Permanency-Focused Supervision and Workers' Self-Efficacy: Exploring the Link

Francie J. Julien-Chinn, Cynthia Lietz

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

8 Scopus citations

Abstract

Child welfare agencies are charged with the mission of establishing timely legal permanency for all children in out-of-home care. National data indicate that the field of child welfare continues to struggle to fulfill this mission. Pragmatic strategies to improve permanency outcomes are essential. This study used cross-sectional data (N = 427) to examine the relationship between workers' self-efficacy in making permanency decisions and the supervision they receive. Child welfare supervisors monitor and mentor their supervisees' work and are responsible for practice outcomes, including establishing timely permanency. Supervision also contributes to the self-efficacy of frontline child welfare workers. Findings suggest that when supervisors focus their supervision on permanency outcomes, workers report a higher level of self-efficacy in making permanency decisions. This finding provides encouraging implications for child welfare agencies in developing innovative approaches to improving permanency outcomes while relying on existing resources.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)37-44
Number of pages8
JournalSocial Work (United States)
Volume61
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - Jan 1 2016

Keywords

  • Child welfare
  • permanency
  • self-efficacy
  • supervision

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Medicine

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