“Coaching is a powerful tool for supporting the child protection workforce, as the work is complex and requires both technical knowledge and adaptive skills that are challenging to learn in a one-time training. Coaching can be used to reinforce knowledge and skills, connect caseworkers to agency practice models, and support professional development so that staff at all levels are more effective in their roles. Research indicates that coaching has significant positive effects on coping, goal-directed self-regulation, performance and skills, well-being, and work attitudes. Supporting staff in these areas may translate to improved retention, which is vital to effective child protection practice. High turnover can lead to decreased contact between caseworkers and families, impacting child and family outcomes such as time to permanency. While the evidence base for coaching is limited, coaching holds great promise as a tool for supporting staff and improving practice with children and families.”

For more information on coaching provided by the Academy’s CWDS program, please refer to the CWDS Coaching Program Overview and the CWDS Coaching Webpage.

Casey Family Programs. (2021). Jurisdictional Scan: Healthy Organizations-Understanding the Role of Coaching in Implementing and Sustaining Interventions in Child Welfare: How do some child protection agencies approach coaching? Full article- https://caseyfamilypro-wpengine.netdna-ssl.com/media/21.07-QFF-HO-Approaches-to-coaching-in-child-protection-agencies.pdf