Institutional Care of Dependent Children from the Staff's Point of View

This article presents survey and interview data concerning the attitudes and practices of institution directors, head counselors, group leaders, school teachers and municipal and district social workers involved in child care placement in Israel. Both institution staff values and welfare agency policy often combine to defeat avowed professional goals concerning the care of institutionalized dependent children. The author suggests that these issues are not indigenous to Israel and recommends the introduction of incentives to curb turnover, wider use of para-professional staff, more subsidized social work positions in institutions, expansion of urban placement settings, a better definition of functions and placement goals, and a more rational utilization of professional manpower in child welfare work.