Strengths-Based Supervision

Child welfare workers daily make difficult, high-risk decisions regarding the lives of children and families. This article critiques two predominant perspectives informing child welfare decision-making and proposes critical theory as an alternative framework. Specifically, critical theory as a framework for child welfare decision integrates the insight gained through practice experience with data gathered through empirically driven assessment tools. With this integration, critical theory also highlights the importance of deconstruction, critical thinking, and reflection when responding to the complex cases in child welfare.

Strengths-Based Supervision (SBS) is a model of supervision that was developed for child welfare settings. The model integrates several supervisory processes that are conducted with the primary focus of supporting effective implementation of Family-Centered Practice (FCP). The model was developed in one southwestern state in 2008 and has since been adopted by other public child welfare systems and by private, non-profit settings. The purpose of this article is to describe the model and offer implications for practice.

Strengths-based supervision (SBS) is a model of clinical supervision that was developed to support effective implementation of family-centered practice in public child welfare. An evaluation was conducted to determine the degree to which learning from this 2-day workshop transferred to changes in supervisory practices. Links to pre- and posttest anonymous online surveys were sent through email to the supervisees of the supervisors who participated in the SBS training. Findings suggest that 41% of respondents reported positive changes to the supervision they received in child welfare after their supervisors attended the training. Changes that were discussed in open-ended comments were consistent with the training content. Findings offer implications regarding the benefit of this training for supervisors working in child welfare settings.