The Florida Institute for Child Welfare
seeks to promote safety, permanency, and well-being among children & families within the child welfare system.
Current Legislative Priorities
The Institute offers practice and policy recommendations to improve Florida’s child welfare system, such as technical assistance toward successful implementation of the Family First Prevention Services Act.
GROW Center
Advance certifications and other professional development opportunities are available to support the child welfare workforce in Florida, from classroom to case work to competent leadership.
Workforce
Case worker turnover rates contribute to delays in placements, permanency for youth in the child welfare system, and rising caseloads.
Working with Families
The Institute regularly conducts evaluations of services through partnerships with stakeholders to support families navigating the child welfare and court systems through its evaluations.
Youth In Care
Youth in the system are very high risk of experiencing adverse outcomes, including teen pregnancy and early parenting.
Resource Library
The Institute regularly publishes research materials including reports, article summaries, newsletters, interviews, presentations, and other media.
The Florida Institute for Child WelfarePodcast Series
Season 6 of our child welfare podcast includes researchers, practitioners, and youth and adults with lived experience from across Florida's child welfare system. Hosted by Dr. Lisa Magruder, our guests discuss the ethics, challenges, and impact of incorporating lived experience in child welfare research.
Most Recent Episode
Featured News
Lived Experience Advocacy Scholarship
The Institute is offering support to individuals with lived experience in the child welfare system to advocate to professionals involved in decision making in Florida. Applications must be completed and submitted by January 29, 2024. Up to five applicants will be selected and notified by February.
Now Recruiting Participants
In an effort to improve Florida’s child welfare system and support parents, researchers from Florida State University are conducting confidential surveys and interviews with parents involved in DCF. To be eligible for the study, participants must be a parent who has recently become involved with the child welfare system in Florida.
2024-2025 Priority Research Award
The Institute is accepting proposals until February 1, 2024. This award funds translational research relevant to supporting parents and caregivers, which may include mothers, fathers, kinship caregivers, foster parents, and other individuals providing care to a child or children in the child welfare system.
Infant Mental Health Learning on Demand course
Our latest learning track will be available to child welfare professionals as of January 15, 2024, and aims to support the workforce in serving families with young children using best practices informed by a large and compelling body of research on early child development.
STARS Advanced Certification from ALIGN
Applications for the next cohort of the Strength, Trauma, and Resilience Studies (STARS) Advanced Certification will open in January 2024. STARS is available to all child welfare case managers and child protective investigators in Florida! Join our mailing list to stay informed.
2024 Annual Symposium
The Florida Institute for Child Welfare will host our 2024 symposium at the Augustus B. Turnbull III Florida State Conference Center in Tallahassee, FL on May 8 and 9. Save the date and stay connected for more information.
Highlights from 2023
2023 has shown to be a productive year thanks to the passion and drive of our affiliates, partners, and staff. We hope everyone has a safe and happy holiday season. Here are some highlights from this past year!
FY 2022-2023 Annual Report
The annual report for fiscal year (FY) 2022-2023 is now available. This report presents Institute activities from October 1, 2022 through September 30, 2023, including mandates and ongoing research and evaluation work, current research findings, program updates, and policy and practice recommendations.
Institute Releases Data on Child Welfare Workforce Retention
The Institute is excited to announce the release of data from the Florida Study of Professional for Safe Families through the National Data Archive on Child Abuse and Neglect.
Introducing Learning on Demand courses
The ALIGN program offers free online, self-directed, and self-paced training opportunities. Check out our first learning track on Nonviolent Communication, designed for child welfare professionals as well as group home staff members and foster parents!
Enrolling Now: Florida Youth Experiences Study (FL YES)
The Institute's latest five-year longitudinal study is now open for enrollment until June 30, 2024 or until we reach a maximum of 325 participants. This study seeks to evaluate Florida's approach to life skills development for youth aging out of foster care.
2023-2028 Strategic Plan
The Institute's updated strategic plan reflects our current goals and priorities and is designed to incorporate our expanded emphasis on the workforce while maintaining our position as a research-based institute.