Child Welfare Agency Climate: Congruence with Practice Model Beliefs

Abstract

This exploratory analysis considers the extent to which child welfare staff members' perceptions of organizational climate impact congruence with core beliefs for a specific practice model. The results suggest that measures of organizational climate may be associated with child welfare staff members' endorsement of specific practice model beliefs involving safety. As agencies implement and develop specific best practice approaches or more comprehensive practice models, administrators and managers can use these results to consider how to assess and respond to the influence of climate on the process.

Keywords::

• organizational climate
• children's services
• child welfare
• practice model

Acknowledgments

The authors wish to acknowledge the Children's Bureau and its Training and Technical Assistance network, including the Northeast and Caribbean Implementation Center (NCIC). The NCIC provided funding and excellent supportive consultation for design and implementation of the practice model, including development and implementation of the Readiness for Change survey. The authors acknowledge Anastasiya Vanyukevych, former Senior Data Analyst (NH DCYF) for her work on this project. We appreciate the work of Patrick Shannon, Ph.D. and University of New Hampshire MSW students Paris Awalt, Catharine Cubby, and Jennifer McGhee for assistance with survey development, survey administration, and data analysis. We thank Maggie Bishop, former NH DCYF agency Director for her leadership towards creating a learning organization, including a willingness to design and implement this tool to support development of the agency culture and climate.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Melissa Wells

Melissa Wells, PhD, is Associate Professor of Social Work at the University of New Hampshire. She teaches undergraduate and graduate research methods, graduate statistics, and graduate program/practice evaluation courses. Her areas of research expertise include child welfare and foster care outcomes, Internet victimization, teaching pedagogies in social work research, and program evaluation.

Lorraine Bartlett

Lorraine Bartlett, MSW, is the Director for the New Hampshire Department of Health and Humans Services, Office of Human Services - Division for Children Youth and Families. Ms. Bartlett has extensive knowledge of child welfare and family centered practice. Her primary focus as a leader has been building a skilled, competent work force with particular emphasis on the important roles Child Protection and Juvenile Justice Field Service's Supervisors and Administrators play in the professional development of staff. Her research and interests include organizational change, culture and climate, the impact of trauma on work force wellness and best practices in family engagement. Ms. Bartlett received her Masters of Social Work from the University of New Hampshire.

Christine Tappan

Christine Tappan, MSW, CAGS is a Senior Manager, Health, Education and Social Programs with ICF International. In this role she is Deputy Project Director for Child Welfare Information Gateway, the information service for the Children's Bureau. Ms. Tappan is also adjunct faculty at University of New Hampshire and George Mason University Departments of Social Work where she teaches graduate courses in social policy, communication and technology is social work. Her research experience and interests include organizational change, culture and climate, and professional development.

Sherri Levesque

Sherri Levesque, MEd, is the Bureau Chief of Organizational Learning and Quality Improvement for the New Hampshire Division for Children, Youth and Families, responsible for program implementation, quality assurance and improvement, policy, training, data and research for the agency. Ms. Levesque has expertise in assessment in child welfare service delivery, and has specific interest in research in this area. She has also led the use of Appreciative Inquiry in program improvement planning within the agency. She received her Masters of Education in Counseling from the University of New Hampshire.