Welfare caseworkers' perceived responsibility for the behavioral needs of children: A national profile

Abstract Objectives Describe to what extent case workers identify their professional role as behavioral health care managers, and variation based on individual characteristics. Method We used data from the 2008–2011 National Survey of Child and Adolescent Well-Being II to describe child welfare case workers' perceived responsibility for the care management of children on their caseloads who were prescribed medications for behavioral health needs. Results Most caseworkers (80%) felt very responsible for the behavioral health management of children. There was variation across five management activities: most reported feeling very responsible for documenting medication use in child welfare records (66%), and over a third (34%) for arranging evaluation or treatment visits for the child (34%). Perceived responsibility varied by age, experience and education. Conclusions Caseworkers increasingly serve as behavioral health care managers, and brokers to other systems such as courts. Ongoing training is needed to support their ability to meet these demands.