Examining a Decade of Title IV-E Outcomes: A Scoping Review

Background and Purpose: The Title IV-E stipend program is designed to improve the quality of services for children and families in the child welfare system. It addresses workforce shortages by providing financial support and training to students interested in this field. The program’s primary aim is to increase the number of qualified professionals in child welfare. However, there is a dearth of recent research on the program's effectiveness and outcomes. This study fills this gap by exploring the following research question: What literature exists on Title IV-E stipend program outcomes?

Methods: Guided by the PRISMA framework, this scoping review systematically identified relevant studies through electronic databases, including PsycINFO, Social Work Abstracts, Web of Science, and Academic Search Complete. Additional grey literature was located using Google Scholar and reference list searches. Inclusion criteria encompassed empirical studies (quantitative, qualitative, and dissertations) published between 2014 and 2023 that examined Title IV-E as an intervention. In the initial screening phase, four researchers independently reviewed and coded all identified articles. Each article included in the final synthesis was independently reviewed by two team members to ensure reliability. Data extracted from each article included: author, year, study location, objective, research design, population of interest, role of Title IV-E, outcome variables, sample characteristics, key findings, limitations, and inclusion status for synthesis.

Results: A total of 21 articles were identified through this scoping review. Key findings were organized into seven primary areas of focus: (1) retention and intent to stay, (2) workplace environment and supervision, (3) job preparedness, (4) diversity, equity, and inclusion, (5) social work education, (6) burnout and stress, and (7) client outcomes. Across these domains, the literature predominantly centers on workforce development and outcomes. Notably, consistent evidence suggests that participation in Title IV-E programs is associated with increased worker retention, stronger intent to remain in child welfare, and enhanced workforce diversity. However, relatively few studies have explored the impact of Title IV-E on child and family outcomes, indicating a critical gap in the literature.

Conclusions and Implications: This scoping review underscores the significance of the Title IV-E stipend program in the child welfare field. The findings suggest that there is a compelling need for further research to examine the relationship between improved worker outcomes, such as intent to stay and retention, and subsequent child and family outcomes. As the Title IV-E stipend program enters its third decade of existence, it is important to examine its impact across broad areas of child welfare. While evidence to date suggests positive impacts on caseworker outcomes, it is important to explore the direct and indirect effects that specialized training such as Title IV-E can have on improving safety, permanency, and well-being for children and families in foster care.