Heather M. Thompson

Through their lens: Case managers’ experiences of the child welfare system

Case managers play a significant role in the child welfare system. Although previous studies have highlighted the multiple demands and requirements for case managers, few studies have utilized the perspective of case managers to highlight practices and areas of need within the child welfare system. The purpose of this qualitative study was to expand the understanding of issues related to child welfare by exploring the perspectives of current and former child welfare case managers. Thirty-one case managers provided their perspectives on their experiences within the child welfare system, perspectives and views of the system, relationships with other parts and persons within the system, and how they developed their knowledge of the intricate child welfare system. Themes related to the roles and responsibilities of case managers, support and collaboration, and learning and growing within the system emerged. Practice, research, and policy implications are discussed.

Comparing Child Maltreatment Prevention and Service Delivery at the Community Level of Practice: A Mixed-Methods Network Analysis

ABSTRACT Child maltreatment practice has broadened in recent decades to include prevention strategies, however much remains unknown about how preventive efforts are enacted among organizations at the community level compared to service delivery. Using a mixed-methods design with 67 interviews and 80 network surveys, this study compares interactions among organizations across prevention and service domains. Data suggest that though organizations are active in prevention, and view services as preventative, prevention efforts are substantially less defined, relationships around prevention are less mutually recognized, and prevention occurs in a structure of more dispersed rather than centralized connections. Results are discussed for policy and practice relevance.

The Relationship Between Caregivers and Youth in Foster Care: Examining the Relationship for Mediation and Moderation Effects on Youth Behaviors:

Youth in foster care often experience many negative outcomes. Fortunately, the empirical examination of potential protective factors is beginning to grow. The aim of this study was to investigate the influence that a warm relationship with one’s caregiver has on the well-established association between trauma symptoms and youth reports of internalizing and externalizing behaviors. Mediation and moderation analyses were conducted to explore the impact of this protective factor on this association. A warm relationship with a caregiver was a significant moderator of trauma and youth report of internalizing behaviors. Implications for practice and policy are discussed.