Child welfare professionals are tasked with ensuring the safety of children and families. This work often places workers in situations where their physical safety is compromised. Every day, child welfare professionals provide a wide range of services in increasingly complex environments in which safety is almost always a concern. Professionals are often engaging in risky situations without proper safety precautions and/or training and often are targets of verbal and physical assaults while performing their job responsibilities. Use these resources to learn about the physical, emotional, and psychological safety of the child welfare workforce and precautions workers can take to ensure they are as safe as possible.
The Child Welfare Worker Safety Guide (PDF - 981 KB)
Capacity Building Center for States (2017)
Increases knowledge of child welfare worker safety and provides strategies and tips for States and jurisdictions to improve organizational capacity for child welfare worker safety.
How Can Mindful Organizing Promote a Safety Culture in Child Protection Agencies?
Casey Family Programs (2020)
Reviews how mindful organizing practices can enable a team of workers to identify and respond to unexpected events rapidly and effectively. The article also lists habits of mindful organizing, which include spending time identifying what could go wrong, talking about mistakes, testing change in everyday work activities, communicating clearly, and appreciating colleagues and their unique skills.
The Importance of Building Psychological Safety Among Staff and Stakeholders [Webinar]
National Implementation Research Network & Jordan Institute for Families (2021)
Describes the importance of psychological safety and promoting a culture of safety among child welfare professionals.
Literature Review: Worker Safety (PDF - 2,340 KB)
San Diego State University, School of Social Work (2016)
Reviews protocols and procedures to ensure workplace safety in human services agencies. The report also discusses guidelines for reporting and responding to workplace incidents of violence as well as safety trainings provided to employees.
Session 3: Physical, Emotional, and Psychological Safety [Webinar]
National Child Welfare Workforce Institute (2020)
Presents a webinar and related resources that examine how child welfare organizations are innovating to protect the physical, emotional, and psychological safety of the workforce.
Social Work Safety
National Association of Social Workers
Offers professional safety standards, guidelines, and resources to support safe social worker environments.
Social Work Training: Safety Tips and Training
Ohio University (2022)
Reviews the importance of safety for social workers and provides safety tips for working in risky or unsafe environments.