Abstract
Youth involved in the child welfare system are at high risk for mental illness, substance abuse, and other behavioral health issues, which child welfare workers are expected to address through referrals. Child welfare workers (N=27) who participated in Project IMPROVE (Intervention for Multisector Provider Enhancement) reported on services they provided to youth (N=307) in their caseloads. Using survey and administrative data, this paper examines workers' service actions on behalf of youth. Results were consistent with the Gateway Provider Model and showed that youth received help from a greater variety of service sectors when their workers were able to identify behavioral health problems, and were familiar with and connected to other providers in the community. Improving service delivery to youth in child welfare may be accomplished by training workers in the signs and symptoms of behavioral health problems and familiarizing them with providers in the community.
Highlights
Child welfare workers are responsible for advancing the safety, permanency, and well-being of youth involved in the child welfare system
We examined information about youth’s demographic characteristics, the relationships between worker reports and administrative data on youth’s behavioral health problems, environmental problems, and services received, and workers’ connectivity to community resources
This paper addressed the influence of child welfare workers’ ability to recognize mental health problems and the effect their knowledge of community referral resources had on behavioral health service provision to youth
Summary
Child welfare workers are responsible for advancing the safety, permanency, and well-being of youth involved in the child welfare system. Because the estimated prevalence of behavioral health conditions is greater for youth in the child welfare system than in the general public assistance sector, workers’ connections with behavioral health services are important (Burns, et al, 2004; Harman, Childs, & Kelleher, 2000; Leslie, Hurlburt, Landsverk, Barth & Slymen, 2004). Workers in public child welfare agencies are well-positioned to identify behavioral health service needs among youth and connect them to appropriate care in the community, serving as Gateway Providers to mental health, substance abuse, and other service sectors (Stiffman, Pescosolido & Cabassa, 2004). Foster is a doctoral student and NIDA Comorbidity and Addictions Center Administrator; and Peichang Shi is a statistical data specialist, all at the Brown School of Social Work. Special thanks to Jennifer Bellamy for comments on earlier drafts of this paper
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
