Ready, Set, Go … Again: Renewing an Academy–Agency Child Welfare Partnership

Abstract

This article presents a case study of the renewed partnership between a midwestern public child welfare agency and a midwestern university school of social work. The partnership, which includes educating BSW and MSW students, preparing frontline child welfare case managers, and providing leadership training for supervisors and managers, demonstrates relational capital, relational embeddedness, and transparency, all of which are criteria for trust and strong partnerships. We discuss the unique development of collaborative relationships through the history of the partnership. This study provides an exemplar of how the academy and the agency communities can inform each other to enhance the well-being of children and families.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Barbara Pierce

Barbara Pierce is associate professor at Indiana University.

Lisa E. McGuire

Lisa E. McGuire is professor and department head at James Madison University.

Patricia Howes

Patricia Howes is director of Child Welfare Education and Training Partnership at Indiana University.