Florida Institute for Child Welfare

What Florida Institute for Child Welfare does

The Florida Institute for Child Welfare (FICW) is a publicly funded research institute housed at Florida State University's College of Social Work in Tallahassee, Florida, established in 2014. Its mandate is to promote safety, permanency, and well-being among children and families in Florida's child welfare system through practice and policy recommendations, mandated evaluations, technical assistance, and workforce development.

FICW operates an interconnected platform of programs rather than a single unified product. The GROW Center serves as the professional development hub, with ALIGN (Advanced Learning Innovation and Growth) providing advanced certifications (STARS, AdCerts) and free self-directed Learning on Demand courses (Nonviolent Communication, Infant Mental Health), the AWE (Academy for Workforce Excellence) housing the Leadership Academy and Workforce Well-being initiatives, and CAST delivering child advocacy academic programming. Research outputs include the Florida Youth Experiences Study (FL YES), the Florida Study of Professionals for Safe Families, Maternity Homes research, HOPE Court and Kinship Navigator Program evaluations, and a six-season podcast hosted by Dr. Lisa Magruder. An annual symposium and a public resource library round out dissemination.

The Institute's business model is grant- and appropriation-funded rather than commercial. Revenue streams include Florida state appropriations channeled through FSU, federally and state-funded research grants and Priority Research Awards, and technical assistance contracts with the Florida Department of Children and Families (DCF) and community-based care lead agencies for implementation of legislation such as the Family First Prevention Services Act and mandated evaluations such as SB 80. All professional development through ALIGN is offered at no cost to Florida's child welfare workforce, foster parents, and group home staff. Strategic partners include Florida State University (institutional host), DCF (primary state agency), Casey Family Programs, Selfless Love Foundation, Children's Home Society of Florida, and technology collaborators IBM, Accenture, and Stabilify.

Name

Florida Institute for Child Welfare

Legal name

Florida Institute for Child Welfare

Website

https://ficw.fsu.edu

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Florida Institute for Child Welfare is a publicly funded research institute at Florida State University that conducts mandated evaluations, provides technical assistance to Florida's Department of Children and Families, and delivers free professional development and certifications to the state's child welfare workforce through its GROW Center and ALIGN programs.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Child Welfare Research Services

NAICS

Individual and Family Services (6241), Child and Youth Services (62411), Educational Services (611), Other Individual and Family Services (624190)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Quality Rating & Improvement Systems (QRIS) Administration (EDACAKAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Family Coaching, Parent-Mediated & Home Visiting EI Services (EDACAFAJ), Parent & Family Relations (EDALAOAK)

Keywords

• Child welfare research
• Workforce development training
• Policy analysis services
• Social work education
• Foster care evaluation

Headquarters

HQ city

Tallahassee

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. State Government Funding: The Institute is a publicly funded research institute housed at Florida State University, receiving state appropriations and mandates for specific research and evaluation work on Florida's child welfare system
2. Research Grants and Awards: Funding from federal and state sources for specific research projects, including Priority Research Awards, evaluation mandates (e.g., SB 80 evaluation), and child welfare workforce studies
3. Technical Assistance Services: Provides technical assistance to DCF and community-based care agencies for implementation of child welfare policies including Family First Prevention Services Act

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

The Florida Institute for Child Welfare (FICW) is a research-based institute housed at Florida State University that conducts rigorous research and evaluation on Florida's child welfare system, provides technical assistance to state agencies for implementing legislation such as the Family First Prevention Services Act, and delivers professional development programs (including the GROW Center, ALIGN certifications, STARS, Learning on Demand, and Leadership Academy) to child welfare case managers, investigators, and supervisors.

Product overview

The Florida Institute for Child Welfare is a research-based institute housed at Florida State University that operates as a platform of interconnected programs rather than a single unified product. The core offerings include the GROW Center (a professional development hub), the ALIGN certification and training system (with Learning on Demand courses, STARS Advanced Certification, and AdCerts), research programs like the Florida Youth Experiences Study (FL YES), a multi-season Podcast Series, the Leadership Academy, and Workforce Well-being initiatives. The Resource Library and Annual Symposium serve as supplementary knowledge-dissemination resources. Together, these offerings provide a comprehensive ecosystem supporting Florida's child welfare workforce from initial training through professional advancement, while conducting translational research to improve outcomes for children and families.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• GROW Center: Professional development center offering advance certifications and workforce support for Florida's child welfare professionals.
• ALIGN
• AWE (Academy for Workforce Excellence)
• CAST (Child Advocacy Studies)
• Learning Lab

Products and services

• GROW Center A comprehensive professional development hub offering advance certifications, coaching, academic innovation, leadership development, and workforce well-being programs for Florida's child welfare workforce.
• ALIGN (Advanced Learning Innovation and Growth) Professional development program offering advanced certifications, self-paced online training, and specialized learning tracks for child welfare professionals to advance their skills from classroom to case work to leadership.
• Learning on Demand Free online, self-directed, and self-paced training opportunities offering multiple learning tracks including Nonviolent Communication and Infant Mental Health for child welfare professionals.
• STARS Advanced Certification (Strength, Trauma, and Resilience Studies) Advanced certification program focusing on strength-based, trauma-informed, and resilience-oriented approaches for child welfare case managers and child protective investigators in Florida.
• AdCerts (Advanced Certifications) Credential program offering specialized advanced certifications for child welfare professionals to enhance their expertise and career advancement.
• FL YES (Florida Youth Experiences Study) Five-year longitudinal research study evaluating Florida's approach to life skills development for youth aging out of foster care, seeking to assess and improve outcomes for transition-age youth.
• Florida Institute for Child Welfare Podcast Series Multi-season podcast series featuring researchers, practitioners, and individuals with lived experience discussing ethics, challenges, and research impact in Florida's child welfare system.
• Leadership Academy Program designed to develop competent leadership capabilities among child welfare professionals, supporting the progression from case work to management roles.
• Workforce Well-being Initiative addressing case worker retention, well-being support, and strategies to reduce turnover rates that contribute to delays in placements and rising caseloads.
• Annual Symposium Annual conference event bringing together stakeholders in Florida's child welfare system to share research, best practices, and policy recommendations.

Quantifiable outcome

• Case worker turnover rates contribute to delays in placements, permanency for youth, and rising caseloads - the Institute addresses these through workforce development programs
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and flagship.

• Florida State UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Institute is housed within Florida State University's College of Social Work. FSU provides institutional support, academic resources, and research infrastructure for the Institute's activities.
• Florida Department of Children and Families (DCF)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDCF is the primary state agency partner. The Institute provides practice and policy recommendations, technical assistance for implementation of legislation like Family First Prevention Services Act, and conducts mandated evaluations of Florida's child welfare programs.
• Casey Family ProgramsflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerCasey Family Programs is a key strategic partner providing expertise in child welfare research and systems improvement. The organization collaborates on research studies, provides technical assistance, and supports the Institute through strategic consulting.
• Selfless Love FoundationflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on youth-focused initiatives including One Voice IMPAACT (Florida's Youth Voice Movement) and the Follow the Love relational permanency pilot program. The Foundation powers youth advocacy and engagement efforts.
• Children's Home Society of FloridacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCHS is a major child welfare provider and technology partner. They collaborate on the CaseAIM case management technology platform and provide operational insights for research and evaluation.
• Community-Based Care Lead AgenciescoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerNetwork of privatized child welfare agencies in Florida including Embrace Families, Citrus Family Care Network, and others. The Institute provides technical assistance, evaluation support, and workforce development programs.
• GROW Center Advisory CommitteecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAdvisory committee guiding the GROW Center's professional development and training initiatives, including academic innovation, workforce well-being, and leadership programs.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Emerging players

• National Council on Crime and Delinquency (NCCD): Nonprofit research and advocacy organization conducting child welfare, juvenile justice, and adult justice research. Comparable as a research-driven policy and systems-change organization serving overlapping constituencies.

Direct peers

• Institute for Innovation and Implementation (University of Maryland): University of Maryland School of Social Work center providing child welfare training, technical assistance, and systems-change support — comparable academic mandate and service portfolio.
• Jim Casey Youth Opportunities Initiative: Annie E. Casey Foundation initiative focused on improving outcomes for youth aging out of foster care — directly comparable to FICW's FL YES study and youth-focused programs.
• Chapin Hall at the University of Chicago: University-based research center producing policy research and evaluation on child welfare, child poverty, and youth systems. Highly comparable to FICW as an academic-affiliated child welfare research and policy institute with statewide/national mandates.
• Child Trends: National nonprofit research organization producing rigorous, actionable child welfare and youth policy research. Comparable to FICW in research methodology, policy focus, and dissemination of findings to practitioners and policymakers.
• Casey Family Programs: National operating foundation focused on improving child welfare systems and supporting children in foster care. Directly comparable as a peer (and existing partner) given overlapping focus on workforce, systems improvement, and youth outcomes research.
• National Child Welfare Workforce Institute (NCWWI): National workforce development institute for the child welfare field, providing training, leadership development, and research. Highly comparable to FICW's GROW Center mandate on workforce retention and professional development.
• Jordan Institute for Families: UNC Chapel Hill School of Social Work institute providing child welfare research, evaluation, and training. Closely comparable academic-based child welfare research and training model.
• Center for Advanced Study of Child Welfare (CASCW): University of Minnesota-based center providing child welfare research, training, and technical assistance to state agencies. Directly comparable university-affiliated model with similar mandate structure.
• CalSWEC (California Social Work Education Center): University of California-based center coordinating social work education and child welfare workforce development for the State of California — a comparable university-housed state-mandated training and research center.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@FSUChildWelfare
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/fsuchildwelfare

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Florida Institute for Child Welfare