Measuring the Impact of Public Perceptions on Child Welfare Workers
Publication Date
8-8-2019
Document Type
Article
Organizational Units
Graduate School of Social Work, Butler Institute for Families
Keywords
Scale validation, Recruitment and retention, Public perceptions, Private and pubic workforce, Environmental factors
Abstract
The Public Perceptions of Child Welfare Scale measures how the social environment influences child welfare workers, including their job satisfaction and intent to leave. Psychometric studies have validated the scale for private child welfare workers, but there are no validation studies with public agency staff. This study fills that gap, showing stigma and respect are important constructs that also predict worker intent to leave. This research found an additional construct, blame, which was not present in private worker validation studies. The scale provides an important tool for the field as we continue to build evidence for effective recruitment and retention.
Publication Statement
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Recommended Citation
Lawrence, C. K., Zeitlin, W., Auerbach, C., Chakravarty, S., & Rienks, S. (2019). Measuring the impact of public perceptions on child welfare workers. Journal of Public Child Welfare, 13(4), 401-418. DOI: 10.1080/15548732.2018.1508537.