Mapping the inter-organizational landscape of child maltreatment prevention and service delivery: A network analysis

Marianna L. Colvin

Children and Youth Services Review, 2017, vol. 73, issue C, 352-359

Abstract: Network analysis is uniquely suited to inform the complex interactions in contemporary child welfare practice. This study examined the community-wide interconnectivity of child welfare efforts that exist across organizations in a county system. Structural properties were measured for 11 activities, including sending/receiving referrals, case coordination, shared resources, education/awareness, fundraising, and evaluation. The sample was bounded to match the county-level implementation of local child welfare services and to emphasize the complex context in which organizations implement social interventions. Eighty organizations participated in a network survey and findings systematically quantify the breadth and degree of their interdependence, thus making a distinct contribution to the field's understanding of multidisciplinary participation and collective action. Differences in network cohesion across types of activities, including a dominance of referrals and a relative absence of fundraising and evaluation relationships, are discussed for policy and practice relevance, as are directions for future systematic network research in child welfare settings.

Keywords: Child maltreatment; Network analysis; Organizational networks; Referrals (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2017
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (5)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:cysrev:v:73:y:2017:i:c:p:352-359

DOI: 10.1016/j.childyouth.2017.01.003

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