Team Decision-Making and Child/Family Team Meetings: a Social Workers Perspective
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California State University, San Bernardino CSUSB ScholarWorks Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations Office of aduateGr Studies 6-2018 TEAM DECISION-MAKING AND CHILD/FAMILY TEAM MEETINGS: A SOCIAL WORKERS PERSPECTIVE Marian Buzga California State University - San Bernardino Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarworks.lib.csusb.edu/etd Part of the Social Work Commons Recommended Citation Buzga, Marian, "TEAM DECISION-MAKING AND CHILD/FAMILY TEAM MEETINGS: A SOCIAL WORKERS PERSPECTIVE" (2018). Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations. 699. https://scholarworks.lib.csusb.edu/etd/699 This Project is brought to you for free and open access by the Office of aduateGr Studies at CSUSB ScholarWorks. It has been accepted for inclusion in Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations by an authorized administrator of CSUSB ScholarWorks. For more information, please contact [email protected]. TEAM DECISION-MAKING AND CHILD/FAMILY TEAM MEETINGS: A SOCIAL WORKERS PERSPECTIVE A Project Presented to the Faculty of California State University, San Bernardino In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree Master of Social Work by Marian Buzga June 2018 TEAM DECISION-MAKING AND CHILD/FAMILY TEAM MEETINGS: A SOCIAL WORKERS PERSPECTIVE A Project Presented to the Faculty of California State University, San Bernardino by Marian Buzga June 2018 Approved by: Dr. Deirdre Lanesskog, Faculty Supervisor, Social Work Dr. Janet Chang, M.S.W. Research Coordinator © 2018 Marian Buzga ABSTRACT This qualitative study was conducted with participation from social workers employed at a Southern California child welfare agency and researched whether the use of Child/Family Team-Decision Making meetings were a benefit to social workers’ practice. Furthermore, the study examined social workers’ beliefs about the meetings’ impact on foster children and their families in connection with the outcomes of safety, permanence and well-being. Safety, permanence and well- being are the three domains used to evaluate the success of foster children and their families. Family team-decision making meetings have the common goals of safety, permanence and well-being through promoting shared decision-making, empowerment and continued relationships between workers and the families they serve. The 10 participants of this study were recruited by the researcher through self- knowledge of employees and their job function. Data was gathered through in-person interviews with participants as well as the participants they referred. The data in this study was qualitative and was gathered in two phases then recorded and analyzed using open coding followed by axial coding. The findings of this study revealed that including all of the people who are affected by the decisions made in these meetings is essential to good child welfare social work practice. Concepts such as engagement, group and community cooperation and dynamics, social worker training and knowledge and iii agency support were themes that permeated throughout the data. These themes were intertwined with foster child safety, permanence and well-being. This study also concluded that attending and participating in CFTDMs enhances a social worker’s knowledge base and assists in their feelings of competence and confidence in their job performance. iv ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I would like to acknowledge and thank the Riverside County Department of Public Social Services, Children’s Services Division, in addition to the social workers who participated in this research project. The profession of a child welfare social worker can oftentimes be difficult, fraught with complicated decisions and barriers about what’s in a child and family’s best interest; it is not easy work. I am, and forever will be, thankful for the experience of being a social worker for disenfranchised children and families and am indebted to the fulfillment of working with this population. I would also like to thank and acknowledge Dr. Deirdre Lanesskog for her unwavering patience, guidance and support during this research project. With her assistance, firm knowledge of research, and calming disposition, this study took shape and came to fruition, and more importantly taught me a great deal about perseverance and achievement. v TABLE OF CONTENTS ABSTRACT .......................................................................................................... iii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ..................................................................................... v CHAPTER ONE: ASSESSMENT Introduction ................................................................................................ 1 Research Focus ........................................................................................ 2 Paradigm and Rationale ............................................................................ 3 Literature Review ....................................................................................... 4 Positive Outcomes .......................................................................... 5 Interprofessional Partnership/Cooperation ...................................... 7 Organization/Agency Attitudes ........................................................ 7 Social Worker Attitude and Competency ......................................... 9 Core Participant’s Skills/Training ................................................... 10 Theoretical Orientation ............................................................................. 13 Contribution to Social Work Practice ........................................................ 15 Summary .................................................................................................. 16 CHAPTER TWO: ENGAGEMENT Introduction .............................................................................................. 17 Study Site ................................................................................................ 17 Engagement Strategies for Gatekeepers at Research Site ..................... 18 Self-Preparation ........................................................................... 19 Diversity Issues ............................................................................ 21 Ethical Issues ............................................................................... 22 vi Political Issues ............................................................................. 22 The Role of Technology in Engagement................................................... 23 Summary .................................................................................................. 23 CHAPTER THREE: IMPLEMENTATION Introduction .............................................................................................. 25 Study Participants .................................................................................... 25 Selection of Participants ................................................................ 28 Data Gathering ........................................................................................ 29 Phases of Data Collection ............................................................. 31 Data Recording ............................................................................. 33 Data Analysis ................................................................................ 33 Termination and Follow Up ...................................................................... 35 Communication of Findings and Dissemination Plan ............................... 35 Ongoing Relationship with Study Participants ......................................... 36 Summary ................................................................................................. 36 CHAPTER FOUR: RESULTS Introduction .............................................................................................. 38 Results ..................................................................................................... 39 Increased Communication and Engagement ................................ 39 Positive Outcomes ........................................................................ 42 Social Worker Efficacy .................................................................. 42 Training ......................................................................................... 43 Agency Support Needed ............................................................... 47 Team Decision Meetings are Beneficial ........................................ 49 vii Summary ................................................................................................. 49 CHAPTER FIVE: DISCUSSION Introduction .............................................................................................. 50 Discussion ............................................................................................... 50 Limitations ..................................................................................... 53 Policy ............................................................................................ 54 Research ....................................................................................... 54 Contribution of Study to Micro and/or Macro Social Work Practice ...................................................................... 55 Micro Practice ............................................................................... 55 Macro Implications ........................................................................ 55 Conclusion ...............................................................................................