Legislative Mandate
In 2014, the Florida Legislature established the Florida Institute for Child Welfare at the Florida State University College of Social Work under legislative mandate, Section 1004.615, Florida Statutes. The Florida Institute for Child Welfare devised a strategic plan which aligns with the statute and describes how the Institute is governed, including the mission and vision and the foundational pillars developed to target mandated outcomes. Researchers from across the state dedicated to improving the safety, permanency and well-being outcomes for the children in Florida’s child welfare system have joined the affiliate network to become Institute Affiliates and help the Institute achieve its goals.
Mission
The Florida Institute for Child Welfare seeks to promote safety, permanency, and well-being among the children and families of Florida that are involved with the child welfare system. To accomplish this mission, the Institute sponsors and supports interdisciplinary research projects and program evaluation initiatives that contribute to a dynamic knowledge base relevant for enhancing Florida's child welfare outcomes. The Institute collaborates with community agencies across all sectors and other important organizations in order to translate relevant knowledge generated through ecologically-valid research, policy analysis, and program evaluation.
Vision
To provide nationally acclaimed child welfare research, training services, and policy and practice implementation guidance with our partner organizations in support of the children and families in Florida's child welfare system.
more about the institute
FY 2020-2021 activities summary
FY 2020-2021 Activities graphic
Annual Reports
Foundational Pillars
Recent Institute Activities
2022-2023 Priority research awards
The Institute is pleased to invite proposals for the Priority Research Awards. The Priority Research Awards are awarded annually to fund translational research on a child welfare topic.
The 2022-2023 Award is intended for research relevant to innovations to workforce resilience. The Institute is particularly interested in funding proposals that have the potential to inform GROW Center activities or outcomes as described in the GROW Center logic model.
click here to read the rfp
Announcing the Grow Center
The Institute’s GROW Center will house each of the components of Senate Bill 1326 and create a dynamic through-line from classroom to casework to retain workers who grow, competently, into leaders at all levels of the workforce. Florida’s child welfare system has experienced challenges with stabilizing and sustaining their professional workforce. The GROW Center will be the heart of the Institute’s professional advancement offerings and will facilitate all management and administrative tasks, curriculum development, and coordination of activities.
Read more about the GROW Center in our November 2021 edition of Institute Insights.
Click here for more information
Institute Awarded $10 Million to revitalize Child Welfare System of Florida
The Institute will receive $10 Million in recurring funding after Governor Ron DeSantis signed the General Appropriations Act on June 2. The increase in resources will radically expand the Institute's scope and mission.
Read more about the Institute's plans to develop a statewide professional development network, fulfill legislative mandates, re-design a learning curriculum for social work students, enhance workforce well-being, and increase research and evaluation efforts.
Click here for more information
Join our Mailing List
The Institute distributes a monthly update, Monthly Matters, as well as a quarterly newsletter, Institute Insights. To receive our publications directly in your email inbox, please subscribe below.
Missed an issue of our newsletter? View the archive here.