The influence of field-based training on caseworker turnover

Area of Science:

• Child Welfare Services
• Organizational Psychology
• Human Resources Management

Background:

• Caseworker turnover presents a significant challenge for child welfare agencies, impacting service continuity and effectiveness.
• Traditional classroom-based pre-service training models have been questioned for their efficacy in retaining staff.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the impact of field-based pre-service training on caseworker turnover rates.
• To identify organizational factors that mediate the relationship between training type and turnover.
• To provide empirical evidence supporting the shift towards field-based training in child welfare.

Main Methods:

• Comparison of turnover rates between classroom-trained and field-trained caseworkers (N=2365) using discrete-time logistic regressions.
• Analysis of organizational factors (job satisfaction, burnout) mediating training effects on turnover among surveyed caseworkers (72% response rate).
• Decomposition models to ascertain direct and indirect effects of training on turnover.

Main Results:

• Field-trained conservatorship caseworkers exhibited 39% lower odds of leaving within 18 months compared to classroom-trained peers.
• Job satisfaction fully mediated the effect of training on turnover.
• Caseworker burnout partially mediated the effect of field-based training on turnover.
• Field-trained caseworkers in investigations and family-based safety services reported increased job satisfaction, despite no significant impact on turnover in these specific roles.

Conclusions:

• Field-based pre-service training is an effective strategy for reducing caseworker turnover in child welfare, particularly in conservatorship roles.
• Enhanced job satisfaction and reduced burnout are key mechanisms through which field-based training improves staff retention.
• The study provides the first empirical validation for the widespread adoption of field-based training in the child welfare sector.