About MidSOUTH

MidSOUTH is a training and education organization that equips practitioners, providers, and advocates with the essential tools to empower oppressed and vulnerable populations and make community-wide improvement through continuing education in the areas of child welfare, healthy families / family support, prevention, and addictions.

What is the Title IV-E program?

The Arkansas Academic Partnership in Social Welfare encompasses the Title IV-E Child Welfare Partnership. The Child Welfare Partnership is a statewide collaboration among Arkansas universities and the Division of Children and Family Services (DCFS) focused on education and training to improve child welfare practice.

History of the Partnership

In 1991 Arkansas received a call to action stressing the need for system-wide reform in its child welfare services. This call came in the form of a class action lawsuit, Angela R. vs. Bill Clinton, which was subsequently settled. The settlement agreement called for substantive changes in the services provided to children by the Arkansas public child welfare system. In response, a partnership was formed between the Arkansas Division of Children and Family Services and the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, the University of Arkansas at Little Rock, and the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff. Since that time, this partnership has grown to include six additional Arkansas colleges and universities and all DCFS areas. Members of the Partnership are dedicated to helping to educate and train current and future child welfare workers in the state of Arkansas.

Our Mission

To provide access for all Arkansas children and families to the services of social workers and related human service professionals who are equipped with the education and training necessary to provide a wide range of services to help each child and family achieve the safety and well-being required for responsible and productive citizenship. Of special concern is the preparation for professional personnel who are culturally competent and responsive to the demands, values and needs of public sector constituents and consumers.

Our Vision

To create conditions in Arkansas that will allow children and families to be safe enough and well enough to meet the demands of the 21st century.

Our Purpose

To enhance and support family-centered systems reform in both public child welfare and academic university settings. The project is guided by the principle of strengths-based collaboration between public sector practice and all colleges and universities in the state regardless of level, auspices, location or size.