EDUCATION AND PARTNERSHIPS IN CHILD WELFARE: MAPPING THE IMPLEMENTATION OF A CHILD WELFARE CERTIFICATE PROGRAM

• Published in: Journal of social work education Vol. 42; no. 1; pp. 123 - 138
• Main Authors: Cash, Scottye J., Mathiesen, Sally G., Barbanell, Lisa D., Smith, Thomas E., Graham, Pamela
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Washington Routledge 2006; Council on Social Work Education; Council On Social Work Education; Taylor & Francis Ltd
• Subjects: Analysis; Caseworkers; Cash; Certification; Child Abuse; Child Safety; Child Welfare; Child Welfare Services; College students; Concept Mapping; Counselor Training; Course Content; Curricula; Curriculum; Data collection; Educational partnerships; Evaluation Research; Focus Groups; Foster children; Mental health; Methodology (Data Analysis); Methodology (Data Collection); Misconception; Partnerships in Education; Professional examinations; Social Work; Social Work Education; Social Work Research; Social Workers; Study and teaching; United States
• ISSN: 1043-7797; 2163-5811
• DOI: 10.5175/JSWE.2006.200303055

This article presents the results of focus groups conducted with participants following the completion of a Child Welfare Practice Certificate Program. Concept mapping was used as the guiding research method for the data collection and analysis. Social work students and child welfare workers generated statements during the focus group session that were then sorted into conceptual piles. Participants then rated the statements as to their importance and practicality and their interest in learning about them. Results revealed that the concept Reporting, Assessment, and Case Planning in the Real World was rated highest in all three categories. Recommendations are provided regarding infusing a child welfare curriculum into social work programs, and the authors discuss how concept mapping can be used in evaluation research.