The Impact of a Title IV-E Program on Perceived Practice Skills for Child Welfare Students: A Review of Five MSW Cohorts

Authors

  • Elizabeth Jane Greeno University of Maryland School of Social Work
  • Lisa Fedina University of Maryland
  • Berenice Rushovich Child Trends
  • Caroline Burry University of Maryland
  • Debra Linsenmeyer
  • Christopher Wirt University of Maryland

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.18060/21058

Keywords:

Title IV-E, child welfare knowledge, child welfare practice, child welfare training

Abstract

Title IV-E Education for Public Child Welfare training programs are designed to build knowledge and practice skills among students and current child welfare workers in efforts to build a competent and highly trained workforce. A mixed methods study was conducted to: 1) measure changes in MSW Title IV-E students' perceived confidence to perform skills across 13 practice content areas for public child welfare practice, and 2) to explore students’ perceptions of their competency for child welfare practice. This study also focused on the impact of prior child welfare experiences on perceived child welfare knowledge and skills among Title IV-E students. A total of 224 Title IV-E MSW students over the course of five academic cohorts participated in this study. Surveys were conducted at three time points: pretest, posttest, and retrospective pretest. Twenty focus groups were conducted during the study time period. Findings indicate gains across all practice content areas with the largest gains in areas of working with the courts and conducting assessments. Qualitative findings assessing student's perception of competency to practice in child welfare include themes of students’ preparation to practice post-graduation and differences between the students’ experiences in the IV-E program and what they witness in the field. Specific practice area recommendations include addressing workers’ age and prior experience in Title IV-E seminars and trainings as well the importance of Title IV-E field instructors in helping to prepare students for child welfare practice.

Author Biography

Debra Linsenmeyer

University of Maryland, Baltimore

References

Adoption Assistance and Child Welfare Act of 1980. P.L. 96-272. §§ 422(1980).

Bagdasaryan, S. (2012). Social work education and Title IV-E program participation as predictors of entry-level knowledge among public child welfare workers. Children and Youth Services Review, 34(9), 1590-1597. doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.childyouth.2012.04.013

Barth, R. P., Lloyd, E. C., Christ, S. L., Chapman, M. V., & Dickinson, N. S. (2008). Child welfare worker characteristics and job satisfaction: A national study. Social Work, 53(3), 199-209. doi: https://doi.org/10.1093/sw/53.3.199

Cheung, C., & Tang, K. (2010). Socialization factors conducive to social work students’ gain in competence: Experience in the Hong Kong SAR, China. Journal of Social Work, 10(1), 42-58. doi: https://doi.org/10.1177/1468017309349990

Council on Social Work Education [CSWE]. (2015). Educational policy and accreditation standards for baccalaureate and master’s social work programs. CSWE on Accreditation. Retrieved from http://www.cswe.org/file.aspx?id=81660

Dillman, D. A., Smyth, J. D., & Christian, L. M. (2008). Internet, mail, and mixed-mode surveys: The tailored design method (3rd ed.). New York, NY: Wiley.

Fox, S. R., Miller, V. P., & Barbee, A. P. (2003). Finding and keeping child welfare workers: Effective use of training and professional development. Journal of Human Behavior in the Social Environment, 1(2), 67-81. doi: https://doi.org/10.1300/J137v07n01_06

Franke, T., Bagdasaryan, S., & Furman, W. (2009). A multivariate analysis of training, education, and readiness for public child welfare practice. Children and Youth Services Review, 31(12), 1330-1336. doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.childyouth.2009.06.004

Gansle, K. A., & Ellett, A. J. (2002). Child welfare knowledge transmission, practitioner retention, and university community impact: A study of Title IV-E child welfare training. Journal of Health & Social Policy, 15(3/4), 69-88. doi: https://doi.org/10.1300/J045v15n03_06

Government Accountability Office. (2003). Child welfare: HHS could play a greater role in helping child welfare agencies recruit and retain staff [GAO-03-357]. Washington, DC: Author. Retrieved from http://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-03-357

Hartinger-Saunders, R. M., & Lyons, P. (2013). Social work education and public child welfare: A review of the peer-reviewed literature on Title IV-E funded programs. Journal of Public Child Welfare, 7(3), 275-297. doi: https://doi.org/10.1080/15548732.2013.798246

Johnson, R. B., & Onwuegbuzie, A. J. (2004). Mixed methods research: A research paradigm whose time has come. Educational Researcher, 33(7), 14-26. doi: https://doi.org/10.3102/0013189X033007014

Jones, L. P., & Okamura, A. (2000). Reprofessionalizing child welfare services: An evaluation of a Title IV-E training program. Research on Social Work Practice, 10(5), 607-621.

Krueger R A. (1988). Focus groups: A practical guide for applied research. New Dehli, India: Sage.

Krueger, R. A., & Casey, M. A. (2009). Focus groups: A practical guide for applied research. London, United Kingdom: Sage.

QSR International Pty Ltd. (2010). NVivo qualitative data analysis software [Version 9, Windows]. Victoria, Australia.

Padgett, D. K. (Ed.). (2004). The qualitative research experience. Pacific Grove, CA: Wadsworth/Thomson Learning.

Pelfrey, W. V., Sr., & Pelfrey, W. V., Jr. (2009). Curriculum evaluation and revision in a nascent field: The utility of the retrospective pretest-posttest model in a homeland security program of study. Evaluation Review, 1, 54-82. doi: https://doi.org/10.1177/0193841X08327578

Pratt, C. C., McGuigan, W. M., & Katzev, A. R. (2000). Measuring program outcomes: Using retrospective pretest methodology. American Journal of Evaluation, 21, 341-349. doi: https://doi.org/10.1177/109821400002100305

Yankeelov, P. A., Barbee, A. P., Sullivan, D., & Antle, B. F. (2009). Individual and organizational factors in job retention in Kentucky's child welfare agency. Children and Youth Services Review, 31, 547-554. doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.childyouth.2008.10.014

Zlotnik, J. L. (1997). Social work education programs, state child welfare agencies comment on Title IV-E regulations. Social Work Education Reporter, 4(6), 8-11.

Zlotnik, J., DePanfilis, D., Daining, C., & McDermott Lane, M. (2005). Professional education for child welfare practice: Improving retention in public child welfare agencies. Institute for the Advancement of Social Work Research, IASWR Research Brief 2. Retrieved from https://archive.hshsl.umaryland.edu/handle/10713/289

Downloads

Published

2017-12-17

Issue

Section

Articles