- High Turnover Rates: Turnover in the child welfare workforce can reach up to 40%, significantly affecting both agencies and the children they serve.
- Impact of Turnover: High turnover disrupts relationships between caseworkers and children, leading to mistrust and undermining years of effort to build trust.
- Causes of Burnout: Burnout among child welfare workers is mainly due to high-stress environments, heavy caseloads, and resource-poor agencies.
- COVID-19 Pandemic Influence: The pandemic has exacerbated burnout and turnover among child welfare workers.
- Mitigating Strategies: Reducing administrative burdens and providing stronger support systems, including supportive leadership, can help alleviate burnout.
- Educational Support: Programs like the Hawaiʻi Child Welfare Education Collaboration (HCWEC) provide stipends and training to encourage retention in child welfare positions.
- Research and Awareness: The study highlights the need for awareness about the types of burnouts contributing to turnover and the development of strategies to address these issues.
