The Potential for a More Clinical Approach to Child Welfare Supervision to Promote Practice and Case Outcomes: A Qualitative Study in Four States

This article describes qualitative findings from a mixed method study of the impact of implementing clinical supervision in four public child welfare agencies. Particular emphasis is on the development of learning organizational cultures, promotion of self-reflective and evidence-informed practice, and outcomes-focused approaches to working with families. Themes identified from 15 focus groups with supervisors are provided, in terms of their use of clinical techniques, observed changes in supervisor and worker practice, and client outcomes attributed to the project. This study provides a rationale for clinical supervision in the child welfare setting, and the linkage between it and desired outcome achievement.