About Us

Who We Are & What We Do

Partners for Our Children was founded in 2007 to focus new thinking, resources and expertise on the state’s child welfare system. We are a first-of-its-kind collaboration between the Washington State Department of Social and Health Services, the University of Washington School of Social Work and private sector funding. We share our research findings, disseminate new works, and offer a neutral space where the child welfare community can freely exchange ideas about critical issues affecting children.

How We Use Research to Improve Child Welfare Practice & Policy

• We follow the evidence and provide objective and independent responses to the questions that shape policy and practice change.
• We focus on testing and implementing innovative policies and practices.
• We identify children and families’ needs to help align with the service array.

• We use research to identify training innovations to improve the workforce.

How We Engage Stakeholders to Improve Child Welfare Practice & Policy 

• We convene, listen to, and learn from our community.
• We act as a catalyst to support child welfare stakeholders in taking programs and best practice to scale.
• We work with stakeholders to adapt our research of children and families’ needs so that there is better fit of services to needs.
• We take our research that identifies training innovations and transform it into practice for the child welfare workforce.