The Center for Advanced Studies in Child Welfare (CASCW) was established in 1992 with federal Title IV-E funding and a grant from the Bush Foundation. The Center brings the University of Minnesota together with county, tribal, state and community social services in a partnership dedicated to improving the lives of children and families involved with public child welfare. Substantial funding for the Center continues to come from federal Title IV-E funds and support from the University of Minnesota, the College of Education and Human Development and the School of Social Work.

CASCW fulfills its mission by focusing its efforts around three primary areas: Professional Education, Outreach, and Research & Evaluation.

• All children deserve competent and effective child welfare services to promote safety, well-being and permanency.
• Effective child welfare workers require continual professional development that is financially, geographically and culturally accessible.
• Effective child welfare training, education, policy and evaluation is multidisciplinary, multicultural and collaborative in nature.
• Child welfare evaluation informs policy and practice resulting in better outcomes for children and families.
• Policy makers and the public make effective decisions when provided with current, relevant, and accurate child welfare information.