Bridging the Gap: Predictors of Alignment of Parent and Caseworker Perceptions of Engagement

Authors

• Jianchao Lai, University of California, Los AngelesFollow
• Michelle I. Graef, University of Nebraska-LincolnFollow

ORCID IDs

Lai https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3126-2911

Document Type

Article

Date of this Version

2026

Citation

Child Maltreatment (2026)

doi: 10.1177/10775595261482058

Comments

Copyright 2026, the authors. Open access

License: CC BY

Published by Sage

Abstract

This study examined predictors of alignment between parents’ and caseworkers’ perceptions of family engagement in child welfare services. Using data from 2,274 Alternative Response (AR)–eligible families randomized to AR or Traditional Response, engagement was assessed across the domains of Receptivity, Buy-in, Worker-family Relationship, and Mistrust using a modified Yatchmenoff (2005) scale. Multinomial logistic regression models identified factors associated with agreement and discrepancy between ratings of family engagement within the parent and worker dyad. While both parents and workers valued engagement, workers were more likely to provide higher overall engagement ratings, although the direction of discrepancy varied across specific subscales. Greater family satisfaction was associated with stronger alignment, whereas larger household size and worker-perceived service-needs match reduced agreement in engagement measures. Families in the AR track reported a more favorable relationship with their workers. Findings underscored the importance of incorporating family voice into engagement assessment and suggested that family satisfaction and perceived worker-family relationship were central to shared understanding in child welfare services.