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ABSTRACT
Calls for transformational systems change that lead to improved outcomes for children in child welfare can only be answered by preparing an effective workforce and building an agency climate that is ready for change. The National Child Welfare Workforce Institute developed a comprehensive model for public, private, and tribal child welfare agencies to improve the health of their workforce. This paper describes the application of the model in one state agency. Through leadership development, a distributive teaming approach, and implementation of an evidence-supported practice model, they were able to significantly improve the organizational climate of their agency. The article discusses practice implications and recommendations for child welfare agencies and technical assistance providers for fostering positive organizational health and ultimately improving outcomes for families.
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Notes on contributors
Robin Leake
Robin Leake, Ph.D., is a Research Associate Professor at the Graduate School of Social Work at the University of Denver with over 20 years of experience in social science and intervention research and evaluation, with an emphasis on implementation of evidence-based, trauma-informed practice, organizational and workforce development. Dr, Leake is the Project Director for the National Child Welfare Workforce Institute (NCWWI) funded by the ACF to strengthen the child welfare workforce and also the Children’s Bureau Capacity Building Center for Tribes, which supports tribal child welfare programs in implementing evidence-informed programs that serve children and families.
Anna De Guzman
Anna de Guzman, MA, is a Senior Research Associate at Butler Institute for Families at the Graduate School of Social Work, University of Denver. She has over 9 years of experience in research/evaluation and project management experience in child welfare workforce development, including designing project plans from data collection to reporting, managing complex datasets, conducting multivariate statistical analyses of quantitative data and in-depth analyses of qualitative data, and developing engaging reports and presentations. Through this work, she hopes to strengthen and support the workforce that serves to improve the safety and well-being of children and families.
Katie Golieb
Katie Golieb, MSW, is a Research Assistant at the Butler Institute for Families at the University of Denver. Katie holds a B.A. from Oberlin College, an MSW from the University of Denver. Katie has over three years of research and evaluation experience in child welfare workforce development, including supporting longitudinal training evaluations and organizational health assessments. Through this work, she hopes to improve the health and well-being of children and families by supporting the systems and workforces that serves them.
Shauna Rienks
Shauna Rienks, Ph.D., is a Research Assistant Professor at the Graduate School of Social Work and Senior Research Analyst at the Butler Institute for Families at the University of Denver. She has more than 15 years of experience in research design, development and testing of measurement tools, and qualitative and quantitative data analyses in the fields of child welfare workforce development; child development; family relationships and well-being across the lifespan; and social determinants of health. Through this work, she hopes to improve the health and well-being of children and families and the workforce that serves them.