Listening to the Voices of Children in Foster Care: Youths Speak Out About Child Welfare Workforce Turnover and Selection

Recruitment and retention of an experienced workforce is a problem for most child welfare systems and service providers. High staff turnover places vulnerable children at greater risk for maltreatment, impede timely intervention, and can delay permanency. Workforce attrition estimates across Florida range from 25 percent to 60 percent, mirroring other parts of the country. This study explored the experiences and opinions of youth in the child welfare system who experienced caseworker turnover while in care. Additionally, the authors looked at the relationship between the number of caseworkers a youth had and his or her number of foster care placements.