Training the child welfare workforce in healthy couple relationships: An examination of attitudes and outcomes

The purpose of the current research is to address a gap in the literature related to attitudes and other training outcomes through an evaluation of a healthy marriage/couple relationship training for public child welfare workers. Given the sensitivity of this topic and numerous barriers to trainee acceptance of the material, this training provided a particularly fertile context for these research questions. This research utilized a quasi-experimental design with pre-, multiple post-training measures for the experimental (training) group and control (no training) group. Data were collected using reliable and valid standardized scales on training satisfaction, knowledge gain, transfer of new skills, and attitude change, as well as potential individual and organizational mediators of these outcomes. Results indicated that experimental group participants reported higher levels of knowledge than controls and knowledge gain in certain areas. Knowledge gain was related to training satisfaction. Experimental group participants also reported higher levels of training transfer and an increase in positive attitudes toward the importance of couple issues for child welfare, with these attitudes significantly predicting transfer of skills. Implications for general child welfare training and the integration of couple issues into child welfare practice are discussed.