“The stress is indescribable”: self-reported health implications from child welfare supervisors

ABSTRACT

Using data from a state-wide survey of frontline supervisors from a state child welfare agency, this study qualitatively examined how stress from their positions may have affected their perceived health. With a response rate of 44%, 117 frontline supervisors participated and provided 240 comments describing health consequences in their physical health, mental health, work-life balance, and development of unhealthy habits or behaviors. Implications from this study are discussed in the context of workplace stress and employee turnover.

KEYWORDS:

• Health
• child welfare
• supervisor
• turnover
• self-care

Acknowledgments

The description of the findings of this study are solely those of the authors. The authors would like to relay great appreciation to the agency for their support and assistance in this study. Data from this study were collected immediately following a change in administration, and the new leadership is using employee feedback to facilitate systematic change.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

This research was not supported by any specific grant from funding agencies in the public, commercial, or not-for-profit sectors.

Notes on contributors

Austin Griffiths

Austin Griffiths, PhD, MSW, is an Assistant Professor at Western Kentucky University and previously worked for the Kentucky Department for Community Based Services in adult and child protective services. He is the Director for the WKU Center for Child Welfare Research and Education (CCWEAR) and his current research is focused on child welfare practice, training, and workforce development.

Whitney Harper

Whitney Harper, PhD, is an Assistant Professor in the BSW program at Western Kentucky University. She received her doctorate in Human Development and Family Studies at Michigan State University. Her major research interests include addiction, family studies, and positive youth development.

Patricia Desrosiers

Patricia Desrosiers, PhD, LCSW, worked with child welfare partners for over 20 years. She is currently an Associate Professor and the Department Head of Social Work at Western Kentucky University. She is an Associate in the WKU Center for Child Welfare Research and Education (CCWEAR) and her areas of research interest include leadership, supervision, trauma informed care practices, online teaching, and international social work.

April Murphy

April Murphy, PhD, MSW, is an Assistant Professor at Western Kentucky University. She is an Associate in the WKU Center for Child Welfare Research and Education (CCWEAR) and her research interests include child welfare, human trafficking, and leadership in social work education.

David Royse

David Royse, PhD, is a Professor in the College of Social Work at the University of Kentucky.