Aguiniga, D., Madden, E., Faulkner, M. & Salehin, M. (2013). Understanding Intention to Leave A Comparison of Urban Small Town and Rural Child Welfare Workers Administration in Social Work, 37, 227-241.
This study compared the influence of personal and organizational factors on intention to leave among 2,903 members of the Texas child welfare workforce residing in urban, small-town, and rural counties in Texas. Although geographical location was not found to be a predictor of intention to leave, underlying factors that may influence and explain the differences between urban, small-town, and rural employees’ intention to leave were identified. Texas child welfare workforce members residing in urban areas were more likely to have a master’s degree and be members of a racial/ethnic minority group, while workers in small-town counties were older and had longer tenure at the agency.
Against the backdrop of high turnover among public child welfare workers, this study can provide stakeholders and policy makers with valuable guidance to help minimize the problem. The findings of this study indicate that it is important to create an effective organizational climate to sustain worker retention by developing specific strategies for workers in particular settings. Although the findings of this study did not suggest geographical location as a predictor of child welfare workers’ intention to leave their positions, several underlying organizational and personal factors that potentially influence and explain the differences between employees who reside in urban, small-town, and rural locations were identified. It can be concluded from the findings that factors vary according to geographic location. Because of this variation, newly recruited child welfare workers, including the recipients of Title IV-E training programs, should not expect a to experience a uniform workplace scenario.
Aguiniga, D., Madden, E., Faulkner, M. & Salehin, M. (2013). Understanding Intention to Leave A Comparison of Urban Small Town and Rural Child Welfare Workers. Administration in Social Work, 37, 227-241.