Examining associations between child welfare workforce well-being and utilization of casework skills with children and families

Shelby L. Clark · Brennan J. Miller · Becci A. Akin · Ryan Barney · Whitney A. Grube · Vickie McArthur +2 more

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Social Work Education and Practice Child Welfare and Adoption Stress and Burnout Research

Abstract

While child welfare scholarship has paid much attention to workforce well-being such as burnout, secondary traumatic stress (STS), and compassion satisfaction, few studies have investigated how these outcomes influence utilization of casework skills. This study aimed to understand the relationship between child welfare workforce well-being and use of casework skills. Specifically, we examined associations between burnout, STS, and compassion satisfaction and casework skills including parent/youth engagement, safety and risk assessment/case planning, and relative/kin connections. Participants and Setting. Participants comprised 786 child welfare direct service workers and supervisors in a Midwestern state. Using a repeated cross-sectional design, data were collected via online surveys. Multivariate regression tested relationships between measures of well-being and casework skills. First, higher compassion satisfaction was positively associated (p = 0.000, f2 = 0.14) while higher burnout (p = 0.000, f2 = 0.04) and STS (p = 0.002, f2 = 0.01) were negatively associated with use of engagement skills. Similarly, higher compassion satisfaction was positively associated (p = 0.000, f2 = 0.18) and higher burnout (p = 0.000, f2 = 0.06) and STS (p = 0.001, f2 = 0.02) were negatively associated with use of assessment/case planning skills. Lastly, compassion satisfaction (p = 0.000, f2 = 0.06) was positively associated and burnout was negatively associated (p = 0.000, f2 = 0.02) with relative/kin connections. Child welfare workforce well-being may influence use of casework skills. More research is needed to understand how positive workforce well-being impacts service delivery and, ultimately, child and family outcomes.

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References

1981The measurement of experienced burnout 2007Prevalence of Secondary Traumatic Stress among Social Workers 2004Development and Validation of the Secondary Traumatic Stress Scale 2002Secondary traumatic stress and vicarious trauma: A validational study 1995Compassion fatigue: Toward a new understanding of the costs of caring.2006Compassion fatigue, burnout, and compassion satisfaction among Colorado child protection workers 2007Compassion Fatigue, Compassion Satisfaction, and Burnout: Factors Impacting a Professional's Quality of Life 1997Secondary Traumatic Stress: Self-Care Issues for Clinicians, Researchers, and Educators

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