Unheard Voices: Why Former Child Welfare Workers Left Their Positions. Issue 1 (1st January 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Griffiths, Austin; Royse, David
• Is Part Of: Journal of public child welfare. Volume 11:Issue 1(2017)
• Page Start: 73
• Page End: 90
• Publication Date: 2017-01-01
• Subjects: Mixed method study -- organizational support -- public child welfare -- self-care -- worker retention and turnover; Child welfare -- United States -- Periodicals; 362.70973
• DOI: 10.1080/15548732.2016.1232210
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1554-8732

Abstract

Abstract : This mixed methods study used a snowball sample (n = 54) to capture retrospective insight from former public child welfare workers about job satisfaction and reasons they left their positions. Responses to open-ended questions suggested a theme of lack of organizational support as the primary reason they left. Former workers also reported that they wanted a voice and someone to hear their concerns, greater recognition, and opportunity to practice self-care. Quantitatively, workers in their positions 8 years or longer were the most satisfied on a 19-item global scale examining job satisfaction. Respondents were unhappy with their workloads and emotional impact of their positions.