Social Workers' Demeanor and Length of Engagement in Project SAFE: A Voluntary Child Abuse/Neglect Prevention Program

This study investigates the duration of engagement in Project SAFE, a child abuse/neglect prevention program, in relation to the referring Children's Social Worker (CSW). The objective of this study is to determine the association between CSW demeanor and the likelihood of continued client engagement for the duration of the 6 month program. Methodology included using the client database to track drop outs, graduation rates, and frequency of engagement trends. A focus group was also conducted with Project SAFE therapists to determine the reasons given by clients for dropping out. Lastly, client names were linked to their respective referring CSWs. This list was compared to the results of a previous study; as it identified specific CSWs as possessing punitive or supportive demeanors.

This study is a follow up to the original study, Predictors of Participation in Project SAFE: Scare Tactics, which revealed that the CSWs with positive and supportive demeanors had the lowest program acceptance rates. This was in comparison to the CSWs with the punitive demeanors who had the highest rates of client acceptance into Project SAFE. These findings begged the question of the durability of coerced engagement which is explored herein.

This follow-up study raises important points. While scare tactics may increase client acceptance of services, they may not have the same impact on sustained engagement