Welcome to the Institute for Families (IFF) at Rutgers University School of Social Work. Our mission is to support and strengthen families and communities by increasing the capacity of human service professionals and organizations. We achieve this through a three-pronged approach that mirrors and supports the University’s mission of instruction, research, and public service:

1. Training, technical assistance and professional development
2. Applied research and evaluation
3. Direct service and advocacy

Founded in 2007, IFF harnesses the extensive resources of Rutgers to create a more humane, just, and equitable society. Spread out across multiple locations in New Jersey, our four offices include the:

• Office of Child Welfare Workforce Advancement
• Office of Research and Evaluation
• Office of Human Services Training and Educational Programs
• Office of Youth Empowerment

We support and strengthen child welfare and other human service professionals and organizations to meet best practice standards and effectively and creatively respond to the ever-changing needs of vulnerable children, youth, families, and communities. We develop and disseminate knowledge and information throughout New Jersey and beyond that leads to a greater understanding of a range of social issues, and implementation of capacity-building strategies and systems improvements to better address them.

We invite and enjoy strong partnerships and professional collaborations throughout the human service community, including the New Jersey Department of Human Services, the New Jersey Department of Children and Families, the New Jersey Department of Education, and various other community, state, and national organizations, foundations, and professional networks.