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From Barriers to Successful Collaboration: Public Schools and Child Welfare Working Together

Sandra Altshuler
School of Social Work
Eastern Washington University
203 Senior Hall
Cheney WA 99004
509 359 6385
FAX: 509 359 6475
saltshuler@mail.ewu.edu

Purpose: Although the academic difficulties of students living in foster care are well documented (Blome, 1997; Health, Colton & Aldgate, 1994), social workers in public schools and in child welfare settings have been unable to overcome historical difficulties to support the needs of their shared clientele (Altshuler, 1997). The purpose of this project was to identify the current problems in provision of social services within both the public school and the child welfare systems and to suggest what social workers in both systems can do to address these students' particular needs.

Methods: Using purposeful sampling methodology (Patton, 1990), four focus groups were held with key informant groups (N= 27): students in foster care, their teachers, foster parents, and caseworkers. Data were gathered using focus group methodology (Krueger, 1994; Morgan, 1993) and analyzed using grounded theory methodology for qualitative research (Glaser & Strauss, 1967).

Results: The findings identify seven needs of students living in foster care: (1) extra support at school; (2) equitable, sensitive treatment by teachers; (3) increased collaboration among professionals; (4) improved training about educational systems for child welfare workers; (5) improved training about the child welfare system for educational professionals; (6) students to remain in their home school; and (7) love and understanding from the adults that work with them.

Implications for Practice: The implications for practice include suggestions for improving collaborative efforts between social workers in schools and child welfare. Updated policies about both systems should be routinely incorporated into ongoing training efforts. Providing students in foster care with a successful educational experience may offset some of the challenges they face. Social workers in both education and child welfare are in pivotal positions to fight for the needs of these students, ensuring academic success for these vulnerable children.