Abstract
This article examines perceptions of the relationship between professional education and workplace training among a select group of public child welfare employees who pursued graduate social work education during a period of major practice change at their agency. Focus groups were conducted with representative members of graduating cohorts as students completed their studies to explore the connections and distinctions between their professional education and the workplace training that introduced case practice reform. Experienced caseworkers, supervisors, and management-level staff, study participants were well situated to contemplate the changes in process at their agency. They offered insights into the progress of reform and the challenges of sustaining change as well as their roles as professional social workers in carrying reforms forward.
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Notes on contributors
Ericka Deglau
Ericka Deglau is Director, Intensive Weekend Program and teaching professor, Anasuya Ray PhD was a doctoral candidate at the time of the study, Fiona Conway is a doctoral candidate, and William Waldman is professor and executive in residence at Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey. Katelyn Cunningham, Talisah Harrison, Heather Bales, and Tedecia Powell were MSW student research assistants at Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey, at the time of the study. Nancy Carre-Lee is assistant director at the Division of Child Protection and Permanency, State of New Jersey, Department of Children and Families.
Anasuya Ray
Ericka Deglau is Director, Intensive Weekend Program and teaching professor, Anasuya Ray PhD was a doctoral candidate at the time of the study, Fiona Conway is a doctoral candidate, and William Waldman is professor and executive in residence at Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey. Katelyn Cunningham, Talisah Harrison, Heather Bales, and Tedecia Powell were MSW student research assistants at Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey, at the time of the study. Nancy Carre-Lee is assistant director at the Division of Child Protection and Permanency, State of New Jersey, Department of Children and Families.
Fiona Conway
Ericka Deglau is Director, Intensive Weekend Program and teaching professor, Anasuya Ray PhD was a doctoral candidate at the time of the study, Fiona Conway is a doctoral candidate, and William Waldman is professor and executive in residence at Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey. Katelyn Cunningham, Talisah Harrison, Heather Bales, and Tedecia Powell were MSW student research assistants at Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey, at the time of the study. Nancy Carre-Lee is assistant director at the Division of Child Protection and Permanency, State of New Jersey, Department of Children and Families.
Nancy Carre-Lee
Ericka Deglau is Director, Intensive Weekend Program and teaching professor, Anasuya Ray PhD was a doctoral candidate at the time of the study, Fiona Conway is a doctoral candidate, and William Waldman is professor and executive in residence at Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey. Katelyn Cunningham, Talisah Harrison, Heather Bales, and Tedecia Powell were MSW student research assistants at Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey, at the time of the study. Nancy Carre-Lee is assistant director at the Division of Child Protection and Permanency, State of New Jersey, Department of Children and Families.
William Waldman
Ericka Deglau is Director, Intensive Weekend Program and teaching professor, Anasuya Ray PhD was a doctoral candidate at the time of the study, Fiona Conway is a doctoral candidate, and William Waldman is professor and executive in residence at Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey. Katelyn Cunningham, Talisah Harrison, Heather Bales, and Tedecia Powell were MSW student research assistants at Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey, at the time of the study. Nancy Carre-Lee is assistant director at the Division of Child Protection and Permanency, State of New Jersey, Department of Children and Families.
Katelyn Cunningham
Ericka Deglau is Director, Intensive Weekend Program and teaching professor, Anasuya Ray PhD was a doctoral candidate at the time of the study, Fiona Conway is a doctoral candidate, and William Waldman is professor and executive in residence at Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey. Katelyn Cunningham, Talisah Harrison, Heather Bales, and Tedecia Powell were MSW student research assistants at Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey, at the time of the study. Nancy Carre-Lee is assistant director at the Division of Child Protection and Permanency, State of New Jersey, Department of Children and Families.
Talisah Harrison
Ericka Deglau is Director, Intensive Weekend Program and teaching professor, Anasuya Ray PhD was a doctoral candidate at the time of the study, Fiona Conway is a doctoral candidate, and William Waldman is professor and executive in residence at Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey. Katelyn Cunningham, Talisah Harrison, Heather Bales, and Tedecia Powell were MSW student research assistants at Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey, at the time of the study. Nancy Carre-Lee is assistant director at the Division of Child Protection and Permanency, State of New Jersey, Department of Children and Families.
Heather Bales
Ericka Deglau is Director, Intensive Weekend Program and teaching professor, Anasuya Ray PhD was a doctoral candidate at the time of the study, Fiona Conway is a doctoral candidate, and William Waldman is professor and executive in residence at Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey. Katelyn Cunningham, Talisah Harrison, Heather Bales, and Tedecia Powell were MSW student research assistants at Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey, at the time of the study. Nancy Carre-Lee is assistant director at the Division of Child Protection and Permanency, State of New Jersey, Department of Children and Families.
Tedecia Powell
Ericka Deglau is Director, Intensive Weekend Program and teaching professor, Anasuya Ray PhD was a doctoral candidate at the time of the study, Fiona Conway is a doctoral candidate, and William Waldman is professor and executive in residence at Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey. Katelyn Cunningham, Talisah Harrison, Heather Bales, and Tedecia Powell were MSW student research assistants at Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey, at the time of the study. Nancy Carre-Lee is assistant director at the Division of Child Protection and Permanency, State of New Jersey, Department of Children and Families.