Mapping the inter-organizational landscape of child maltreatment prevention and service delivery: A network analysis

Abstract

Network analysis is uniquely suited to inform the complex interactions in contemporary child welfare practice. This study examined the community-wide interconnectivity of child welfare efforts that exist across organizations in a county system. Structural properties were measured for 11 activities, including sending/receiving referrals, case coordination, shared resources, education/awareness, fundraising, and evaluation. The sample was bounded to match the county-level implementation of local child welfare services and to emphasize the complex context in which organizations implement social interventions. Eighty organizations participated in a network survey and findings systematically quantify the breadth and degree of their interdependence, thus making a distinct contribution to the field's understanding of multidisciplinary participation and collective action. Differences in network cohesion across types of activities, including a dominance of referrals and a relative absence of fundraising and evaluation relationships, are discussed for policy and practice relevance, as are directions for future systematic network research in child welfare settings.