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.
Our Guiding Beliefs
- All children and families deserve effective child welfare services that promote safety, well-being, and permanency.
- Skilled child welfare professionals require continual education and professional development that is financially, geographically, and culturally accessible.
- Universities play a critical role in preparing professionals for careers in child welfare.
- Effective child welfare training, education, policy, research, and evaluation are multidisciplinary, multicultural, and collaborative.
- The expertise provided by individuals with lived experience enhances the knowledge of child welfare professionals and improves child welfare research and policy.
- By fostering innovative approaches, we bridge the gap between evidence and action, continuously improving outcomes for children and families.
- Policymakers, child welfare leaders, allied professionals, and the public make effective decisions when they are provided with information that is current, relevant, and evidence-informed.
Serving Child Welfare Workers and Researchers
CASCW’s Outreach activities connect child welfare stakeholders in Minnesota to dynamic, relevant, accessible, research-informed practice and policy resources and trainings. We produce a variety of training events and publications that bridge the worlds of research, policy, and practice, bringing the latest information to students, administrators, policymakers, and practitioners working directly with children and families.
Professional Education encompasses the Center’s work with Title IV-E students and additional academic opportunities for current practitioners. We are committed to supporting students and professionals dedicated to working in the public or tribal child welfare workforce through the distribution of Title IV-E stipends and through the Permanency and Adoption Competency Certificate Program (PACC) as well as the Phoenix Learning Xchange (PLX).
CASCW identifies knowledge gaps through engagement of our stakeholders and conducts meaningful, high-quality research in order to advance the field of child welfare. We disseminate information from policy and practice relevant research undertaken by faculty, staff, and graduate students across the University of Minnesota through web publications, peer-reviewed journal articles, and online modules.