Abstract
This study examines factors influencing the empowerment of child welfare workers. It correlates relationships among workers' perceptions of supervisors' help-giving behaviors, perceptions of agency support, and their perceived empowerment. The research investigated the associations between length of employment and type of educational degree and worker empowerment. The cross-sectional survey design used a sample of 85 child welfare workers. Multiple regression examined the combined influence of the predictor variables on worker empowerment as well as the degree of influence each predictor variable individually had upon the criterion variable, while others were controlled for. Results, confirmed by path analysis and underscored by qualitative responses, indicated that workers perceived their supervisors' helpgiving behaviors as the only factor that influenced their perceived empowerment. The author discusses implications for practice in human services.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Adoption Assistance and Child Welfare Act of 1980, (P. L. 96272), H. R. 3439, 94 STAT, 500 (June 17, 1980).
Bandura, A. (1978). The self system in reciprocal determinism. American Psychologist, 33, 344–358.
Bandura, A. (1989). Human agency in social cognition theory. {tiAmerican Psychologist}, 44, 1175–1185.
Blau, P. M. (1960). Orientation toward clients in a public welfare agency. Administrative Science Quarterly, 5, 341–361.
Cohen, B. J., & Austin, M. J. (1994). Organizational learning and change in a public welfare agency. Administration in Social Work, 18, 1–19.
Dunst, C. J. (1995). {tiHelpgiving practices of early intervention professionals: Are we doing what we think we are doing?} Paper presented at the Annual Victoria Australian Early Intervention Association Conference, Melbourne, Australia.
Dunst, C. J., Trivette, C. M., & Deal, A. G. (1988). Enabling and empowering families. In C.J. Dunst, C. M.Trivette, & A. G. Deal (Eds.), Strengthening andsupporting families: Methods, strategies, and practices, Vol. 1 (pp. 2–11). Cambridge: Brookline Books.
Dunst, C. J., Trivette, C. M., & Hamby, D. W. (1996). Measuring the helpgiving practices of human services program practitioners. {tiHuman Relations}, 49, 815–835.
Eisenberger, R., Fasolo, P., & DavisLaMastro. (1990). Perceived organizational support and employee diligence, commitment, and innovation. Journal of Applied Psychology, 75, 51–59.
Ellett, C. D., Ellett, A. J., Kelley, B. L., & Noble, D. N. (1996). {tiA statewide study of child welfare personnel needs: Who stays? Who leaves? Who cares?} Paper presented at the 42nd Annual Program Meeting of the Council on Social Work Education, Washington, D. C.
Fox, R. (1989). Relationship: The cornerstone of clinical supervision. Social Casework: The Journal of Contemporary Social Work, 70, 146–152.
Frans, D. (1993). A scale for measuring social worker empowerment. Research on Social Work Practice, 3, 312–328.
Galant, K. R., Trivette, C. M., & Dunst, D. J. (1999). The meaning and implications of empowerment. In G. G. Bear, K. M. Minke, & A. Thomas (Eds.), Children's needs II:Development, problems, and alternatives, (pp. 681–688). Bethesda, MD: National Association of School Psychologists.
Child & Youth Care Forum 326. Glisson, C. & Durick, M. (1988). Predictors of job satisfaction and organization commitment in human service organizations. Administrative Quarterly, 33, 61–81.
Grimm, E. F. & Orten, J. F.(1973). Student attitudes toward the poor. Social Work, 18 (1), 94–100.
Gutierrez, L. M. (1994). Beyond coping: An empowerment perspective on stressful life events. Journal of Sociology and Social Welfare, 21, 201–219.
Hair, J. F., Jr., Anderson, R. E., Tatham, R. L., & Black, W. C. (1995). Multivariate data analysis with readings(4th Ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ: PrenticeHall.
Harkness, D., & Poertner, J. (1989). Research and social work supervision: A conceptual review. Social Work, 34, 115–119.
Harkness, D., & Hensley, H. (1991). Changing the focus of social work supervision: Effects on client satisfaction and generalized contentment. Social Work, 36, 506–512.
Hegar, R. L., & Hunzeker, J. M. (1988). Moving toward empowermentbased practice in public child welfare. Social Work, 35, 499–502.
Hewson, D. M. (1999). Empowerment in Supervision. Feminism & Psychology, 9 (4), 406–410.
Kadushin, A. (1974). Supervisorsupervisee: A survey. Social Work, 19, 228–297
Kadushin, A. (1976). Supervision in social work. New York: Columbia University Press.
Kadushin, A. (1985). Supervision in social work.(2nd Ed.). New York: Columbia University Press.
Leslie, D. R., Holzhalb, C. M., & Holland, T. P. (1998). Measuring staff empowerment: Development of a worker empowerment scale. Research on Social Work Practice, 8, 212–222.
McBride, M., & Skaw, K. G. (1995). Trust, empowerment, and reflection: Essentials of supervision. Journal of Curriculum and Supervision, 10, 262–277.
Rappaport, J. (1987). Terms of empowerment/exemplars of prevention: Toward a theory for community psychology. American Journal of Community Psychology, 15, 121–148.
Rubin, A. & Babbie, E. (1997). Research methods for social work. Pacific Grove, CA: Brooks/Cole Publishing.
Shulman, L. (1993). Interactional supervision. Washington: NASW Press.
Shulman, L. (1996). Supervision and consultation. In Encyclopedia of Social Work (Vol. 3, pp. 2373–2379). Washington, DC: NASW Press.
Solomon, B., (1976). Black empowerment: Social work in oppressed communities. New York: Columbia University Press.
Spreitzer, G. M. (1995). Psychological empowerment in the workplace: Dimensions, measurement, and validation. Academy of Management Journal, 38, 1442–1465.
Tabachnick, B. G. & Fidell, L. S. (1996). Using multivariate statistics(3rd Ed.). Northridge, CA: Harper Collins College Publishers.
Williams, A. B. (1997). On parallel process in social work supervision. Clinical Social Work Journal, 25, 425–435.Cearley 327
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Cearley, S. The Power of Supervision in Child Welfare Services. Child & Youth Care Forum 33, 313–327 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1023/B:CCAR.0000043038.97882.2f
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/B:CCAR.0000043038.97882.2f