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The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on child protective services caseworkers and administrators
Veronica Renov1, Lauren Risser2, Rachel Berger3
1Pediatric Emergency Medicine, UPMC Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh, 4401 Penn Ave, Pittsburgh, PA 15224, United States of America.
Insights
Child Protective Services (CPS) caseworkers faced challenges like burnout and PPE shortages during the COVID-19 pandemic. Their experiences highlight the need for CPS inclusion in future emergency planning to ensure continued support for vulnerable children and families.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Social Work
- Child Welfare
Background:
- The COVID-19 pandemic significantly affected child abuse and neglect cases.
- Child Protective Services (CPS) was crucial in supporting families during the pandemic.
- Limited research exists on the pandemic's impact on U.S. CPS caseworkers and administrators.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore the experiences of CPS caseworkers and administrators during the COVID-19 pandemic.
- To understand how the pandemic altered service delivery and caseworker well-being.
Main Methods:
- Conducted 37 semi-structured virtual interviews with U.S.-based CPS caseworkers and administrators.
- Utilized an inductive thematic analysis approach to interpret interview data.
Main Results:
- The pandemic necessitated virtual adaptations for investigations and services, presenting both challenges and opportunities.
- Caseworkers reported personal barriers including remote work, burnout, and difficulties obtaining personal protective equipment (PPE).
- Creative solutions emerged, such as increased collaboration with community organizations to support families.
Conclusions:
- CPS played a vital role during the pandemic, but caseworkers faced significant personal and professional challenges.
- Integrating CPS into emergency preparedness planning is essential for maintaining critical services during future crises.
Background:
The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted children and young people experiencing child abuse and neglect. Child Protective Services (CPS) has played an important role in supporting children and families during the COVID-19 pandemic. Few studies to-date have evaluated the impact of the pandemic on CPS caseworkers and administrators in the United States.
Objectives:
We conducted interviews to explore CPS caseworkers' and administrators' experiences working and serving families during the pandemic.
Methods:
Participants were U.S.-based CPS caseworkers and administrators. We conducted semi-structured virtual interviews with participants and used an inductive thematic analysis approach.
Results:
We conducted 37 interviews. Participants discussed how the COVID-19 pandemic has changed the way they conduct investigations and provide services to families in the CPS system. Several services were adapted to occur virtually, providing challenges and unique opportunities. Participants also described the personal barriers they faced during the pandemic, including working remotely, experiencing burnout, and challenges obtaining personal protective equipment. Finally, participants shared creative solutions they engaged in to support children and families during the COVID-19 pandemic, including expanding collaborations with other community-based organizations.
Discussion:
This study suggests the important role that CPS has played during the pandemic and challenges individual CPS workers felt, in terms of both experiencing burnout and difficulty obtaining personalized protective equipment. Inclusion of the CPS system in emergency preparedness planning for future pandemics or natural disasters will ensure continuation of these vital services.
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