title: Constraints and Benefits of Child Welfare Contracts with Behavioral Health Providers: Conditions that Shape Service Access.
abstract: This qualitative study examines worker perceptions of how public child welfare agencies' purchase of service contracts with private behavioral health organizations can both facilitate and constrain referral making and children's access to services. Five, 90-min focus groups were conducted with workers (n = 50) from an urban public child welfare agency in the Midwest. Using a modified grounded theory approach, findings suggest that contracts may expedite service linkages, but contract benefits are conditioned upon design and implementation. Results also suggest the critical role of front line workers in carrying out contractual relationships. Implications for research and interventions for enhancing contracting are discussed.
authors.affiliation: College of Social Work, Ohio State University, 1947 College Road, Columbus, OH, 43210, USA. Bunger.5@osu.edu.
authors.forename: Alicia C
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-6407-5111
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Bunger
authors.affiliation: College of Social Work, Ohio State University, 1947 College Road, Columbus, OH, 43210, USA.
authors.forename: Yiwen
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Cao
authors.affiliation: John Glenn College of Public Affairs, Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA.
authors.forename: Amanda M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Girth
authors.affiliation: College of Social Work, Ohio State University, 1947 College Road, Columbus, OH, 43210, USA.
authors.forename: Jill
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hoffman
authors.affiliation: College of Social Work, Ohio State University, 1947 College Road, Columbus, OH, 43210, USA.
authors.forename: Hillary A
authors.initials: HA
authors.lastname: Robertson
mesh_terms: D000068216:Child Protective Services / Q000458:organization & administration*; D003284:Contract Services; D032982:Contracts; D005260:Female; D017144:Focus Groups; D066296:Grounded Theory; D006297:Health Services Accessibility; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008605:Mental Health Services / Q000458:organization & administration*; D015146:Midwestern United States; D036301:Qualitative Research; D012017:Referral and Consultation
keywords: Child welfare; Contract implementation; Mental health; Service access