"Somebody's gotta be there for these kids": The importance of service orientation for sustaining child welfare workers
Amy Benton
Texas State University
Amy D. Benton, PhD, LCSW, is an Assistant Professor in the School of Social Work at Texas State University. She received her doctorate from the University of California, Berkeley, School of Social Welfare, and her MSW from the University of Texas at Austin. Her primary areas of interest are management and administration of child welfare and human service agencies, worker support, development and retention, and policy.
David Chenot
California State University Fullerton
David Chenot PhD, MDiv., LCSW, is the Chair of the Department of Social Work at California State University Fullerton and an Associate Professor. He offers instruction in social work practice (mental health and child welfare), research, and Human Behavior in the Social Environment courses. David earned his PhD at Case Western Reserve University. David’s research interests include: the public child welfare services workforce, spirituality and religion in social work practice, and resilience among vulnerable children and families. Prior to entering academia, David was a social worker in direct practice for many years in public child welfare services and public mental health.
Abstract
ObjectivesThis study explores service orientation and its relevance in the experiences and intentions of child welfare workers. The specific research questions are: Is there a relationship between service orientation (SO) and... [ view full abstract ]
Objectives
This study explores service orientation and its relevance in the experiences and intentions of child welfare workers. The specific research questions are:
- Is there a relationship between service orientation (SO) and a) job satisfaction, b) supervisor support, or c) peer support?
- Does SO predict intentions to stay in the agency or the field?
- How is SO represented in the narratives of workers?
- Is there a relationship between narrative themes reflecting SO and intentions to stay?
Method
A survey was used to gather quantitative data concerning SO and several common workforce variables such as supervisor support and intentions to stay. A structured interview protocol was used with all participants, including questions which were particularly useful for stimulating narratives about the respondents’ service orientation. The sample in this study (n=70) was gathered from three public child welfare agencies in California, US.
Results
Quantitative results indicate that support from peers or supervisors does not influence SO. Additionally, SO predicted intention to stay in both agency and field; beyond the other organizational variables. SO themes emerged within responses to several of the interview items. Finally, examining a descriptor X code analysis, the authors found that those with the highest intentions to stay in agency and in field scores, were also most likely to have reported something in their interviews that the authors coded as commitment to children. However, the patterns for intentions analyzed with commitment to parents and families are less clear.
Conclusions
A worker may come to the job with SO in place but it’s strength as a resource can be depleted by organizational factors. Exploring strategies to celebrate workers’ commitment to and success with children, as well as methods for strengthening workers’ commitment to families are likely to advance efforts to nurture worker SO and support workers’ intent to stay.
Authors
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Amy Benton
(Texas State University)
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David Chenot
(California State University Fullerton)
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Ioakim Boutakidis
(California State University Fullerton)
Topic Area
Other
Session
Oral 28 » Session 3-Emerging Issues (16:15 - Tuesday, 3rd October, North America Room)
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