title: Reducing turnover is not enough: The need for proficient organizational cultures to support positive youth outcomes in child welfare.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  High caseworker turnover has been identified as a factor in the poor outcomes of child welfare services. However, almost no empirical research has examined the relationship between caseworker turnover and youth outcomes in child welfare systems and there is an important knowledge gap regarding whether, and how, caseworker turnover relates to outcomes for youth. We hypothesized that the effects of caseworker turnover are moderated by organizational culture such that reduced caseworker turnover is only associated with improved youth outcomes in organizations with proficient cultures.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study applied hierarchical linear models (HLM) analysis to the second National Survey of Child and Adolescent Well-being (NSCAW II) with a U.S. nationwide sample of 2,346 youth aged 1.5- to 18-years-old and 1,544 caseworkers in 73 child welfare agencies. Proficient organizational culture was measured by caseworkers' responses to the Organizational Social Context (OSC) measure; staff turnover was reported by the agencies' directors; and youth outcomes were measured as total problems in psychosocial functioning with the Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL) completed by the youths' caregivers at intake and at 18 month follow-up.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The association between caseworker turnover and youth outcomes was moderated by organizational culture. Youth outcomes were improved with lower staff turnover in proficient organizational cultures and the best outcomes occurred in organizations with low turnover and high proficiency.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  To be successful, efforts to improve child welfare services by lowering staff turnover must also create proficient cultures that expect caseworkers to be competent and responsive to the needs of the youth and families they serve.
authors.affiliation: Children's Mental Health Services Research Center, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, USA; 128 Henson Hall, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN, 37996, USA; nwilli39@utk.edu ;
authors.forename: Nathaniel J
authors.initials: NJ
authors.lastname: Williams
authors.forename: Charles
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Glisson
keywords: child welfare; organizational culture; proficiency; turnover; youth outcomes