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• This exploratory study examined COVID-19 related peritraumatic distress among child welfare workers. • Nearly half of all participants were experiencing mild or severe distress. • Those identifying as married, heterosexual, financially stable, and in good physical/mental health experienced less distress than others in the sample. Whilst there is broad consensus that COVID-19 has had a pernicious impact on child welfare services, in general, and child welfare workers, specifically, this notion has not been thoroughly examined in the literature. This exploratory study examined COVID-19 related peritraumatic distress among child welfare workers (N = 1996) in one southeastern state in the United States (U.S.). Findings suggest that the study sample was experiencing distress levels above normal ranges; 46.4% of participants were experiencing mild or severe distress. Sexual orientation, self-reported physical and mental health, relationship status, supervision status, and financial stability impacted distress levels experienced by child welfare workers. Overall, data suggest that COVID-19 is impacting child welfare workers and there is a need to conceptualize, implement, and evaluate initiatives aimed at assuaging distress among child welfare workers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite the use of virtual support groups among adoptive parents, very few studies have empirically examined outcomes of participating in these groups. This research brief investigated the impact of perceived social support, information seeking effectiveness, and homophily on perceived empathy within a pilot-phase virtual support group for adoptive parents (N = 27) in one southeastern state. Researchers also examined the moderating effect of homophily on these relationships. Findings suggest that while perceived social support was significantly positively related to perceived empathy, there was no association between perceived information seeking effectiveness and perceived empathy. Of variables of interest for this study, only homophily uniquely predicted empathy and was not a moderator in other models. While findings lend credence to the notion that perceived similarities among participants is important, there are implications for developing diverse, inclusive adoptive parent support groups. This brief discusses results from this study and apposite areas for future research. • This research brief investigated the impact of social support, information seeking effectiveness, and homophily on perceived empathy. • Findings suggest that perceived social support was significantly positively related to perceived empathy. • Of variables of interest for this study, only homophily uniquely predicted empathy and was not a moderator in other models. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract This exploratory study investigated kinship (e.g., relative) caregivers' (N = 130) perceived and actual knowledge associated with child trauma. Results indicate that whilst participants perceived themselves to be knowledgeable about child trauma, they were more neutral as to whether other kinship providers held child trauma knowledge. Overall, discrepancy scores between perceived and actual knowledge variables indicate that participants may be more knowledgeable about child trauma than they perceived. Though whether or not participants had received child trauma training did impact discrepancy scores, the number of trainings received bore no relationship on child trauma knowledge. In general, findings from this study suggest the need for more adept training models related to kinship caregivers and trauma, and underscore the need for additional research in this area of inquiry. This is the first study known to the researchers to explicitly examine this topic. Highlights • This exploratory study investigated kinship caregivers' perceived and actual knowledge about child trauma. • Discrepancy scores indicate that participants may be more knowledgeable than they perceive. • Findings from this study suggest the need for more adept training models related to kinship caregivers and trauma. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Despite the importance of self-care to social workers, in general, and those employed in child welfare contexts, specifically, few studies have explicitly examined this area of inquiry. This research brief explores the personal and professional of social workers employed in child welfare (N = 623) in the United States (U.S.). Overall, findings indicate that participants engage in minimal amounts of self-care. Analyses revealed significant differences in self-care by Race , Education Level , Licensing Status , Marital Status , Supervision Status , Professional Organization Membership, and Financial Status, respectively. Findings indicate the need for more explicit attention to education and training related to self-care, and more organizational supports for child welfare workers. Despite the importance of self-care to child welfare workers, few studies have explicitly examined this area of inquiry (Bloomquist, Wood, Friedmeyer-Trainor, & Kim, 2015 ; Grise-Owens, Miller, & Eaves, 2016 ; Lee & Miller, 2013 ; Miller, Donohue-Dioh, Niu, & Shalash, 2018 ; Newell, 2018). This research brief explores the personal and professional of child welfare workers employed in child welfare (N = 623) in the United States (U.S.). After pithily examining relevant background information, this brief will explicate findings from this study and discuss salient implications derived from the data. Highlights • This research brief explores the self-care practices of child welfare workers (N = 623) in the United States. • Overall, findings indicate that participants engage in minimal amounts of self-care. • Findings indicate the need for more explicit attention to education/training and organizational supports related to self-care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Child welfare workers experience higher rates of vicarious trauma, workplace stress, and compassion fatigue, when compared to other social service workers. Increasingly, social service agencies, in general, and child welfare agencies, specifically, recognize the importance of self-care in assuaging these problematic employee outcomes. However, research that explicitly examines the self-care practices of child welfare workers in nominal. This study brief explores the self-care practices of child welfare workers (N = 222) in one southeastern state. Results reveal that child welfare workers only engage in self-care at moderate levels. Additionally, data suggests that variables such as health status , current financial status , and relationship status significantly impact personal and professional self-care practices, respectively. After a terse review of relevant literature, this brief will explicate findings associated with this study, and identify salient discussion points and implications for child welfare training, practice, and research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mentor programs have been recognized as an integral tool in the child welfare services array. However, there are few conceptual frameworks for planning and developing mentor programs for a key constituency group: foster parents . This study employed Concept Mapping (CM) with a convenience sample of 59 foster parents in one southeastern state. CM is a participatory, mixed-method research approach that utilizes non-metric multidimensional scaling and hierarchical cluster analyses to analyze qualitative data. As a result, pictorial representations of the data are generated. Results yielded seven (7) distinct clusters: Ongoing Supports, Matching Practices , and Program Evaluation , among others. Participants viewed the Recruitment cluster as most pertinent and most important for mentor programs. Contrariwise, Program Evaluation and Matching clusters were viewed as least feasible and least important, respectively. After a review of pertinent literature, this paper explicates CM methodology as applied to the current study, reports results, and discusses lessons learned as they apply to child welfare research and practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]