1. Kansas Child Welfare: Where You Can Make a Difference Realistic Job Preview and Resources to Reduce Turnover 36 th Annual Governor’s Conference for the Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect October 15-17, 2012

2. Continuous social work vacancies High turnover due to demanding and stressful nature of work Impact of vacancies/turnover on families and workers who stay Social work graduates often unprepared for child welfare work Rural and frontier regions Unique challenges of privatization Competition for social workers Child Welfare Workforce Challenges in Kansas

3. Realistic Job Preview (RJP) A recruitment strategy that provides job applicants with balanced information about the job to facilitate a better fit between the needs of applicants and demands of the workplace. (Graef, 2008)

4. Purpose of RJP Provide applicants with accurate understanding of job and organization – Complex/difficult work – “Invisible positions” Allows for informed decision making about seeking employment – Use as early in the process as possible Increase job satisfaction and reduced turnover – High rates of early turnover

5. RJP Research Evidence Impact on Job Acceptance – Interested people become more interested and uninterested people become less interested. – “I would have never taken this job if I had a better understanding of what it was going to be like” Did not view RJP = 20.5% strongly agreed Viewed RJP = 2.9% strongly agreed (Cornerstones for Kids, 2007; Graef & Potter, 2002)

6. RJP Research Evidence Impact on Post-employment Job Satisfaction RJP viewers: – Showed significantly increased job knowledge – Lowered job expectations to meet actual job – More satisfied with job 76.4% at least somewhat satisfied (compared to 62.8%) Only 2.9% viewers not at all satisfied (compared to 15.5%) – More able to cope with job pressures 76.3% agreed (compared to 59.8%) (Cornerstones for Kids, 2007; Graef & Potter, 2002; Premack & Wanous, 1985)

7. RJP Research Evidence Impact on Job Turnover – Michigan child welfare employees who saw the RJP had 1 st year turnover rate of 6.2% compared to 21.6% turnover rate for those who did not. (Cornerstones for Kids, 2007)

8. Critical Components Focus on key aspects of job Balance positive and negative aspects Focus on feelings not just tasks Use actual staff as credible sources (Cornerstones for Kids, 2006)

9. Child Welfare in Kansas – Where You Can Make a Difference

10. Specific Jobs in Child Welffare Intake and Investigation Family Preservation Kinship Foster Care Foster Family Support Adoption

11. Calendars

12. Frequently Asked Questions I’ve heard the child welfare system in Kansas is privatized. What does that mean?. How much time will I spend on paperwork? How often will I have to respond to crisis situations? How closely do social workers work with the courts and legal professionals? How do child welfare professionals maintain balance between work and personal lives?

13. Glossary & Acronyms: How do I find out more?

14. Kansas Workforce Initiative ~A service of the Children’s Bureau University of Kansas School of Social Welfare www.kwi.ku.edu www.kwi.ku.edu