Welfare Professionals Research Articles

Co-creation as solution for a sustainable welfare state? Challenges for the welfare professions

Co-creation as solution for a sustainable welfare state? Challenges for the welfare professions

Exploring metacompetence in child welfare simulation training: toward a holistic model

ABSTRACT Holistic competence involves two distinct constructs: procedural competencies and metacompetencies A framework developed by Tufford and colleagues (2017), suggests four domains of metacompetence: skills in action, deepened perspectives on diversity, managing affective intensity in the moment, and openness to learning. This exploratory evaluation study was guided by the research question, in what ways does Illinois child welfare simulation training address the four domains of metacompetence? Findings indicted that relevant knowledge and skill development for each domain are supported in the training. More nuanced evaluation could better assess procedural and metacompetence and more fully operationalize holistic competence for child welfare professionals.

Uptake of cash benefits among children with a disability in Norway: The role of parental socioeconomic characteristics and immigrant background

AbstractCaring for a disabled child involves both indirect and direct economic costs, which in turn may create a financial burden for the family. Using Norway as a case, we examine if public compensatory measures reach those most in need, by assessing whether socioeconomic disadvantages and immigrant background impact adversely on the uptake of a nationally available cash benefits eligible for parents caring for a child with a disability. We take advantage of national administrative register data on children with a selection of well‐defined diagnoses born between 2009 and 2017 (N = 14,469). Our results show nonnegligible, but relatively minor, social inequalities in the uptake of cash benefits related to socioeconomic and immigrant background. Our findings indicate that this state's financial support seems to reach those most in need. However, it is essential to deepen our understanding of how socioeconomic and immigrant backgrounds influence access to and utilization of municipal healthcare services. Notably, the application process for these services often involves a greater degree of discretion on the part of welfare professionals. Further research is needed to illuminate the nuanced dynamics of these factors in the context of accessing healthcare services at the local level.

A Self-Administered Eating Behavior Scale for Patients With Heart Failure Living at Home: Protocol for a Mixed Methods Scale Development Study.

The prevalence of heart failure (HF) is increasing worldwide, with the associated mortality rates rising consistently. Preventing HF progression requires adherence to restricted sodium intake alongside sufficient and balanced nutritional consumption. For patients at home, preparing nutritionally balanced meals is essential, either self-assisted or with the aid of close individuals. Patients with HF frequently experience decreased exercise tolerance, depression, anxiety, and social isolation, which interfere with eating behaviors, leading to inadequate dietary habits. However, measures focusing on the determinants of eating behavior among patients with HF are currently lacking. This study aims to develop a self-administered scale to assess the eating behaviors of patients with HF living at home (Self-Administered Eating Behaviors Scale for Heart Failure [SEBS-HF]). This study encompasses 3 phases. Phase 1 involves identifying factors influencing eating behaviors in patients with HF. First, a literature review will be conducted using PubMed and CINAHL databases. The specified literature will be analyzed qualitatively and inductively. Additionally, verbatim transcripts obtained from semistructured interviews of patients with HF and medical experts will be qualitatively analyzed. Based on the Phase 1 results, a preliminary scale will be constructed. In Phase 2, cognitive interviews will be conducted with patients with HF and experts; the preliminary scale will be used to qualitatively evaluate its content validity. After validation, the scale will be used in Phase 3 to conduct a cross-sectional study involving patients with HF. In Phase 3, data will be collected from clinical records and self-administered questionnaires or scales. After conducting a preliminary survey, the main survey will be conducted. The reliability and validity of the scale will be assessed using statistical methods. The first phase of this study commenced in September 2023, and by May 2, 2024, a total of 7 patients with HF and 6 expert professionals were enrolled as study participants. The draft creation of the scale will be completed in 2024, and the content validity evaluation of the draft scale is expected to be finished by early 2025. The third phase will begin its investigation in mid-2025 and is expected to be completed by late 2025, after which the SEBS-HF will be published. The development and use of this scale will enable a more comprehensive evaluation of the factors influencing eating behaviors in patients with HF. Thus, medical and welfare professionals should provide appropriate support tailored to the specific needs of patients with HF. DERR1-10.2196/60719.

Building trust with children in collaborative processes within in-home child welfare services

ABSTRACT This study explores trust-building between child welfare professionals and children aged 7–12 in Norwegian in-home support unit. Through ethnographic fieldwork with 13 professionals and 12 children, alongside interviews with eight professionals, the study reveals children’s active role in assessing trustworthiness and negotiating power dynamics through dialogue. The findings show that professionals must prioritize building trust through informal, activity-based interactions, which help bridge communication gaps and enhance children’s self-esteem. The importance of reciprocity in the trust-building process is emphasized. This study highlights the value of empathetic, child-centered practices in fostering trust and collaboration within child welfare.

A Psychometric Analysis of the Organizational Readiness for Implementing Change (ORIC) in a Child Welfare Setting

ABSTRACT Purpose This study consisted of a psychometric analysis of the brief and expanded versions of the Organizational Readiness for Implementing Change (ORIC) to assess the scale’s validity and reliability in a child welfare setting. Method Based on responses from a sample of 313 child welfare professionals, factorial structure was assessed through exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis. Construct validity was assessed through correlations with theoretically linked concepts, and internal consistency was assessed through Cronbach’s alpha. Results Factor analysis yielded a unidimensional structure for the brief version and a two-factor structure for the expanded version. However, the models did not meet the standards for sufficient fit, as evidenced by the fit indices. Both the brief and expanded versions were significantly and positively correlated with theoretically linked concepts. Internal consistency of the brief (α = .96) and expanded versions (α = .96) was excellent. Discussion Though the measure holds promise with respect to construct validity and internal consistency, further testing of the factorial structure in a variety of child welfare samples is warranted. Conclusion This study supports the field of child welfare with information regarding one possible measure of organizational readiness, an important concept in implementation science.

Graduate qualities for preservice health and welfare professionals for collaborative prevention and early intervention for child maltreatment: a qualitative study

AimThis study explored Australian nursing, midwifery and social work perspectives on needs within pre-service education to enable interprofessional public health responses to child maltreatment. BackgroundChild maltreatment is a global public health concern, but little is known about how well health and welfare professionals are equipped for interprofessional responses to child maltreatment during initial pre-service qualification. DesignQualitative, World Café approach with online roundtable discussions. MethodsTwenty-five participants attended one of three online roundtables in October 2023. Participants were nurses, midwives and social workers from Australia with expertise in tertiary education, professional regulation and/or child protection. Data were analysed through inductive thematic analysis. ResultsGraduates are not well-equipped during their pre-service education for collaborative responses to child maltreatment. Findings identified four core areas of focus so health and welfare professionals can effectively collaborate to respond to child maltreatment. Core areas are described as graduate qualities and encompass broad domains of knowledge, skills and values which are transferable across multiple areas of practice. ConclusionsOur study proposes core qualities which are essential for health and welfare professional pre-service education to equip graduates for collaborative responses to child maltreatment. Key barriers included lack of shared interprofessional language and priorities, meaning future work should establish consensus on essential knowledge, skills and values. A shared understanding which acknowledges disciplinary nuances is vital to inform curriculum that equips future professionals to collaboratively mitigate harms from child maltreatment.

Foster care adoption recruitment methods: A review of the literature amid calls for reform in the United States

Over 113,000 children in the child welfare system have had their parent’s rights terminated in America. Family preservation and reunification should be priority goals for child welfare systems to prevent termination of parental rights and lessen the need for foster care adoptions. Systemic change is needed to preserve family bonds and lower the number of children aging out of foster care each year without family. Until that change occurs, foster care adoption is one of the options for permanency for children when returning to family is not possible. Millions of dollars are spent yearly on adoption recruitment strategies to find adoptive homes. There is little research on the outcomes of these models. This scoping review examines the state of the literature on foster care adoption recruitment efforts. The review found a small number of adoption recruitment studies (n = 15). More research should be implemented to better focus child welfare professionals’ effort, time, and funding on the most effective strategies to create permanent homes while also continuing to work on system reform to lessen the need for such adoptions in America.

Responding to suicidal behaviour in children and young people with a child maltreatment history: A scoping review

Child maltreatment affects millions of children internationally every year. Development is negatively impacted by maltreatment increasing the likelihood of maladaptive behaviours. Associations between child maltreatment and suicidal behaviour and suicide in young people has been established. However, there is a research gap in understanding effective ways to respond to and intervene with suicidal behaviour in young people who have experienced child maltreatment. A scoping review was conducted in accordance with the Joanna Briggs Institute methodology to investigate interventions that may be effective in preventing and reducing suicidal behaviours in young people who have experienced child maltreatment. Inclusion criteria were studies: (a) of children and young people who engage in suicidal behaviour and have experienced child maltreatment; (b) published in English during the time period 2000–2020; and (c) focused on responses and interventions to prevent or address suicidal behaviour. Across 37 studies, several intervention targets were identified through reflexive thematic analysis including cultivation of self-compassion, gratitude and future orientation, alleviation of depression, anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms and psychological distress and addressing cognitive errors and negative views of the self. Screening and clear assessment of suicidal risk by health professionals and child welfare professionals was endorsed across studies. Several evidence-based treatments were proposed to support intervening with this client group, although only Emotional Intelligence Therapy (EIT) was empirically tested with this population. Utilisation of safe systems that the child or young person is in may be beneficial in addressing and reducing suicidal behaviour, such as inclusion of families, peers and the implementation of school-based interventions strategies. Future research is needed to empirically test and assess the effectiveness of interventions.

Perceived effects of digitalization on social work in Finland: A network analysis approach

Drawing on a socio-technical approach, we examined Finnish social welfare professionals’ (n = 990) perceptions of the effects of digitalization on their work and how these are associated with factors related to work and client information system usage using mixed graphical modelling. Overall, perceptions were predominantly positive. Digitally replaced services were most common in the non-public sector. Higher client information system ratings were associated with perceptions of more active client roles, supportive decision support systems and faster service processes. The relationship between various factors and perceived effects of digitalization appears complex and should be considered during the digital transformation of social work.

“They want to hear my voice”: facilitators of interprofessional collaboration among professionals supporting the education of children and youth in foster care

ABSTRACT An achievement gap in K-12 education exists between children in foster care and their peers. Professionals have a shared responsibility to support the education of these children, but often face barriers to engaging in interprofessional collaboration. Interviews and focus groups (N = 22) were conducted with child welfare professionals, school professionals, and professional caregivers to explore the facilitators of interprofessional collaboration in their work together. Themes included: centering the best interests of the child, effective communication, opportunities and capacity to meaningfully engage, positive and trusting relationships, being knowledgeable about the child, policies, roles, and systems, and empathy toward other professionals.

Evaluating the Early Implementation of a Resilience Intervention Addressing Secondary Traumatic Stress in Child Welfare Workers

ABSTRACT This mixed-methods study evaluated early implementation outcomes of Resilience Alliance (RA), an intervention delivered to child welfare professionals. RA included 12 sessions that were held for 60–90 minutes. Sessions focused on teaching participants skills to cope with secondary traumatic stress and increase resilience such as emotion regulation, cognitive reframing, and mindfulness. Findings indicated high adoption and moderate feasibility. Most participants (83.6%) completed RA. Findings from semi-structured focus groups identified three themes that highlighted supports and barriers that occurred individually, organizationally, and systemically and influenced the adoption and feasibility of the intervention. Additionally, results demonstrated that participants’ experiences differed by job role.

Exploring the effects of a graduate level trauma-informed care education program for child welfare professionals

The national child welfare agency in Ireland identified the integration of trauma-informed practices as a service need, in the current significantly challenging practice climate. A promising program that meets the need of child welfare professionals to support need has been developed and is reported on in this paper. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of a newly developed post-graduate level trauma-informed care program for professionals in the national child welfare agency in Ireland. Study participants were 41 child welfare professionals that included front-line practitioners, supervisors, and senior managers. A pretest–posttest study design was used, data was collected over three-time points to measure the effects of the program on pre-defined outcomes of Trauma-informed Knowledge, Professional Self-efficacy, Professional Quality of Life, and Intention to Leave. Statistically significant positives effects were found in trauma-informed knowledge, professional confidence, burn-out and compassion fatigue/secondary traumatic stress, with effect sizes ranging from medium-large to large (η2=.133toη2=.721) across the intervention time period. The positive impacts arising from the program were sustained for 3 months post-intervention. The results of this initial evaluation are promising in supporting child welfare professionals’ capacity to integrate trauma-informed practices and addressing the need for trauma informed practitioners. The need for further research is highlighted.

Introducing the Mellorater-The Five Domains Model in a Welfare Monitoring App for Animal Guardians.

When monitoring an animal's welfare, it helps to have comprehensive and day-to-day information about the animal's life. The goal is to ensure that animal guardians (carers, keepers, and owners) use such information to act in the animals' best interests. This article introduces the Mellorater, an animal welfare monitoring app based on the 2020 Five Domains Model. This framework provides a means of capturing comprehensive information about the world in which individual animals exist. The Mellorater asks animal guardians to rate their agreement with 18 statements covering any focal animal's nutrition, environment, health, and behavioural interactions using a five-point Likert scale. No specialist training is required other than following straightforward instructions on using the app, which are provided. The Mellorater is not proposed as a validated welfare auditing tool because it relies on reflective self-reporting and, thus, is vulnerable to the user's subjectivity. If users' subjectivity is stable over time, then the longitudinal data may be considered useful proxies for trends in quality of life. That said, it has the potential to be used by trained auditors if scientifically validated, species-specific indicators are applied. The Mellorater collects anonymous data and has been approved for a study to explore how the use of such scales may differ among guardians of different species and in different contexts. In this paper, we conduct the following: (1) summarise the app's purposes; (2) clarify its capabilities and limitations; and (3) invite animal welfare scholars, veterinarians, health and welfare professionals, and animal guardians to use it.

Social reintegration of cisgender and transgender women post-incarceration in Brazil: policies and challenges

BackgroundSocial reintegration relies on the support given to prisoners not only during their reentry into society but also throughout their imprisonment. Our goal was to analyze the expectations reported by cisgender and transgender women returning to society and of the justice and social welfare professionals from the Brazilian prison system.MethodsA qualitative analysis using saturation sampling was conducted. The participants were selected through a non-probabilistic sampling technique. Data was collected through semi-structured interviews with professionals involved in the management of the prison system and female former inmates. Interviews were transcribed and analyzed using an open and focused coding process. Textual data was stored, organized, and coded using Atlas software according to emerging themes.ResultsThe study involved 15 professionals and 13 female former inmates, five of them identified as transgender women. Among the professionals, the age range went from 38 to 65 years old; they reported a work history in their respective fields, from 10 to 35 years, with an equal distribution across genders. As for the female former inmates, their ages ranged from 24 to 42 years old, and the most reported crime was drug trafficking. Their incarceration time varied from 1 to 8 years. Female inmates were vulnerable to abuse and violence, including physical, sexual, and emotional violence. Women in situations of prior vulnerability faced additional challenges during their sentences. Transgender women were even more neglected and discriminated against by the system. Despite the professionals being aware and concerned about vulnerabilities and the need to improve the reintegration process, in general, they were not sensitive to the gender perspective. There were no specific policies able to support social integration for this public.ConclusionsData showed multifaceted challenges faced by female former inmates within the Brazilian prison system, highlighting the insufficient policies for both cisgender and transgender women. Additionally, the results revealed a lack of sensitivity among professionals regarding gender issues and their particularities in the prison system and social reintegration. These findings emphasize the need for a more comprehensive and intersectional approach that addresses the diverse socio-economic backgrounds of these individuals.

Using applied social science disciplines to implement creative outdoor cat management solutions and avoid the trap of one-size-fits-all policies.

In the United States, policy conflicts have prevented successful population-level management of outdoor cats for decades. Wildlife conservation professionals have sought widespread use of humane dispatch (i.e., lethal culling applied humanely), whereas cat welfare professionals have promoted trap-neuter-return (TNR) (cats are trapped, neutered, and returned to the outdoors). These conflicts represent a policy panacea trap, which we argue drives many conservation conflicts. In these situations, the focus on defending a one-size-fits-all policy fails to account for the value differences that shape the different understandings of the problem and desired outcomes associated with each policy, as well as complexities in the social-ecological system. Over the past 5years, a group of wildlife conservation and cat welfare professionals codeveloped a set of products that have started to be used to help organizations break out of the policy panacea trap. We used a case study to illustrate how efforts grounded in applied social science disciplines, such as science communication, social-ecological systems, and conservation marketing, can help identify a more robust set of policy options tailored to local management and cultural contexts for successful implementation. Shifting the focus to embrace a shared understanding of the broader system helped us identify areas for collaboration, broaden the policy toolbox, and allow space for policy tools originally framed as opposing panaceas. This work helped prepare all parties to have difficult but productive discussions and address shared policy needs. We suggest that many value-based conservation conflicts would benefit from similar efforts that use applied social science to transform how conflict is addressed, moving beyond policy panaceas that end in stalemate to develop shared understandings of context-specific policies, and to identify opportunities for creative cooperation that yield real conservation progress.

How to protect those who protect: psychosocial risks in child welfare workers during the pandemic

ABSTRACT Child welfare professionals face elevated psychosocial risks, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic, yet they are often overlooked in specialized literature, especially for Spanish workers. Most studies use linear models, neglecting nonlinear relationships. This study examined the role of job demands, resources, and COVID-19 impact on burnout, psychosomatic problems, and work engagement in 196 Spanish child welfare professionals. Demands predicted burnout and psychosomatic problems in both Hierarchical Regression Modelling (HRM) and Qualitative Comparative Analysis (QCA). Resources positively predicted engagement in both analyses. COVID-19 impact was significantly related to psychosomatic problems in QCA, highlighting nuances not captured by HRM.

Dynamics of Social Work Approach in Childcare; An Analysis of Integration of Islamic Kafala Theory and Bowlby’s Attachment Theory and Application Thereof in Childcare in Saudi Arabia

This paper explores the dynamic integration of Islamic Kafala theory and attachment theory within the context of childcare and welfare in Saudi Arabia. Despite the growing recognition of diverse cultural and theoretical frameworks in social work practice, there is very limited research on how specific theories are integrated and applied in childcare, particularly within Islamic contexts. This study aims to fill this gap by analyzing the application of these theories in enhancing child welfare and social work practices in Saudi Arabia. Utilizing a mixed-methods approach, the research draws on qualitative data from surveys of child welfare professionals and families engaged in the Kafala system, supplemented by case study analyses in various Muslim countries. The findings reveal that the integration of Islamic Kafala theory and attachment theory offers a culturally sensitive and effective framework for improving childcare practices, promoting the emotional and psychological well-being of children in care. The study highlights practical implications for social workers, suggesting strategies for the successful incorporation of these integrated theories into child welfare practices in Saudi Arabia. It also identifies challenges and limitations within the current system, offering recommendations for policymakers to enhance child welfare services. This research contributes to the theoretical and practical knowledge of childcare and welfare, advocating for a more nuanced and culturally informed approach to social work in Saudi Arabia.

Integrating trauma-informed practices in child welfare: a process study of graduate education

ABSTRACT This study explored the experiences of child welfare professionals who participated in a graduate level Trauma-informed Care program in Ireland. Through three focus groups, thematic analysis revealed four overarching themes: 1. Program Acceptability; 2. Learning to Weave the Old with the New; 3. Integration into Practice and 4. Sustaining New Ground. Findings suggest participants experienced a process of change that led to knowledge integration which in turn led to concrete practice changes. Sustaining changes requires ongoing supports, a national strategy for trauma-informed practice integration in the Irish child welfare agency and across child serving systems of care.

Examining the role of the parent-caseworker relationship in child maltreatment decision-making

ABSTRACT Child welfare (CW) professionals are charged with investigating reports of alleged child maltreatment and determining whether and what type of maltreatment has occurred. Multiple factors contribute to the difficulty of making maltreatment-related decisions. The Decision-Making Ecology (DME) as developed to capture the various factors – beyond child safety-related information – that influence CW decision-making, ranging from family-to community-level factors. This study examined how the relationship between CW-involved parents and child protective caseworkers affects maltreatment-related decision-making. We propose that this relationship independently influences CW decision-making processes and should be included in the DME framework. Finally, we make recommendations to CW agencies that would improve maltreatment decision-making processes.