Organizational Capacity for Youth Engagement: A Multi-Site Child Welfare Training-and-Coaching Model Evaluation

To assess the effects of a child welfare workforce training-and-coaching model on workers’ perceptions of individual and organizational capacity to engage youth in case/permanency planning.

Five state pilot sites—Michigan, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, and Rhode Island—selected intervention and comparison regions based on population density and characteristics. Intervention groups received the training-and-coaching model; comparison groups received no intervention. Pre–post surveys were completed (

N

 = 703) between January 2023 and September 2024. Analysis of covariance models were used to assess outcomes.

Intervention groups showed small, significant improvements in caseworkers’ self-perceptions of confidence, skills, and agency culture supportive of youth–adult partnership; in supervisors’ and caseworkers’ commitment to meaningful youth–adult participation; and in supervisors’ perceptions of organizational capacity for change. No significant changes were observed in worker well-being or job satisfaction.

Training paired with supervisor coaching may strengthen workforce capacity for youth engagement, though attention to workforce well-being during implementation is warranted.