Abstract
This mixed method exploratory study examines job related stress factors associated with front-line public child welfare work reported by emergency response (ER) workers employed at Child Protective Services (CPS). The purpose of this study was to investigate four Northern California counties' CPS ER unit workers to identify their perceptions and experiences, with regard to job-related stressors. Data from this study was collected from 32 CPS ER workers. Study results supported multiple findings found in a review of the literature, related to training, caseload, and intention to leave the field. Results from this study showed that workers were undertrained in self-care (50%), trauma (84.4%) and crisis response (62.5%), and reported stress due to carrying caseloads that were two to three times above the recommended standard (59.4%). Workers' intentions to leave the field were significant (65.6%). Paperwork responsibilities emerged as the most job related stress factor among respondents (62.5%). Chi-square analysis found two statistically significant relationships. The inability to use "best practice" principles due to high caseload amount influenced workers intentions to leave the field (X2=7.846 and p < .05) and lack of training in self-care resulted in high to extreme levels of stress (X2 =8.533 and p < .003).