Florida Institute for Child Welfare at FSU's College of Social Work

Florida Institute for Child Welfare at FSU's College of Social Work Promoting safety, permanency, & well-being for children & families of Florida's child welfare system.

The Florida Institute for Child Welfare, housed at the Florida State University College of Social Work, was established Section 1004.615, Florida Statutes to advance the well-being of children and families by improving the performance of child protection and child welfare services through research, policy, analysis, evaluation, and leadership development.

06/21/2026

This , we hope Ryan Trout’s story brings you hope and inspiration.

06/19/2026

Ryan's journey through the system reflects resilience, accountability, and unwavering love for his children. Faced with immense challenges, he did more than comply. He showed up with tenacity and purpose, achieving reunification and continuing to co-parent successfully.

He chose growth even when the path forward was uncertain. He turned lived experience into service. Through his actions, he is helping other fathers see what is possible not just for their families but for themselves.

Congratulations to Ryan Trout, our 2026 Parent of the Year award winner. Thank you for your work in the Parents for Parents (P4P) program with NAMI Sarasota and Manatee Counties.

06/12/2026

Open to students and faculty! Join our team and the Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University School of Social Work for In Their Shoes: A Domestic Violence Simulation.

Participating in this simulation, you will:

✅ Understand the complexities of domestic violence, particularly for parents and children
✅ Explore how systems such as child welfare can impact adult and child survivor safety
✅ Engage in meaningful dialogue and build connections for advocacy

Two sessions are available. Choose either the 10:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. sessions. Register to attend: BIT.LY/FAMU-FICW

🗓️Wednesday, June 17
📍FAMU Perry-Paige Auditorium

06/10/2026

"Broken crayons still color, right? So, create your masterpiece!" 🎨

Margie Dotson, winner of the 2026 Child Welfare Professional of the Year award, expands upon this idea in the following video. In her work as an independent living specialist at Communities Connected for Kids, Margie does more than prepare young people for adulthood. She helps them develop their identities, confidence, hope, and the belief that they are worthy of a future.

For more than two decades, she has served youths in Florida's child welfare system as a mentor, a steady presence, and a safe place, demonstrating extraordinary consistency, compassion, and love.

Thank you, Margie, for all you do for children and families in Florida.

Prevention in practice is a collaborative effort, and we're grateful to community agencies who exhibited at the Sympos...
06/05/2026

Prevention in practice is a collaborative effort, and we're grateful to community agencies who exhibited at the Symposium.

Strong partnerships and sponsorship like yours are essential to creating safer spaces for children and families to thrive.

06/02/2026

Eva saw that systems constrain even the most dedicated case managers from meaningful, sustained engagement with families.

So, she created Permanency Primers, relationally focused roles that strengthen case management by providing trauma-informed, trust-based support for parents while easing strain on frontline staff.

Congratulations Eva Horner on receiving the 2026 Child Welfare Innovator of the Year award!

Eva is the president of 4 Sisters Solutions, Inc. and has over 30 years of experience across child welfare, behavioral health, and prevention.

Jay Perry, a trauma therapist at JFCS - The LJD Jewish Family & Community Services in Duval County, shared this perspect...
05/28/2026

Jay Perry, a trauma therapist at JFCS - The LJD Jewish Family & Community Services in Duval County, shared this perspective on prevention at the Symposium panel session.

To build a safer future for children and families, she urged everyone in the child welfare field to act early—don't wait for harm to happen! As Jay put it, "Let’s not wait until domestic violence or child abuse or medical abuse occur." Instead, take proactive steps to help rather than causing damage.

Now streaming: Season 10 of the Child Welfare Podcast ! 🎧Plug in at https://loom.ly/MYFHJzMHost Kristina Finch, associat...
05/21/2026

Now streaming: Season 10 of the Child Welfare Podcast ! 🎧Plug in at https://loom.ly/MYFHJzM

Host Kristina Finch, associate director of professional development at the Institute, leads a series of conversations with child welfare professionals, trainers, program leaders, and innovators. These guests discuss how they are reimagining training and workforce development in the 21st century.

Learn how simulation training, coaching and mentoring, and a greater focus on well-being are helping students and frontline workers work more effectively with Florida’s children and families.

Podcast episodes are available on all streaming platforms.

Address

2139 Maryland Circle
Tallahassee, FL
32303

Opening Hours

Monday 8am - 5pm
Tuesday 8am - 5pm
Wednesday 8am - 5pm
Thursday 8am - 5pm
Friday 8am - 5pm

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