Journal of Public Child Welfare 

About: Journal of Public Child Welfare is an academic journal published by Taylor & Francis. The journal publishes majorly in the area(s): Foster care & Welfare. It has an ISSN identifier of 1554-8732. Over the lifetime, 540 publications have been published receiving 5530 citations.

Causes and Effects of Child Welfare Workforce Turnover

Abstract: This paper provides an overview of the current state of knowledge on the causes and effects of workforce turnover in child welfare. The causes of workforce turnover are abundant and have been categorized into three areas cited most often throughout the literature: individual factors, supervisory factors, and organizational factors. On the other hand, the empirical research on the effects of workforce turnover in child welfare is scant. This paper discusses the need for new empirical knowledge on the relationship between turnover and child welfare outcomes. The authors conclude with consideration of the gaps in the research and implications for social work practice and profession.

It is not a broken system, it is a system that needs to be broken: the upEND movement to abolish the child welfare system

Abstract: The child welfare system disproportionately harms Black children and families through systemic over-surveillance, over-involvement, and the resulting adverse outcomes associated with foster care. E...

The Move to Evidence-Based Practice: How Well Does it Fit Child Welfare Services?

Abstract: Child welfare services are engaged in examining and applying concepts from evidence-based practice. This article provides background on evidence-based practice in child welfare and suggests the areas of least and greatest fit between the methods of evidence-based practice and child welfare services. Implications for the emergence of more evidence-based approaches to child welfare services are forwarded. Suggestions for social work education are also offered.

Pregnancy and Motherhood Among Adolescent Girls in Child Protective Services: A Meta-Synthesis of Qualitative Research

Abstract: The objective of the current study was to produce a meta-synthesis of the existent qualitative research on pregnant or mothering adolescents who have been in the custody of child protective services. Seven overarching themes emerged from analyzing 17 qualitative studies: (1) infant filling an emotional void; (2) lack of consistent education and lack of sexual education; (3) motherhood adversities; (4) mistrust of others and social stigma; (5) perception of motherhood as positive and stabilizing; (6) internal strengths and wanting to do better; and (7) supports as contributing to positive motherhood experience. Findings are discussed in the context of the risk and resilience framework. Implications for research and practice are addressed.

The Role of Supervision in the Retention of Public Child Welfare Workers

Abstract: Contrary to common belief, having a manageable caseload size may not be critical to the retention of child welfare MSW social workers. In this study of the retention of 765 title IV-E MSWs in public child welfare, support from supervisors emerged as a pivotal factor in employee retention. With analyses regressing retention and intent to leave public child welfare agencies, support from supervisors emerged as a predictor, but caseload size did not. The preliminary findings of qualitative interviews corroborated these results. This study corroborates literature indicating that support from supervisors enhances retention of specially trained child welfare workers.