Enhancing care: child protective service workers’ perspectives and experiences of serving children with disabilities
Publication Date
1-1-2025
Document Type
Article
Publication Title
Journal of Public Child Welfare
DOI
10.1080/15548732.2025.2461141
Abstract
Children with disabilities (CWD) are overrepresented in the child welfare system (CWS), yet limited research exists on how child protective service (CPS) workers respond. This exploratory qualitative study conducted semi-structured individual interviews with 12 CPS workers in Northern California to explore their experiences. Thematic analysis identified five key themes: contributors to maltreatment, challenges of working with CWD, the influence of personal/professional experience, collaboration with disability experts, and the need for training. Findings suggest that disability-focused training in the graduate Title IV-E program and ongoing professional training can enhance CPS workers’ competency and strengthen interactions with CWD, leading to better outcomes.
Keywords
child protective service workers, Children with disabilities, collaboration with disability experts, title IV-E graduates, training on disabilities
Department
Social Work
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