Testing a Theory of Organizational Culture, Climate and Youth Outcomes in Child Welfare Systems: A United States National Study

• NCJ Number: 247116
• Journal: Child Abuse and Neglect Volume: 38 Issue: 4 Dated: April 2014 Pages: 757-767
• Author(s): Nathaniel J. Williams; Charles Glisson
• Date Published: April 2014
• Length: 11 pages
• Grant Number(s): F31MH099846
• Sponsoring Agency: National Institute of Mental Health
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Research (Applied/Empirical); Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

Multi-level path analysis was applied to a nationwide U.S. sample of 2,380 youth being served by 73 child welfare systems, in order to test the hypothesis that key aspects of these organizations' culture influence organizational climate, which in turn influences outcomes for the youth being served.

Abstract

The study confirmed the hypothesized relationships between the organizational culture and climate (OCC) of the child welfare systems and outcomes for the youth served. Two key components of OCC - "proficiency" and "resistance" - were determined to be significantly associated with agency variance in youth outcomes. "Proficient" organizational cultures are characterized by expectations that caseworkers will have up-to-date knowledge needed to perform their job duties, will be responsive to clients, and will place the well-being of clients first. "Resistant" cultures are those in which caseworkers are expected to reject new ideas and innovations through either apathy (passive noncompliance) or active suppression of change. Child welfare agencies with more proficient and less resistant OCCs exhibited more engaged, more functional, and less stressful OCCs. OCCs with these characteristics were associated with improved outcomes for youth, as measured by psychosocial functioning at an 18-month follow-up, controlling for their functioning level at baseline. Problems in children's and youth's functioning encompassed externalizing problems (e.g., aggression, stealing, disruptive behavior) and internalizing problems (e.g., anxiety, withdrawal, and somatic complaints). These outcomes were measured with the Child Behavior Checklist, which was completed by caregivers at baseline and 18-month follow-up. The OCCs of the agencies were assessed via caseworkers' responses to the 105-item Organizational Social Context measure (Glisson, Green, et al., 2012). Study data came through the second National Survey of Child and Adolescent Well-being. The study findings suggest child welfare administrators can support service effectiveness with interventions that improve specific dimensions of OCC. 2 figures, 2 tables, and 52 references