Perspectives of caregivers with child welfare involvement in a supportive housing program

Abstract

Summary The literature is absent on qualitative research that documents perspectives of caregivers involved in child welfare and who participated in a U.S. Housing First supportive housing intervention. A program evaluation of a social work-led, Housing First intervention was conducted, and this study reports the qualitative findings of the evaluation. Drawing on the focus group method, nine caregivers, involved in child welfare and with a history of homelessness risk, shared their perspectives on the Housing First intervention as well as the impact of the Housing First intervention on their families. Findings Using two-cycle coding for theme analysis, researchers independently analyzed the focus group transcripts and jointly identified seven themes. The themes include: (1) experience with adversity, (2) spiritual impact, (3) resources and services, (4) role of support of staff, (5) housing stability, (6) self-sufficiency, and (7) family stability. Applications This research provides insight into for social work administrators to develop a trauma-informed, strengths-based Housing First program to assist child welfare-involved families. Further, specific roles are delineated that social workers occupy when working with families in a Housing First program; these roles include educator, advocate, and nurturer. This information can provide supervisors and grant writers with specific staff functions that can be helpful in creating staffing patterns, providing job descriptions, and detailing program support. Finally, the themes of housing stability, family stability, and self-sufficiency support the U.S Children’s Bureau’s goals of safety, permanency, and well-being and meet the social work profession’s obligation to protect children and improve family functioning