"Regional and Executive Perceptions: Case Study Analysis in Child Welfare Evaluation Research"

 

Purpose: As part of the Title IV-E Waiver Evaluation, the state’s 18 Regional Managers and two Executive Managers were interviewed by the evaluation team using a semi-structured method.  The purpose of this study was to describe the perceptions of these child welfare executives about their regions and the new Title IV-E Waiver demonstration. 

Research Questions - The research questions for this study include: What do Regional and Executive Managers know about the 2012 Waiver?  How was information about the 2012 Waiver communicated to Regional and Executive Managers?  What are Regional and Executive Managers’ perceptions of needs and services in their regions? 

Method - The methodological framework for this analysis is case study-inspired.  This analysis is considered a collective case study, making use of multiple cases (Regional and Executive Managers) to illustrate an issue (the 2012 Waiver) within the bounded context of the state’s child welfare agency, bounded by the time frame of FY 2012-2013.

Procedures – Using a semi-structured interview guide, evaluators collected data from Managers via telephone.  General interview topics included Managers’ background information, perceptions of region-specific qualities, needs, and services, and perceptions of the 2012 Waiver.    Interviews generally lasted approximately 45 minutes and were completed over a period of approximately four weeks. 

Evaluators collaborated for data analysis, reviewing and developing a detailed summary of each case, reviewing case descriptions, identifying common themes within each case, and identifying common themes across cases.  Next, evaluators developed consensus categories of grand, secondary, and tertiary themes from the combined cases and selected exemplar quotes to represent the themes.  The final step in the analysis was to develop assertions from the cases.

Findings – On average, Managers had worked for the department for approximately 23 years, had served in their current role for approximately five years, and had held three other positions within the department.  Regional descriptions were unique; however, in general, Managers reported quality staff and positive court relations.  The interviews produced seven grand themes, 14 secondary themes, and five tertiary themes. 

Findings revealed perceptions of significant administrative challenges including staff training and preparation, turnover, and high caseloads and differences in service needs and availability in rural versus urban areas.  There was considerable consistency in perceptions of major unmet service needs throughout the state.  The most prominent of these were effective drug treatment; basic needs, housing, and transportation; domestic violence services; mental health treatment; and foster homes. 

Other themes included variability in Managers’ perceptions of service quality and communication with providers and a perceived lack of communication between central administrative staff and field staff.  Final emergent themes were related to Waiver knowledge.  Managers often referred to the Waiver as a funding stream and mechanism that resulted in fewer Waiver-related responsibilities for Managers and field staff.  Managers often expressed a limited or lack of understanding of what the Waiver could do for the department and for children and families.  They also highlighted a pervasive lack of Waiver knowledge by family case managers.