Assessing the relationship between client-perpetrated violence and intentions to leave child welfare

ABSTRACT

Using a sample of 705 early-career child welfare workers, client-perpetrated violence (CPV), a form of workplace violence, was examined to determine whether CPV experiences differ by worker responsibilities and demographic characteristics and how CPV influences workers’ intent to leave their child welfare positions. Results showed that protective investigators experienced more nonphysical violence (being yelled at or cursed at), while those providing longer-term case management services experienced more physical assaults. Analyses indicated no significant relationships between CPV and intent to leave, although there were significant differences in worker characteristics and the type of CPV experienced. Implications for training and organizational responses are discussed.

KEYWORDS:

• Child welfare worker
• turnover
• intent to leave
• client perpetrated violence

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the Florida Institute for Child Welfare Grant [037181].

Notes on contributors

Erin A. King

Erin A. King, PhD, LCSW is an assistant professor in the Department of Social Work at the University of West Florida. Her research interests include the intersection of trauma and mental health, women’s reentry from prison, women’s health issues, and the child welfare workforce. Her current research is focused on the trauma exposure of child welfare workers and its influence on their mental health and well-being.

Dina J. Wilke

Dina J. Wilke, PhD, MSW is a professor in the College of Social Work at Florida State University. Her research focuses on professional training/development and intimate partner violence. She is the Principal Investigator for the Florida Study of Professionals for Safe Families, a 5-year study of newly hired employees into child welfare workforce.

Karen Randolph

Karen Randolph, PhD, MSW is a professor in the College of Social Work at Florida State University. Her areas of interest are child welfare and evaluation research methods. Her current projects include studies on: 1) the use of evidence-based knowledge in child welfare practice, and 2) child welfare workforce recruitment and retention, The Florida Study of Professionals for Safe Families.