Policymakers and practitioners who serve children and families throughout the state are supported in their efforts by the Child and Family Policy Initiative. This university-wide initiative seeks to improve governance and public policy related to children and families through interdisciplinary research, policy analysis, training, and assistance.

Coordinated by the Carl Vinson Institute of Government, the initiative brings together a depth of child and family expertise across different units at the University of Georgia: The Fanning Institute, the School of Social Work, the College of Family and Consumer Sciences, the College of Education, and the College of Public Health.

Our Vision

Georgia can improve the status of children and families through sound research, rigorous policy analysis, strategic initiatives, and planning. Policymakers and agencies are often consumed by the day-to-day issues and, therefore, lack the time and capacity to track trends and conduct analysis that can help shape better policy.

The Initiative provides an arena for faculty, staff, and students to share their research and collaborate on projects, thereby serving as the mechanism to organize relevant work on child and family issues. It supports effective policymaking and innovative practices with measurable outcomes and provides a link between research and policy making.

Our Goals

The initiative seeks to

• Identify the most significant challenges confronting Georgia's diverse population of children and their families.
• Provide leadership in addressing the impact of policies and systems on the well-being of children and their families.
• Enhance partnering opportunities between the university-based resources and policymakers, agencies, and initiatives.
• Advise elected officials and policy makers, as well as agencies and individuals, who work on behalf of children and their families.
• Increase the cadre of scholars and enhance the preparation of professional practitioners who focus on issues facing children and their families.

For More Information

To learn more about how the Child and Family Policy Initiative can inform important policy decisions and help enhance the lives of children and their families throughout Georgia, contact Karen Baynes at the e-mail or telephone number listed above.