Barriers to Spiritual Practice in Child Welfare Work THIS STUDY LOOKED AT: Child welfare professionals often face challenges in engaging with spiritual practices recommended by their organizations.
These practices could support... RESILIENCE
PROFESSIONAL QUALITY OF LIFE
WELL-BEING
KEY QUESTIONS
What stops child welfare
How do personal,
professionals from
organizational and
practicing spirituality
contextual factors
at work?
influence spiritual engagement?
THIS STUDY INCLUDED:
304
BELIZE, BOLIVIA
CANADA COSTA RICA, GHANA
CHILD WELFARE
GUATEMALA
PROFESSIONALS FROM OVER
TWENTY
INDIA, KENYA MALAWI, MEXICO
NIGERIA PERU, PHILLIPINES
COUNTRIES.
7
Participants included social workers, case managers, residential staff, psychologists, organizational leaders, and judges—all of whom had direct contact with children or families affected by early adversity or trauma and reported being religious.
SIERRA LEONNE UGANDA, TANZANIA
USA, ZAMBIA
ZIMBABWE
STUDY FINDINGS
Seven main barriers to spiritual practice emerged:
Busyness and Competing Responsibilities High caseloads and daily demands leave little time for spiritual activities
Internal Barriers
Organizational Culture Challenges
Lack of motivation, discipline, or personal prioritization
Spiritual practices are not fully supported or modeled by leadership
Organizational Structure Obstacles
Contextual Challenges
Resource Limitations
Caregiving Demands
Limited policies, schedules, or opportunities for practice
Legal restrictions, interfaith tensions, and workplace perceptions
Staffing shortages, funding, or space constraints
Family responsibilities and isolated work settings
KEY TAKEAWAYS
Spiritual engagement is valued but often limited by workload, structure, and culture
Organizational support, including leadership modeling, policies, and protected time, can help overcome barriers Addressing busyness and creating practical opportunities for reflection, prayer, or meditation may strengthen resilience and professional well-being These findings apply across different roles and countries, highlighting shared challenges in child welfare settings
Based on research by Nicole Gibertson Wilke, Jedd Medefind, and Amanda Hiles Howard