Safe children, strong families, and connected communities


To enhance the capacity of organizations that serve children and families


Compassion
We passionately support the work of our partners and our coworkers as they serve children, families, and communities.

Teamwork
We are committed to the common goals of the organization, and we support one another’s work.

Excellence
Because we value our partners, we strive to understand their needs and exceed their expectations.

Integrity
We are committed to trustworthy, ethical behavior.

Professionalism
We exhibit a courteous and conscientious manner in the workplace.

Flexibility
We adapt to and manage changing goals.

Inclusiveness
We are open to diverse people and ideas.

Stewardship
We recognize that we have been entrusted with public funds and have a responsibility to use resources wisely.

My name is Carl and it gives me great pleasure to welcome you to the Center for Child and Family Studies. As the Center Director, I encourage you to explore our webpage to see what we offer to stakeholders serving children and families. Our mission is to provide a one-stop shop to support the

• Research and development of solutions to improve child and family well-being

• Capacity building of organizational staff and leadership

• Monitoring and evaluation of program outcomes

• Development and distribution of multimedia packages to promote services and awareness to target audiences

The Center is based at the College of Social Work, University of South Carolina in Columbia, SC. We have over 30 years’ experience supporting partners and stakeholders in South Carolina and beyond. Our current notable projects include:

• Agency-wide trainings and quality assurance services for the SC Department of Social Services

• Curriculum design and training for the SC Department of Health and Human Services

• Curriculum design and client support for the SC Vocational Rehabilitation Department

• Research and outcome tool development for the Duke Endowment’s foster care permanency project

• Staff evaluation for the national CASA/Guardian ad Litem program

Whether you are looking to develop a short-term or long-term relationship, know that each of the services and products highlighted on our Center website represents a commitment to participatory research, capacity building, evaluation, and messaging. As we like to say, “nothing about you, without you.” The Center will take the necessary time to learn about your organizational needs and wants, how your organization operates, and who your organization serves. This commitment leads to high-value services and products that ensure your efforts result in outcomes fulfilling your organization’s mission and vision.

For further conversation please email me or members of the Center’s Senior Management Team. We look forward to working with you to create, connect, foster and sustain evidence-based, effective, and efficient systems of care that support the thriving of children and families.

The Center began as a handful of federal and state training projects in 1981, led by founder Lois Wright, MSSW, EdD, of the College of Social Work. Over the next ten years, the Center would contract and train and support programs from Virginia to Hawaii in addition to work here in South Carolina. By the 1990’s, the Center had grown into a major provider of training, research and evaluation to a variety of organizations across the nation who share the common goal of strengthening children and families.

In 1996, the growing Center moved into the historic Benson Building, a former public elementary school that had been a hub of the community for many decades before its purchase by the University in 1987. There remains a satisfying continuity for the Center to be housed in a place specifically built to educate and enrich the children of the local community.

Over the following decades, the Center and its associates gathered grants and contracts from multiple sources including the Annie E. Casey Foundation, the National Institute of Justice, the US Department of Education and the South Carolina Department of Social Services. By partnering with an array of organizations, the Center qualitatively improves the University’s service to the community by supporting organizations at work in our communities. By supporting the South Carolina Department of Social Services, we help them better serve the children and families of this state.

Now, the Center’s vision is to be the leading center for professional development and capacity building in collaboration with local, state, and national partners dedicated to improving the well-being of children, families, and communities. We move forward with a dedicated and highly skilled complement of trainers, writers and multi-media designers to realize our mission.