Institute for Human Services

What Institute for Human Services does

The Institute for Human Services (IHS) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 1977 in Columbus, Ohio, by Dr. Ronald C. Hughes and Dr. Judith S. Rycus. It provides specialized child welfare workforce development, organizational consulting, and policy research to public and private child welfare agencies, with reach across 35+ U.S. states, Canadian provinces, and international programs in Brazil, India, Zimbabwe, Haiti, and Russia. IHS's core intellectual property includes the four-volume Field Guide to Child Welfare, the Comprehensive Competency-Based Inservice Training (CCBIT) model, and the Child Welfare Competencies framework; it also operates the Child Maltreatment Policy Resource Center (CMPRC) as an affiliated policy think tank.

IHS delivers value through three primary service lines: Training System Development (competency frameworks, curriculum design, trainer preparation), Organizational Development (consulting, coaching, strategic facilitation for child welfare agencies), and Policy Development (research, white papers, issue briefs via CMPRC). It also runs an International Development practice supporting countries in building family-based alternatives to institutional care. Its Ohio Child Welfare Training Program state administrator role is a foundational contract that has informed and refined its CCBIT methodology over decades.

The organization monetizes through a hybrid nonprofit model: tax-deductible donations (suggested tiers $25–$500), nominal continuing education fees ($10–$15 per ASWB-approved CE credit), and fee-for-service consulting engagements. Training courses are offered free of charge, functioning as a top-of-funnel engagement tool that converts individual learners and agencies into consulting clients and donors. The team consists of approximately 13 staff, including co-founders, senior policy analysts affiliated with NYU, University of Michigan, and University of Pennsylvania faculty, and operational/administrative support.

Name

Institute for Human Services

Legal name

Institute for Human Services

Website

https://ihs-trainet.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1977

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Institute for Human Services is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1977 that provides child welfare workforce training, organizational development consulting, and policy research to public agencies and NGOs across North America and internationally.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Child Welfare Training and Consulting Services

NAICS

Child and Youth Services (62411), Educational Support Services (611710)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Management Services (8741)

akta.pro primary industry

Family & Child Benefits Administration (Child Allowance, Parental Leave) (BPAIAKAD)

akta.pro secondary industry

Local Public Health & Human Services Administration (BPAIACAK)

Keywords

• Child welfare training
• Competency-based training
• Organizational development consulting
• Child protection services
• Social work education

Headquarters

HQ city

Columbus

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Charitable Contributions: As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, IHS relies on tax-deductible donations from individuals and organizations. Donations support their mission to protect children and strengthen families.
2. Continuing Education Fees: While training courses are free, the organization charges nominal fees ($10-$15) for continuing education credits approved by ASWB/ACE.
3. Consulting and Training Services: Fee-for-service consulting engagements with child welfare agencies for organizational development, training system development, and policy consulting.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Institute for Human Services (IHS) is a nonprofit organization that provides child welfare workforce development, organizational development, and policy consulting to public and private child welfare agencies. The organization delivers competency-based training systems, tailored consulting engagements, policy analysis, and international development services to help agencies build capacity to protect children and strengthen families. IHS also operates the Child Maltreatment Policy Resource Center (CMPRC) as a think tank subsidiary.

Product overview

The Institute for Human Services (IHS) is a nonprofit organization offering a portfolio of child welfare training products and professional development services. The core product suite includes the Field Guide to Child Welfare (a four-volume comprehensive reference), the Comprehensive Competency-Based Inservice Training (CCBIT) system, Child Welfare Competencies framework, and specialized resources covering Risk Assessment, Differential Response, and Policy Issues in Brief. IHS also operates the Child Maltreatment Policy Resource Center (CMPRC) as a research and policy think tank. Services encompass Training System Development, Organizational Development, Policy Development, and International Development. Training programs are delivered virtually with ASWB-approved CE credits. The portfolio is unified around IHS's mission to protect children and strengthen families through evidence-based workforce development.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Field Guide to Child Welfare A comprehensive four-volume guide originally published by the Child Welfare League of America, providing foundational knowledge for caseworkers, supervisors, foster and adoptive parents, educators, and students on ensuring child safety, permanency, and well-being.
• Comprehensive Competency-Based Inservice Training (CCBIT)

Quantifiable outcome

• Delivered hundreds of trainings and tens of thousands of sessions for child welfare professionals in Ohio
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Partnership for Every Child (P4EC) - RussiacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2014P4EC's Resource Center of Applied Social Work has partnered with IHS since 2014. Their training programs are designed according to IHS competency-based training principles and levels of learning. All trainers are assessed using the IHS trainer core competency model. P4EC developed their own competency models for caseworkers, managers, and trainers referencing IHS frameworks.
• ANGAAD - BrazilminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with Brazilian organizations Pontes de Amor and ANGAAD to improve knowledge of social technology for promoting safe family care. Strengthened partnership with National Government and led training programs relaying knowledge to state governments, judiciary, and NGO professionals.
• Child Development and Family Impact Network (CDFIN) - IndiaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with Karen Grace Paul to provide vision-expanding education and training. IHS helped build competence through training and provides ongoing follow-up, mentoring, training resources, and NGO structure setup support.
• Zimbabwe Without OrphansminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership to equip teams with practical, accessible, and relevant training covering a wide range of topics. IHS provided resources and inspired new vision for planning, strategies, and program implementation.
• Overture International - HaitiminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership providing information, education, and tools to equip local Haitian social support teams to better understand trauma and serve children through reunification and family strengthening. Relies on IHS work for effective strategies.
• Child Maltreatment Policy Resource Center (CMPRC)coreOthersCMPRC was founded and is operated by IHS as a think tank to drive proactive change in child maltreatment and child protection policy and practice. Produces policy white papers, practice guidance, issue briefs, and training opportunities for policymakers and practitioners.
• Psychological Maltreatment Alliance (PMA)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDr. Judith Rycus serves as Executive Committee Chair of the Psychological Maltreatment Alliance, which is dedicated to advancing research, policy, and education aimed at eradicating psychological maltreatment and fostering child well-being.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Child Welfare League of America (CWLA): CWLA is the oldest and largest membership-based child welfare organization in the US, providing training, publications, and advocacy for child welfare practitioners - directly comparable to IHS's training, Field Guide, and policy work.
• National Child Welfare Workforce Institute (NCWWI): NCWWI focuses on workforce development and competency-based training for public child welfare agencies, including competency frameworks and leadership academies - directly parallel to IHS's CCBIT model and competency work.
• JBS International: JBS International operates the National Child Welfare Workforce Institute and provides training and technical assistance to state child welfare agencies - closely comparable training and consulting services for the same buyer segment.

Broad incumbents

• Casey Family Programs: Casey is a major operating foundation working on child welfare systems change, providing consulting, research, and training to public agencies at a much larger scale than IHS - comparable mission, broader portfolio.
• Annie E. Casey Foundation: The Annie E. Casey Foundation funds and operates the largest US child welfare data and policy initiatives (KIDS COUNT, Child Welfare Strategy Group), overlapping strongly with IHS's child welfare policy and capacity-building focus.
• American Professional Society on the Abuse of Children (APSAC): APSAC is the leading multidisciplinary professional society on child abuse - Dr. Hughes is its President Emeritus - offering training, publications, and the Child Maltreatment journal, comparable to IHS but as a member society.
• Center for Child Welfare Practice (Children's Bureau / CB): Federal Children's Bureau sets national child welfare practice standards, funds state training, and partners with training intermediaries; IHS's competency work effectively operationalizes Children's Bureau practice guidance.
• Kempe Foundation / Kempe Center for the Prevention and Treatment of Child Abuse and Neglect: The Kempe Center is a leading academic child abuse treatment and training center affiliated with the University of Colorado, providing workforce training and policy advocacy - comparable mission to IHS in a university-affiliated structure.

Emerging players

• Spaulding for Children: Spaulding is a Michigan-based nonprofit providing child welfare training, foster/adoption services, and organizational capacity building - comparable mid-sized peer with similar training and systems consultation services.
• National Children's Alliance: National Children's Alliance accredits and trains Child Advocacy Centers handling child abuse cases - overlaps with IHS's training and capacity-building model in an adjacent segment of child welfare practice.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/instituteforhu1
• Facebookfacebook.com/Institute-for-Human-Services-105364994449485
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/institute-for-human-services-ohio

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Institute for Human Services