A Multi-Level Conceptual Model to Examine Child Welfare Worker Turnover and Retention Decisions

ABSTRACT

There is little disagreement about the importance of a healthy stable workforce in promoting effective provision of child welfare services. This review proposes a multi-level conceptual model of child welfare workforce turnover combining traditional individual and organizational impacts with factors associated with community context. Identified gaps in the literature along with a related research agenda are reviewed. Also presented is an overview of the Florida Study of Professionals for Safe Families, a longitudinal study of new hires into the child welfare workforce across Florida, providing opportunities to address gaps and test model characteristics regarding turnover decisions and related outcomes.

KEYWORDS:

• Child welfare workforce
• turnover
• intent to leave
• retention

Acknowledgments

The authors would gratefully like to acknowledge Philip Osteen, PhD; Lisa Langenderfer-Magruder, PhD; Lisa Panisch, and Peter Yun for their significant contributions to the Florida Study of Professionals for Safe Families.