ABSTRACT
SUMMARY. Objective: Examine retention rates of a Title IV-E program’s graduates in a public child welfare agency. Method: The sample consisted of all workers (N = 266) hired between June 1994 and June 1997. Subjects were followed until 12/31/99 in order to ascertain employment status. Data for study were abstracted from agency personnel files. Findings: Title IV-E trained social workers had longer periods of tenure than non-IV-E trained employees (p < .057). Other predictors that were significant or approaching significance included Spanish speaking (p < .007), having an MSW (p < .0245), being rehired by the agency (p < .052), and being promoted to social from Income Maintenance (p < .061). Conclusions: The retention finding is encouraging because it may mean child welfare agencies may improve their human capital through programs like IV-E. Recruiting Spanish speaking social workers or upgrading existing workers’ language skills may increase retention in child welfare. Promoting from within coupled with upgrading skills through training programs like IV-E may also be a solution to the staffing crisis. [Article copies available for a fee from The Haworth Document Delivery Service: 1-800-HAWORTH. E-mail address: <getinfo@haworthpressinc.com> Website: < https://www.HaworthPress.com > © 2002 by The Haworth Press, Inc. All rights reserved.]
