Home > Systemwide > Workforce > About the Child Welfare Workforce > Addressing the Workforce Crisis

Addressing the Workforce Crisis

The studies and reports in this section describe national and State efforts to address the child welfare workforce crisis from a number of perspectives, with the goal of building a stable and effective child welfare workforce. Examples of State and local efforts to address child welfare workforce issues also are included.

• State and local examples

Child Welfare Workforce Development and Workplace Enhancement Institute: Knowledge Development and Application, October 24-26, 2005 Children's Bureau, Administration for Children and Families, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Focused on (1) productive/action-planning strategies for recruiting and retaining a stable and skilled workforce; (2) best practices; (3) innovative solutions to common challenges; and (4) building a shared knowledge base. Includes meeting report, agenda, materials, and multimedia presentations. Workforce Planning Portal Cornerstone for Kids Provides hands-on tools, resources, and strategies for human services agencies looking for solutions to workforce challenges. Cornerstone for Kids introduces "Workforce Planning" as a comprehensive model agencies can use to address these challenges. Promising Approaches to Recruiting and Retaining Quality Child Welfare Workers [Plenary Session Panel] Child Welfare Workforce Development and Workplace Enhancement Institute: Knowledge Development and Application Robinson, Light, Day, Steib, Woodside, & Zlotnik (2005) Identifies some of the factors contributing to the successful recruitment and retention of a quality child welfare workforce. View multimedia presentation and materials for each speaker.

Building a Quality Workforce to Improve Outcomes for Children and Families (Word - 23 KB)
Center for the Study of Social Policy (2002)
Highlights promising practices intended to strengthen the child welfare workforce. Recommendations for Federal law and policy also are suggested.

Changes We Can Make: States Identify Strategies for Workforce Improvement
American Humane Association Children's Division
Protecting Children, 17, 2002
View Abstract
Focuses on the State data and provides a brief summary of county data and instructions for accessing the private sector.

Children's Workforce Strategy: A Strategy to Build a World-Class Workforce for Children and Young People (PDF - 647 KB)
Great Britain Department for Education and Skills (2005)
Outlines a strategy for reforming the workforce for individuals working with children and young people in the United Kingdom.

Professional Social Workers in Child Welfare Work: Research Addressing the Recruitment and Retention Dilemma
National Association of Social Workers (2005)
Summarizes the findings of a number of studies that identify challenges to the recruitment and retention of social workers.

(Back to Top)

State and local examples

BASSC Recruitment and Retention Project: Final Report
Bay Area Social Services Consortium (2000)
View Abstract
Addresses the recruitment and retention issues affecting the human services workforce in the Bay Area Region.

Human Resource Management Innovation in Selected Jurisdictions (PDF - 446 KB)
Center for the Study of Social Policy (2002)
Describes what seven jurisdictions have done to improve staff training: allow time off for educational programs, establish effective communications policies, and adopt new hiring practices. The jurisdictions cited are Maricopa County, Arizona; Phoenix, Arizona; Sacramento, California; several North Carolina counties; and South Carolina, Washington, and Wisconsin.

Innovation Out of Crisis II: Solutions to the Human Services Workforce Crisis (PDF - 259 KB)
Massachusetts Council of Human Service Providers
Policy Directions, 2002
Outlines the recommendations of the Massachusetts Council of Human Service Providers and the Pioneer Institute for attracting and keeping staff. The organizations suggest that agencies recruit personnel by emphasizing the benefits of the work and by collaborating with high schools and colleges to identify prospective students.

Workplace Supports to Improve Georgia's Child Protective Services
Barton Child Law and Policy Clinic (2002)
Identifies and discusses successful strategies for implementing the recommendations of the April 2000 Governor's Child Protective Services Task Force report and the Georgia Department of Human Resources Division of Family and Children Services plan for child welfare reform, "Safe Futures for Georgia's Children." Recommendations include supporting training for case managers and incorporating reliable methods to measure the effectiveness of initial training and professional development activities.

(Back to Top)

Updated on March 1, 2010