“I could not have made it without them”: Examining Trainee Cohort Perspectives on MSW Education for Public Child Welfare

Abstract

This article reports findings from an evaluation of an MSW child welfare training program focused on increasing retention of knowledgeable, competent and experienced child protective service workers. From qualitative data gathered as part of the process evaluation, we found the cohort effect to be the most salient factor participants experienced as contributing to their successful program completion and their 100% retention rate. Analysis of the cohort effect yielded five themes instrumental in participants' individual and collective success: mutual support, empowerment, belief in self and their finding of a home base which ultimately helped them to launch their professional selves.

Keywords::

• Workforce issues
• leadership
• administration and supervision
• child protection

Funding

This work was funded, in part, through a grant from the U.S. Children's Bureau, (#90CT0099). The authors gratefully acknowledge this support, as well as support from our child welfare community partner, the New York City Administration for Children's Services, Adelphi University, and the participation of all child welfare student trainee participants.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Julie Cooper Altman

Julie Cooper Altman, LCSW, PhD, is Professor and Director of the MSW Program at California State University, Monterey Bay. She was the Director of the Child Welfare Training Project at Adelphi University School of Social Work at the time of this study.

Carol S. Cohen

Carol S. Cohen, LMSW, DSW, is Associate Professor at Adelphi University School of Social Work in New York. She was the Evaluator of the Child Welfare Training Project at Adelphi University School of Social Work at the time of this study.