The FSU Institute for Quality Children’s Services (IQCS) is committed to excellence in children’s out-of-home services. Children’s out-of-home services encompass placement and treatment settings for children who, for various reasons, are not able to be cared for in the home. These settings include, but are not limited to, residential group homes, residential treatment centers, foster homes, statewide inpatient facilities, detention centers, and emergency shelters.
Our team works across child service systems to conduct cutting edge research to inform practice and policy and provide consultation, evaluation, training, and technical assistance to elevate service quality and outcomes.
EVENTS & RESOURCES
IQCS Parent Resource Network Launches Peer Support Group
Caring for a child with complex medical, behavioral, or developmental needs can be overwhelming – but you do not have to do it alone. We offer open, judgement-free conversations, emotional support and stress relief strategies, a community that gets it – whether your child is medically fragile, neurodivergent, or navigating multiple diagnoses.
Caring for Autism:
Profound Uncertainty
JULY 2025 | Cassie and Sabrina talk about their experience as mothers raising profoundly autistic children. Topics to be covered include: struggles mothering a profoundly autistic child, residential treatment facilities, IEPs, aggression and property destruction, ABA therapy, interviews with fathers, BCBAs, and siblings about their experiences with profound autism, and so much more. The goal is to provide a look into the lives of parents with children with profound autism.
PODCAST LINK: SPOTIFY
IQCS PRESENTATIONS
EuSARF | SEPT 8–12, 2025 | Zagreb, Croatia
• A Comparison of Two State Quality Initiatives in Children’s Therapeutic Residential Care – Boel-Studt, S. M., & Huefner, J.C.
• Exploring Caregiver Experiences with Navigating and Securing Residential Care for Children with Intensive Needs – Boel-Studt, S. M., & Dvalishvili, D.
• Foster Care quality standards: Promoting evidence-based practices and improving care – Huefner, J., Boel-Studt, S. M., & Dvalishvili, D.
MORE INFORMATION: EUSARF2025
MISSION
Our mission is to promote the well-being of children in out-of-home care and their families by making scientifically supported quality practices accessible and actionable to federal, state, local government, private nonprofit, and for-profit child serving organizations and caregivers.
VISION
Our vision is for children and families at all levels of need to thrive and achieve their fullest potential.
Quality Assessment & Improvement
Research & evaluation
Training & Technical Assistance
