers who plan to leave for preventable reasons. This study explored links between organizational factors and turnover in a sample of Oregon public child welfare workers. This research finds that climate, culture, supervision, and knowledge of the job prior to hire are all significantly correlated with intent to leave. Climate is most significantly correlated to Intent to Leave, and explains 25% of the variance in intent to leave in a regression model. These research findings suggest that agency administrators who are interested in improving worker retention can monitor and address local culture and climate as one tool for increasing workforce stability. Retention may be improved by maintaining an organizational culture and climate that is empowering to workers and that encourages workers to be a part of the change process. Additional implications for the child welfare workforce, social work research, and social work education are discussed.

Download or read book Examining Burnout and Retention in Public Child Welfare written by Meghan Giuliano and published by . This book was released on 2016 with total page 54 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The study addresses the following research question: Examining burnout and retention in public child welfare. The State of Connecticut was chosen as the focus of the study because only twenty-eight percent of Connecticut’s public child welfare workforce is made up of social workers with BSW or MSW degrees (Department of Children and Families, 2012). The percentage of Connecticut social workers at the Connecticut Department of Children and Families is below the national average of 40% of social workers employed in other public child welfare agencies. Public Child Welfare agencies should ensure that the employees/workers are qualified to engage with children and families and deliver the most appropriate service. This Analytical Thesis Project explored educational standards, turnover and job retention and burnout in public child welfare systems. This writer explored research conducted on different theories of burnout and child welfare. This research suggested that Masters in Social Workers learn these tools to help reduce turnover as well as serve families involved in the child welfare system. By using these tools the child welfare agencies would reduce turnover and increase retention.

Download or read book Title IV E Child Welfare Education written by Taylor & Francis Group and published by Routledge. This book was released on 2021-06-30 with total page 184 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: BSW/MSW education funded by Title IV-E of Social Security Act ("Title IV-E Child Welfare Education") is an important incentive to encourage social workers to stay in the child protection field. It aims to demonstrate the training partnership between universities and public child welfare agencies. This book contains essential research results with a focus on the impact of Title IV-E Child Welfare Education to improve worker capacities and case outcomes, as well as on the process and results of social work education in promoting public child welfare work. There are nine chapters written by renowned researchers in public child welfare who applied rigorous quantitative and/or qualitative methodologies to clearly describe measures used, data sources, outcome variables, and implications for education, practice, policy, and research. These evidence-based articles address the following child welfare topics: training partnerships and worker outcomes, effective pedagogy and online education, workplace climate and retention factors, and other topics connecting BSW/MSW education to public child welfare practice. Future child welfare education will need to further expand child welfare knowledge and skills, strengthen worker competencies with a strong commitment to social work values and ethical practice principles, and develop a cohesive supervisory network to build a workforce with positive attitude toward child protection programs. This collection will inform child welfare educators, administrators and legislators regarding the impact of Title IV-E Child Welfare Education on the development of public child welfare and make recommendations to improve the child welfare curriculum in social work education. This book was originally published as a special issue of the Journal of Public Child Welfare.

Download or read book Social Work Child Welfare Practice written by Giesela Grumbach, PhD, LCSW, PEL and published by Springer Publishing Company. This book was released on 2024-05-06 with total page 528 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Blends practitioner-focused and culturally responsive interventions to provide an innovative approach to learning With the aim of transforming flawed child welfare practices and policies into a more equitable system, this comprehensive, practice-based text delves into contemporary child welfare practice from antiracist, social justice, and decolonial perspectives. Incorporating first-hand knowledge of day-to-day practice, the book examines the many roles of professional child welfare workers, foundational skills they need to work in the field, the challenges and promises of trauma-informed practice, how to maintain a dedicated workforce, and strategies for reshaping the system. This book covers child welfare practice thoroughly, from reporting to investigating and everything in between. It also explores relevant policies, signs of abuse/neglect, building relationships, anti-racist approaches, and the importance of cultural sensitivity. Throughout, it emphasizes the trauma experienced by children and families involved in the system and the impact on child welfare professionals. Learning objectives, reflection boxes, discussion questions, and additional resources are included in every chapter to provide opportunities for students to apply concepts. Additionally, case studies in most chapters offer practical applications to real-world situations. To accompany the book, qualified instructors have access to an Instructor Manual, Sample Syllabus, Test Bank, chapter PowerPoints, and supplemental videos covering topics such as careers, engagement, and foster care. Key Features: Informed by real-world experience demonstrated through case studies, reflection boxes, and discussion questions Weaves antiracist, social justice, and decolonial perspectives throughout and includes the viewpoints of diverse voices from the field Provides extensive coverage of trauma-informed practice Devotes a separate chapter to the unique issues of foster children in school settings Connects content to the 2022 Educational Policy and Accreditation Standards from the Council on Social Work Education Covers a broad range of career opportunities for child welfare workers in myriad settings

Download or read book The Tender Years Toward Developmentally Sensitive Child Welfare Services for Very Young Children written by Center for Social Services Research and Associate Adjunct Professor Jill Duerr Berrick Director, School of Social Welfare and published by Oxford University Press, USA. This book was released on 1998-01-12 with total page 218 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The authors examine the impact of child abuse and neglect on preschool children and the handling of this population's needs by the child welfare system. An overview of child development theory and child abuse reporting patterns is presented, and the differences in the foster care experiences of the very young older children is analysed.

Download or read book The Handbook on Child Welfare Practice written by Jennifer M. Geiger and published by Springer Nature. This book was released on 2021-07-06 with total page 348 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This unique, multidisciplinary resource incorporates cutting-edge research and best practices in child welfare into a text that aims to teach and refine advanced child welfare skills for aspiring child welfare professionals. Featuring real-life examples and stories from the field, the handbook discusses existing methods and challenges in the field of child welfare practice. Chapters also include materials for instructors to use in classrooms or training settings. Among the topics covered: Overview of child welfare policies and how the child welfare system works Assessment tools and strategies used to identify various types of child abuse and neglect Individual, family, and community-level approaches to preventing child maltreatment and preserving families Promoting stability after foster care placement Effective collaboration while working with special populations Clinical supervision in child welfare practice Strategies for healthy professional development of child welfare practitioners The Handbook on Child Welfare Practice is a valuable resource as both a textbook in child welfare practice courses and a practical reference for child welfare professionals. This book will help develop a more knowledgeable and skilled child welfare workforce prepared to address the significant public health concern of child maltreatment.

Download or read book The Relationship Between Supervision and Casework Retention in County based Child Welfare Systems written by Mary L. McCarthy and published by . This book was released on 2003 with total page 298 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:

Download or read book Child Welfare Practice with Immigrant Children and Families written by Alan Dettlaff and published by Routledge. This book was released on 2014-06-11 with total page 175 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Children in immigrant families represent nearly one-fourth of all children living in the United States. As this population of children has increased, so has their representation among children involved in child welfare and related systems. Once immigrant families come to the attention of these systems, they often have multiple and complex needs that must be addressed to ensure children’s safety and well-being. Culturally competent practice with Latino, Asian, and African immigrants requires that professionals understand the impact of immigration and acculturation on immigrant families to conduct adequate assessments and provide interventions that respond appropriately to their needs. Professionals also need to be familiar with federal and state policies that affect immigrant families and how those policies may affect service delivery. At the system level, child welfare agencies need to educate and train a culturally competent workforce that responds appropriately to children and families from diverse cultures. This book addresses these critical issues and provides recommendations for the development of culturally competent assessment, intervention, and prevention activities in child welfare agencies. This information can be used as a resource by child welfare administrators, practitioners, and students to improve the child welfare system’s response to immigrant children and families and promote culturally competent practice. This book was published as a special issue of the Journal of Public Child Welfare.

Download or read book Study of Staff Losses in Child Welfare and Family Service Agencies written by William B Tollen and published by Legare Street Press. This book was released on 2023-07-18 with total page 0 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: In this study, William B. Tollen analyzes the reasons for high staff turnover in child welfare and family service agencies. The author provides statistical analysis of turnover rates and interviews with agency staff to identify the factors that contribute to staff losses. This study is a valuable resource for anyone interested in social work, human resources, or organizational behavior. This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work is in the "public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.