Abstract
Purpose. The purpose of this study was (1) to determine and examine the desired leadership behaviors in private-for-treatment children's institutions; and (2) to determine the conditions under which the desired leadership behaviors vary from the current management. Methodology. The instrument for data gathering was the LPI questionnaire which was based on the work of Kouzes and Posner. The instrument was delivered to 480 DCS professionals who were currently working with the private children's agencies in two groups: 240 responded about the best results and 240 responded about the worst results. Research questions were developed to find any significant differences associated with ethnicity, gender, experience, or size of the program on leadership practices. Findings. No significant differences were found in results associated with ethnicity, gender, experience, or size of the program within each of the two groups. Differences between the best results group and the worst results group were consistently significant beyond the.001 level for all leadership practices. Conclusions. Five leadership practices measuring the five desired leadership behaviors cited in Kouzes and Posner were practiced more frequently in agencies achieving the best results in meeting children's needs. Agencies that rarely performed the five practices were perceived as getting the worst results in meeting children's needs. Recommendations. That the (1) children's agency heads: (a) learn the five leadership practices; (b) recognize QWL; and (c) be accountable for their performance; (2) that boards of directors (a) be more involved in solving children's and employee's problems; and (b) retain and develop first-line employees.