Date of Conferral

9-24-2025

Degree

Ph.D.

School

Public Policy and Administration

Advisor

Victor Kane

Abstract

The Child and Family Services Review (CFSR) is a federally mandated continuous quality improvement process that sets and assesses national child welfare performance standards. The CFSR impacts agency practices and caseworker responsibilities. Research has linked high turnover rates, averaging around 30% nationally, to agency-related variables, some of which are influenced by the CFSR. Given this context, it was necessary to understand how the CFSR performance standards impact the workforce. Policy feedback theory grounded this study as it was used to examine the feedback effects of the CFSR on child welfare caseworkers. The research question was “How are the federal performance standards set by the CFSR perceived by caseworkers to influence the practice, experience, and retention of child welfare caseworkers, and what feedback effects, if any, emerge from this influence?” A generic qualitative study was conducted by interviewing 11 child welfare caseworkers recruited through referrals or virtual means. Interviews continued until saturation was achieved. Data were thematically analyzed. Member checking to validate results occurred. After data analysis, four themes were identified: (a) living the standards, caseworker experiences with the CFSR; (b) organizational impact, agency response shapes caseworker experience; (c) metrics versus mission, tension between performance standards and practice; and (d) solutions from the field, caseworker recommendations for improvement. The implications for positive social change include recommendations to agency leaders within child welfare to best use the CFSR with their workforce.

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