Child welfare supervisors are responsible for their workers' casework practice and for ensuring that their staff operate in accord with agency priorities and goals. Standards of practice provide supervisors with general ethical guidelines and specific practical steps for performing their roles competently. The resources in this section, including State and local examples, offer guidance to supervisors in their efforts to improve practice and service systems.
Standards for Supervision in Child Welfare (PDF - 48 KB)
Maine Office of Child and Family Services & Maine Child Welfare Training Institute (2005)
Presents standards for quality supervision in child welfare by detailing expectations for the supervisor's administrative, educational, and supportive functions.
Standards and Guidelines for Training Programs (PDF - 168 KB)
Kanak, Maciolek, & O'Brien (2005)
In Training System Assessment Guide for Child Welfare Agencies
Synthesizes national standards for child welfare agencies and training activities into a matrix that identifies common performance principles in the areas of case/clinical practice, supervisory practice, managerial practice in internal partnerships, and managerial practice in external partnerships.
State and local examples
Standard for New Child Welfare Social Workers on Training, Caseload Responsiblity and Level of Supervision (PDF - 76 KB)
Idaho Department of Health and Welfare (2012)
Includes expectations for and responsibilities of the firstline supervisor in the classroom and field training of a new caseworker in the Idaho Child and Family Services program.
Supervisor's Guide to Implementing Family Centered Practice (PDF - 820 KB)
Mississippi Division of Family and Children's Services (2005)
Guides Mississippi child welfare supervisors in developing and supporting their staff. This document contains checklists for supervisory practice on key aspects of family-centered educational supervision and includes a best practice flow from case opening to case closure, as well as narratives that illustrate best practice.
Supervisors and the Future of Child Welfare
North Carolina Division of Social Services & North Carolina Family and Children's Resource Program
Children's Services Practice Notes, 13(2), 2008
Describes what North Carolina is doing to partner with and support child welfare supervisors as a key element in fulfilling its Program Improvement Plan. The newsletter discusses ways agencies can strengthen supervision and includes standards for supervisory coaching skills.