Date of Conferral

10-21-2025

Degree

Doctor of Human Services (D.H.S.)

School

Human Services

Advisor

Sarah Matthey

Abstract

Residential group care programs in Calgary, Alberta, Canada face challenges in recruiting and retaining qualified human service workers. This workforce retention issue affects the quality of care provided to vulnerable children and youth, as well as the overall stability of residential group care. The purpose of this qualitative action research study was to explore why service workers in front-line jobs choose to stay in their positions in youth-serving residential group care programs, guided by Herzberg’s two-factor theory of motivation. Nine participants were recruited through purposeful sampling via social media and email, with the criterion that they had been employed at a residential group care program in Calgary, Alberta, for at least 1 year. Data were analyzed using thematic coding and inductive analysis. Key results included diversity of roles and employment length, fulfillment of purpose, commitment to youth and improving care systems, pursuit of professional growth, fulfillment from witnessing youth growth, satisfaction from improving professionally, reliance on supports, connection to people and the work, resilience to manage the demands of the work, suggested improvements to increase retention, and alignment to residential group care work. Recommendations included developing and prioritizing structured and ongoing relational supervision practices, creating a peer mentorship program and sector-wide network for new and emerging human service workers, and advocating for increasing compensation and equity across the sector. This study may lead to positive social change by enhancing services to children and youth in residential group care programs, thereby increasing the retention rates of human service workers.

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