The Children and Families Research Consortium (CFRC) is a partnership developed by the Los Angeles County Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) in collaboration with the Inter-University Consortium (IUC). The IUC is comprised of the five  graduate social work programs in Los Angeles, i.e.,  California State University Long Beach, California State University Los Angeles, California State University Northridge, the University of California Los Angeles and  the University of Southern California. This new Research Consortium was designed to build on the IUC’s focus on training by enhancing DCFS capacity to analyze and use data to support planning and decision-making, developing research priorities and a long term research agenda, and facilitating partnerships with universities and other research organizations to expand knowledge about public child welfare.

  The long-term goals of the CFRC are:

  1. Apply performance measures, program evaluation and research methods more effectively to support DCFS planning and decision making, enhancing the quality of services and improving outcomes for children and families. 
  2. Develop short-term research priorities and a long-term research agenda to guide child welfare research in Los Angles county. 
  3. Facilitate collaborative efforts with local, state, and national stakeholders to advance scientific knowledge and support reform in public child welfare.
  4. Promote the development of best practices by preparing systematic research reviews, enhancing training and consultation with DCFS staff on evidence-based practices.
  5. Recruit outstanding scholars, practitioners, managers, and students to positions of academic and professional leadership in child welfare.

  In its first twelve months of operation beginning in mid-December 2005, the CFRC will assist the Department by: 

  • establishing the office of the CFRC Director;
  • establishing a CFRC Advisory Board and Scientific Subcommittee;
  • developing a data analysis plan and testing the data analysis plan using the Point of Engagement (POE) Program; and
  • developing a long-term research agenda.

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