Transferring MSW Education to Practice: A Qualitative Study With Public Child Welfare Employees

Abstract

This study used a qualitative analysis of survey data collected from public child welfare employees (n = 168) as they completed master's of social work courses in a weekend/hybrid program, to examine their perceptions of ability to apply classroom learning to practice. The program, which combined a focus on direct practice and management, was developed in partnership with the state's public child welfare agency, during a period of systemic change and case practice reform. Findings indicate that students readily transferred knowledge and skills to the workplace, albeit with some challenges. In particular, management courses appeared to provide an important framework in understanding the organizational context of practice.

KEYWORDS:

• child welfare
• professionalization
• workforce development
• public child welfare/university partnerships
• organizational context
• management courses
• child welfare reform

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

Data collection concerned students whose MSW education was supported by a grant from the Department of Children and Families, the State of New Jersey, from 2006 to 2010.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Ericka Deglau

Ericka Deglau, PhD, is Director of the Intensive Weekend Program, formerly the Public Child Welfare Intensive Weekend Program, in the School of Social Work at Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey in New Brunswick, NJ.

Anasuya Ray

Anasuya Ray, MSW, is a Doctoral Research Assistant and PhD Candidate in the School of Social Work at Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey in New Brunswick, NJ.

Richard L. Edwards

Richard L. Edwards, PhD, is Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs at Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey and Chancellor at Rutgers–New Brunswick in New Brunswick, NJ. He was formerly Dean of the School of Social Work.

Nancy Carre-Lee

Nancy Carre-Lee, MSW, is Assistant Director of the Division of Child Protection and Permanency at the State of New Jersey Department of Children and Families in Trenton, NJ.

Talisah Harrison

Talisah Harrison, MSW, Class of 2013, was formerly a Graduate Assistant in the School of Social Work at Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey in New Brunswick, NJ, and contributed to the research for this article.

Katelyn Cunningham

Katelyn Cunningham, MSW, Class of 2012, was formerly a Graduate Assistant in the School of Social Work at Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey in New Brunswick, NJ, and contributed to the research for this article.