Research on States' Child and Family Welfare Policies and Services: Universities' Partnership with State Agencies

In 1994, amendments to the Social Security Act authorized the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (US DHHS) to review all state child and family service programs. As DHHS evaluates each state agency's programs and services to ensure achievement of positive outcomes for children and families, some states are partnering with universities to develop, implement, and evaluate more effective and efficient services. These partnerships incorporate the strengths of both organizations in producing positive outcomes and substantial changes in child and family welfare policy and practice.

As the recognition of these productive partnerships increases, more states are showing interest in working with universities to use research to guide organizational decision making. Studies show that a state university's involvement in the development and implementation of social services by providing scientific consultation and analytic process evaluation, and the balance between universities roles and state agencies' responsibility has been an important factor of monitoring social services and policies (Ahn, et al, 2017; Goughler & Anderson, 2009). However, there still have not been many studies and collaborative discussions about the strengths and challenges of these partnerships. In addition, while organizational systems designed to provide child welfare services and family welfare policy (e.g., cash assistance) have been separate, there has been growing attention to linking child maltreatment and family welfare policy to promote child and family well-being within the context of public policy and social services (Berrick, et al, 2006; Kang, et al, 2016).

The purpose of the roundtable would be to (a) examine the role of universities in the evaluation of states' child and family welfare policies and services, (b) discuss research collaborations between child welfare (child maltreatment) and family welfare policies (e.g., TANF), (c) introduce each state's current Quality Assurance (QA) and Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI) process, and discuss their challenges and strengths, and (d) encourage collaboration across states. Panelists from several universities will discuss their experiences in California, Illinois, Maryland, North Carolina, Washington, and Wisconsin. The goal of the discussion is to stimulate conversation that will promote a better understanding of relevant issues in collaborating with state agencies for child and family welfare research, and to build a knowledge base to conduct research and implement policies and services in partnership with state agencies.

Ahn, H., Carter, L., Reiman, S., & Hartzel, S. (2017) Development of Quality Assurance and Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI) Model in Child Welfare System. Journal of Public Child Welfare.11:2, 166-189

Berrick, J. D., Frame, L., Langs, J. & Varchol, L. (2006). Working together for children and families: Where TANF and child welfare meet. Journal of Policy Practice 5(2-3), 27-42.

Goughler, D. & Anderson. C. (2009). Structural Design for a University-Agency Research Collaboration: Bridging an Historical Distance. Families in Society, 90(4), 419-424.

Kang, J., Romich, J. L., Hook, J. L., Lee, J., & Marcenko, M. (2016). Dual-system families: Cash assistance sequences of households involved with child welfare. Journal of Public Child Welfare 10(4): 352-375.