Strengthening the child welfare workforce: Lessons from litigation

Abstract

The recruitment, preparation, support, and retention of public and private agency childwelfare staff working with abused and neglected children and their families are important and ongoing concerns. During the past two decades, many questions have been raised about the adequacy of the child welfare workforce and the supports provided to it. This article provides the findings from a review of efforts to strengthen the child welfare workforce in the context of class-action litigation for system reform. The lessons learned provide a useful framework for current and future efforts to improve the child welfare workforce, both within and without the context of litigation. © Taylor & Francis Group, LLC.