Educating Child Welfare Workers: The Effects of Professional Training on Service Delivery

Abstract

This paper examines the relationship between the educational backgrounds of caseworkers and their ability to deliver public social services to children and their families. In presenting this paper, the authors drew on their analysis of data from the 1977 National Study of Social Services to Children and Their Families. Five groups were included in the study: BSWs, other BAs, those with incomplete graduate training, MSWs and DSWs, and those with other graduate degrees. The results showed significant differences in the educational backgrounds of workers and the kinds of services received by children and their families.