Coaching Toolkit for Child Welfare

Chapter 4: Capacity Building 73

Example: Scale Development Process

Social worker Natalie developed the following GARS with her
coach.

Goal: Natalie will write harm and danger statements with families on her case

load. Statements will have the family’s worries listed in their own words. The

child's voice will be used and extended family will be engaged.

Scale Value Description of Level Rating

Much less than

expected

Natalie did not engage families in writing the harm and

danger statements. Their words are used minimally or

not at all. Voice of the child and extended family are

absent.

Somewhat less

than expected

Natalie engaged some family members in writing the

harm and danger statements but important people are

missing. Child's voices are not used.

Expected level

of outcome

Natalie met the overall goal.

Somewhat

more than

expected

Natalie engages family members to write the harm and

danger statements, but may be missing statements from

the extended family.

Much more

than expected

Natalie wrote the harm and danger statements using

words from the parents, child, and extended family.

Supervisor and agency counsel agree with proposed

next steps.