Date of Graduation
Summer 2023
Degree
Master of Science in Early Childhood and Family Development
Department
Early Childhood and Family Development
Committee Chair
Elizabeth King
Abstract
The foster care field continues to have a high turnover rate of the professionals working in the field. While support and work balance are available for some professionals, many face the challenges of heavy workloads, unrealistic expectations, and health sacrifices that lead to many professionals leaving the field. This case study of one former foster care professional’s description of reasons they worked in the field, and reasons they ultimately left the field provides insight of the challenges and support as a foster care professional. The findings of this study are organized into three major themes including “Challenges for Foster Care Professionals and Reasons for Leaving the Field,” “Supports for Foster Care Professionals and Reasons for Staying in the Field,” and “Changes and Actions Needed to Promote Retention and Returning for Foster Care Professionals.” Each major theme has three to five subthemes with thirteen between them. These subthemes include: No Additional Funds and Contracts, Workload, Unrealistic Expectations, Poor Work-Family Balance, Personal Health Sacrifices Due to Work Demands, More Positive Experience Working for Private Agency Versus State Agency, Coworkers and Supervisor Support, Job Flexibility, Adequate Workload and Pay, Communication Among All Relevant and Responsible Parties/Groups, Improve Efficiency, Facilitation, and Flexibility, Additional Education and Awareness for All Parties, and Structural Changes Are Needed. The study provides policymakers, practitioners, and foster care personnel the framework for the actions needed to retain and recruit foster care professionals.
Keywords
turnover rates in foster care field, former foster care professionals, burnout, foster care, foster care professionals, foster care retainment, foster care turnover, foster care support, workloads, leaving foster care field
Subject Categories
Benefits and Compensation | Contracts | Human Resources Management | Labor and Employment Law | Legal Writing and Research | Organization Development | Organizations Law | Other Public Affairs, Public Policy and Public Administration | Performance Management | Policy Design, Analysis, and Evaluation | Public Affairs, Public Policy and Public Administration | Social Work | State and Local Government Law | Training and Development | Vocational Education | Work, Economy and Organizations | Workers' Compensation Law
Copyright
© Lauren Williams
Recommended Citation
Williams, Lauren, "How a Professional Describes Reasons for Working in and Ultimately Leaving the Foster Care Field in the State of Missouri: A Case Study" (2023). MSU Graduate Theses. 3878.
https://bearworks.missouristate.edu/theses/3878
Open Access
Included in
Benefits and Compensation Commons, Contracts Commons, Labor and Employment Law Commons, Legal Writing and Research Commons, Organization Development Commons, Organizations Law Commons, Other Public Affairs, Public Policy and Public Administration Commons, Performance Management Commons, Policy Design, Analysis, and Evaluation Commons, Social Work Commons, State and Local Government Law Commons, Training and Development Commons, Vocational Education Commons, Work, Economy and Organizations Commons, Workers' Compensation Law Commons
