The role of Title IV-E education and training in child protection workforce diversification

ABSTRACT

Educating, training, and diversifying the workforce are strategies that may help reduce racial/ethnic disparities that plague child protection system (CPS). Title IV-E education and training programs support the development of a specially trained, highly skilled workforce; yet, little research examining their impact on workforce diversification exists. The current study assessed the relationship between Title IV-E education and training and workforce diversity and leadership in a state system that is plagued with racial disparities using data from a statewide child welfare survey (n = 679) and existing population-level sources. Findings revealed that while children of color were disproportionately overrepresented in the CPS, professionals of color were disproportionately underrepresented (as compared to the state’s overall population and the population of children served within CPS). Title IV-E education and training programs were associated with both child protection workforce diversity and CPS leadership roles. Implications for recruitment, retention, education, and partnership are discussed.

KEYWORDS:

• Child protection
• workforce
• Title IV-E education and training
• racial disproportionality
• diversity
• child welfare

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Kristine N. Piescher

Kristine N. Piescher, PhD serves as the Director for Research and Evaluation at the Center for Advanced Studies in Child Welfare (CASCW) at the University of Minnesota’s School of Social Work. Her research focuses on child well-being and educational success and stability for at-risk youth, child welfare workforce development and system change, housing and homelessness, interpersonal and sibling relationships, and utilizing cross-systems data for research and evaluation, with implications for practice and policy.

Traci LaLiberte

Traci LaLiberte, PhD is the Executive Director of the Center for Advanced Studies in Child Welfare at the University of Minnesota School of Social Work. Her research focuses on child welfare practice and policy with special interests in child and parent disabilities.

Mihwa Lee

Mi Hwa Lee, PhD is an assistant professor in the School of Social Work at the East Carolina University. Her research interest areas include health disparities and community-based participatory research.