PHOTO GALLERY

Florida State University is transforming the future of clinical training and community support with the grand opening of the newly expanded Maryland Building.  

This state-of-the-art renovation marks a collaborative milestone for the FSU College of Social Work, serving as a premier joint home for the Multidisciplinary Evaluation and Consulting Center (MDC) and the Florida Institute for Child Welfare (FICW). The addition debuts advanced facilities for both organizations specifically designed to bridge the gap between classroom theory and the complex realities of supporting children and families. 

“This building has been transformed into a hub for leadership, innovation and impact,” said David Springer, dean of the College of Social Work. “Yet, that vision was never solely about bricks and mortar; it was about creating a collaborative environment where research, education and practice come together under one roof. It is a place where ideas are tested, refined and translated into action in a way that strengthens families, communities and systems across the state of Florida.” 

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Florida State University welcomed representatives from the College of Social Work’s Florida Institute for Child Welfare (FICW) for a panel during the third annual FSU Discovery Days, which explored how virtual reality (VR) technologies are revitalizing the efficiency of child welfare services.

In a workforce where skills in sensitivity are critical and emotional stakes are high, the panelists discussed how virtual reality simulations can equip trainees in child welfare with the necessary preparedness to navigate real-life scenarios before entering the field.

“Our flagship study, the Florida Study of Professionals for Safe Families, found that 81% of newly hired child welfare workers leave within about the first three and a half years of starting their role, and that’s a staggering number and tells us that we need to do more, and better and ideally faster,” said Lisa Magruder, director of FICW. “One way we’re doing that is through our new experiential learning lab, which is coming soon. We want to bring our vision of simulation-based learning to life. We want to do more around realistic job previews. We want students and workers to have a safe place to practice, reflect, and grow before they’re in the field on their own, working with families.”

“We want students and workers to have a safe place to practice, reflect, and grow before they’re in the field on their own, working with families.”

– Lisa Magruder, director of the Florida Institute for Child Welfare

Established in 2014, the Florida Institute for Child Welfare is a legislatively mandated institute with the mission of promoting the well-being, safety and permanency of the children and families of Florida that are involved with the child welfare system. FICW conducts nationally recognized research and seeks to use collaborative partnerships, research, policy analysis and training to enhance the sustainability of the child welfare workforce.

Brooke Bass, assistant secretary for the Office of Child and Family Well-Being at the Florida Department of Children and Families, gave opening remarks at the event and highlighted how collaboration with the institute has transformed the state of child welfare services in Florida.

“Together, through research, collaboration and innovation, we’ve made tremendous progress in preparing and supporting the dedicated professionals who serve Florida’s children and families,” Bass said. “The Florida Institute for Child Welfare is not just a partner; they are a trusted ally in our shared mission.”

Magruder, who took over as director of the institute in 2023, joined Kristina Finch, associate director of professional development at FICW; Morgan Cooley, assistant professor at Florida Atlantic University’s Sandler School of Social Work; and Kristen Puckett, learning and development manager at the Florida Department of Children and Families’ Office of Child and Family Well-Being for the panel.

Discussing the need to strengthen statewide training and ensure consistent approaches to child welfare, the panelists emphasized the potential of advancing human services alongside technology.

“How can we create infrastructure that makes this training stable?” Cooley said.

Using VR simulations tailored towards child welfare services, FICW and DCF have created the infrastructure to foster consistent, culturally sensitive and trauma-informed training, providing a safe space for staff to practice their interactions with families involved in the child welfare system.

“My motto is words matter,” Puckett said. “When you can work with families in a way that makes you feel like you’ve done your best and where they understand what’s happening, it’s much easier to navigate this field.”

The work done at FICW reflects the power of technology to stimulate innovation across disciplines.

“Innovation moves fast, especially now,” said Finch, who helped spearhead the implementation of VR in Florida’s child welfare services. “If we don’t embrace technology, we’re going to be left behind.”

As a result of this innovation, FICW has deployed 200 headsets and launched two virtual reality simulations throughout the state, making Florida the first to implement statewide VR technology in child welfare training. With plans to expand to four scenarios by the spring, the institute has also begun merging these technologies with course curricula for students of social work.

“Students want to know when they can come back for more,” Magruder said.

Yet, the panelists added that innovation is not always about developments in technology — mindset also makes the difference. While digital advancements open the doors to increased efficiency, the changes that come from engagement with technology are what truly measure innovation.

“Virtual reality is just the tool,” Finch said.

For more information about the Florida Institute for Child Welfare, visit ficw.fsu.edu.

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Florida State University’s Stoops Center for Communities, Families, and Children (Stoops CFC Center) recently unveiled a traveling exhibit showcasing and amplifying the experiences of mothers impacted by substance use and involvement with the child welfare system at a reception at the Palm Beach County Library.

The exhibit, “Photovoice Study on the Intersection of Substance Use, Child Welfare, and Family Preservation,” marked the beginning of a broader public education campaign across Palm Beach County, which highlighted a participatory research method known as Photovoice.

“Using photography and storytelling empowers individuals, particularly from vulnerable communities, to document their experiences and share their perspectives,” said Ellen Piekalkiewicz, principal investigator for the project and director of Stoops CFC Center.

For the exhibit, mothers served as co-researchers and documented their journeys through photography and dialogue.

“Their reflections surfaced urgent themes around supportive care, collaborative practices, coordinated services and relational healing — each highlighting the human stories often obscured in systems-based conversations.”

— Ellen Piekalkiewicz, Stoops CFC Center director

“Their reflections surfaced urgent themes around supportive care, collaborative practices, coordinated services and relational healing — each highlighting the human stories often obscured in systems-based conversations,” Piekalkiewicz said. The study involved mothers primarily from Palm Beach County, whose experiences will inform its findings and recommendations.

The study’s findings underscore the critical importance of trauma-informed, flexible and family-centered approaches in child welfare policy and practice. The 21 participants shared their hopes, struggles and insights, contributing invaluable recommendations to inform systemic improvements.

The exhibit features photographs from two of the women who participated in the project.

Heather Howard, chief strategy officer at the Hanley Center and an associate professor at Florida Atlantic University, helped launch the project alongside the center’s staff.

“The results demonstrated the importance of supportive, collaborative, coordinated care and relational care between the child welfare worker and the mother-infant dyad,” Howard said. “When a safety plan is conducted, the child welfare worker can work collaboratively with the mother to support motherhood and provide hope for recovery and family preservation.”

The exhibit, supported by the FSU Florida Institute for Child Welfare and FSU Stoops CFC Center, will continue to travel throughout Palm Beach County, fostering dialogue and empathy among community members, service providers and policymakers alike.

“The kick-off event drew a large crowd of supporters and researchers, all committed to advancing family well-being through research-informed practice and human-centered care,” Piekalkiewicz said. “Our hope is that the traveling exhibit will inform an even broader audience about the lived experiences of mothers who have children involved with the child welfare system.”

For more information about the Stoops Center for Communities, Families, and Children, visit cfc.fsu.edu.

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Child welfare professionals and Florida State University College of Social Work students often face challenges in developing the necessary skills for effective observation and interviewing in real-world settings.

Now, FSU’s Information Technology Services (ITS), in collaboration with the Florida Institute for Child Welfare, (FICW) is launching a virtual training solution that can enhance practical skills through an immersive AI-powered tool that supports the educational journey of higher-education students and pre-service child welfare investigators and case managers.

“This innovation is a crucial advancement for our social work students, as it provides them with the practical skills and experience needed to excel in their future careers through a virtual platform,” said David Springer, dean of the College of Social Work. “By offering a realistic and immersive training tool, we are ensuring that our students are well-prepared to make a meaningful impact in the field of child welfare and social work.”

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Researchers at the Florida State University College of Social Work are expanding their work in criminal justice settings to offer trauma-based behavioral health programming to youth 21 and under in adult jail settings.

With funding from the Florida Institute for Child Welfare (FICW), Associate Professor Stephen Tripodi, principal investigator, and Assistant Professor Tanya Renn, co-principal investigator, plan to launch Skills Training for Affective and Interpersonal Regulation, or STAIR, which aims to provide mental and behavioral health programming to youth incarcerated in adult correctional facilities.

“Almost all incarcerated people, including younger incarcerated people, have experienced significant trauma and need trauma-based programming,” Tripodi said. “Youth incarcerated in adult jail settings are even more likely to suffer from trauma and mental health issues than other adolescents involved in the juvenile justice system. Correctional facilities struggle to respond to symptoms and consequences of the lifetime of traumatic experiences of its populations, such as mental health and substance use disorders, PTSD, impulsivity, aggression and struggle with coping mechanisms.”

Short-term interventions like STAIR are flexible and can improve individuals’ well-being while incarcerated and their outcomes when they reenter society or transition to other correctional facilities.

“Many youth who become involved in the justice system have suffered from adverse childhood experiences, and youth with child welfare system involvement have an additional increased risk for justice involvement due to acute mental and behavioral health needs that may be unmet,” Renn said.

Renn is eager to connect with youth in local correctional facilities. There are over 80 incarcerated people in Florida’s Second Judicial Circuit under age 21 and over 60 at the John E. Polk Correctional facility in Seminole County.

“The majority of research on trauma experiences and interventions among incarcerated populations has focused on state and federal prisons, while little is known about the experiences of populations in local jail/correctional facilities due to the short-term nature of stays and logistical factors that make conducting research difficult,” she said.

Katie Berry, interim associate director of research at the FICW, said she is proud to support the intervention research.

“We know that, in general, many incarcerated youth are at risk or have been involved with the child welfare system in their childhood,” Berry said. “Prioritizing the well-being of this population is a natural partnership between our sister institutes in improving overall well-being for vulnerable youth and their families.”

Previous studies on the feasibility of implementing the STAIR program at the John E. Polk Correctional Facility in Sanford, Florida, showed success in both implementation and adult participants’ willingness to discuss their experiences and excitement to acquire new skillsets as they navigate their way to reentry into society.

“It is important to recognize the immediate value of research-based studies, particularly for individuals under 21, in the context of trauma-informed care,” said Seminole County Sheriff Dennis Lemma. “Understanding the profound impact of trauma on young lives helps us develop effective strategies for their healing and rehabilitation. I am grateful for these continued research studies and partnership with Florida State University. By integrating evidence-based practices, we can better support these individuals, reducing recidivism and fostering healthier communities.”

The project also includes collaborating with Public Defender Jessica Yeary and the 2nd Judicial Circuit Public Defender’s Office.

“The practice of sentencing children into harsh and punitive adult jail and prisons is contradicted by science,” Yeary said. “Research into adolescent brain development shows that youth are more likely than adults to be permanently traumatized by the harsh realities of the adult system and are much more likely to respond positively to rehabilitation available from juvenile programs.”

Yeary added, “We are incredibly proud of this partnership and are confident that trauma-informed therapy and counseling will have a profound effect on our clients and their families. This new resource is one of many first steps toward recognizing that children and young people are deserving of support and second chances.”

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