Abstract

This article examines perceptions of the relationship between professional education and workplace training among a select group of public child welfare employees who pursued graduate social work education during a period of major practice change at their agency. Focus groups were conducted with representative members of graduating cohorts as students completed their studies to explore the connections and distinctions between their professional education and the workplace training that introduced case practice reform. Experienced caseworkers, supervisors, and management-level staff, study participants were well situated to contemplate the changes in process at their agency. They offered insights into the progress of reform and the challenges of sustaining change as well as their roles as professional social workers in carrying reforms forward.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Ericka Deglau

Ericka Deglau is Director, Intensive Weekend Program and teaching professor, Anasuya Ray PhD was a doctoral candidate at the time of the study, Fiona Conway is a doctoral candidate, and William Waldman is professor and executive in residence at Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey. Katelyn Cunningham, Talisah Harrison, Heather Bales, and Tedecia Powell were MSW student research assistants at Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey, at the time of the study. Nancy Carre-Lee is assistant director at the Division of Child Protection and Permanency, State of New Jersey, Department of Children and Families.

Anasuya Ray

Ericka Deglau is Director, Intensive Weekend Program and teaching professor, Anasuya Ray PhD was a doctoral candidate at the time of the study, Fiona Conway is a doctoral candidate, and William Waldman is professor and executive in residence at Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey. Katelyn Cunningham, Talisah Harrison, Heather Bales, and Tedecia Powell were MSW student research assistants at Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey, at the time of the study. Nancy Carre-Lee is assistant director at the Division of Child Protection and Permanency, State of New Jersey, Department of Children and Families.

Fiona Conway

Ericka Deglau is Director, Intensive Weekend Program and teaching professor, Anasuya Ray PhD was a doctoral candidate at the time of the study, Fiona Conway is a doctoral candidate, and William Waldman is professor and executive in residence at Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey. Katelyn Cunningham, Talisah Harrison, Heather Bales, and Tedecia Powell were MSW student research assistants at Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey, at the time of the study. Nancy Carre-Lee is assistant director at the Division of Child Protection and Permanency, State of New Jersey, Department of Children and Families.

Nancy Carre-Lee

Ericka Deglau is Director, Intensive Weekend Program and teaching professor, Anasuya Ray PhD was a doctoral candidate at the time of the study, Fiona Conway is a doctoral candidate, and William Waldman is professor and executive in residence at Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey. Katelyn Cunningham, Talisah Harrison, Heather Bales, and Tedecia Powell were MSW student research assistants at Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey, at the time of the study. Nancy Carre-Lee is assistant director at the Division of Child Protection and Permanency, State of New Jersey, Department of Children and Families.

William Waldman

Ericka Deglau is Director, Intensive Weekend Program and teaching professor, Anasuya Ray PhD was a doctoral candidate at the time of the study, Fiona Conway is a doctoral candidate, and William Waldman is professor and executive in residence at Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey. Katelyn Cunningham, Talisah Harrison, Heather Bales, and Tedecia Powell were MSW student research assistants at Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey, at the time of the study. Nancy Carre-Lee is assistant director at the Division of Child Protection and Permanency, State of New Jersey, Department of Children and Families.

Katelyn Cunningham

Ericka Deglau is Director, Intensive Weekend Program and teaching professor, Anasuya Ray PhD was a doctoral candidate at the time of the study, Fiona Conway is a doctoral candidate, and William Waldman is professor and executive in residence at Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey. Katelyn Cunningham, Talisah Harrison, Heather Bales, and Tedecia Powell were MSW student research assistants at Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey, at the time of the study. Nancy Carre-Lee is assistant director at the Division of Child Protection and Permanency, State of New Jersey, Department of Children and Families.

Talisah Harrison

Ericka Deglau is Director, Intensive Weekend Program and teaching professor, Anasuya Ray PhD was a doctoral candidate at the time of the study, Fiona Conway is a doctoral candidate, and William Waldman is professor and executive in residence at Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey. Katelyn Cunningham, Talisah Harrison, Heather Bales, and Tedecia Powell were MSW student research assistants at Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey, at the time of the study. Nancy Carre-Lee is assistant director at the Division of Child Protection and Permanency, State of New Jersey, Department of Children and Families.

Heather Bales

Ericka Deglau is Director, Intensive Weekend Program and teaching professor, Anasuya Ray PhD was a doctoral candidate at the time of the study, Fiona Conway is a doctoral candidate, and William Waldman is professor and executive in residence at Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey. Katelyn Cunningham, Talisah Harrison, Heather Bales, and Tedecia Powell were MSW student research assistants at Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey, at the time of the study. Nancy Carre-Lee is assistant director at the Division of Child Protection and Permanency, State of New Jersey, Department of Children and Families.

Tedecia Powell

Ericka Deglau is Director, Intensive Weekend Program and teaching professor, Anasuya Ray PhD was a doctoral candidate at the time of the study, Fiona Conway is a doctoral candidate, and William Waldman is professor and executive in residence at Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey. Katelyn Cunningham, Talisah Harrison, Heather Bales, and Tedecia Powell were MSW student research assistants at Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey, at the time of the study. Nancy Carre-Lee is assistant director at the Division of Child Protection and Permanency, State of New Jersey, Department of Children and Families.

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