International Impact
North America
"IHS is a nationally and internationally recognized leader in all facets of professional development and has a proven record of moving the child welfare field forward through its work. With decades of experience, and using a competency-based model of their own design, IHS has produced and implemented needs assessment strategies, training technologies, empirically supported curricula, and transfer of learning strategies to enable professionals to effectively protect vulnerable children and to strengthen and support their families. Many other organizations have looked to IHS for guidance and leadership in building their own professional development programs. "
Dale Curry, PhD, LSW
Professor Emeritus and Director
International Institute for Human Service Workforce Research & Development
Kent State University, North America
Brazil
"Partnering with IHS has taken Pontes de Amor and ANGAAD to an upper level of influence in Brazil. We improved our knowledge on social technology to promote safe family care for orphans and vulnerable children. After that, we strengthened our partnership with the National Government and led training programs relaying some of what we learned to several state governments, judiciary and NGO professionals."
Sara Vargas, President of ANGAAD
Rodrigo Pereira, President of Pontes de Amor
Uberlandia, Brazil
India
"In 2018, I was part of an IHS international study tour to learn about best practices in competency-based child welfare training. From the start, it was a wonderful experience. I will describe this as a vision-expanding education because IHS took the time to understand my cultural, historical, and current background and build my competence through training. In addition, the periodic follow-up and mentoring has helped me start my own NGO (CDFIN) to protect children and enhance their family connections. Currently, IHS is helping CDFIN with training resources and setting up the structure of the NGO."
Karen Grace Paul, Director
Child Development and Family Impact Network (CDFIN)
Bangalore, India
Zimbabwe
"The time with IHS was invaluable and we have seen significant growth that is impacting the care of children in our nation. As Director of Training here, I was equipped in very practical ways that covered such a wide range of topics, all of which were practical, accessible, and relevant to our work. Our team was stretched and encouraged each day, and challenged to raise the bar in our planning, strategies, and program implementation. IHS loaded us with resources, inspired us with new vision and we are committed to the learning journey. What a privilege for us all, and an experience we continue to draw from today."
Sue Austen, Training Director
Zimbabwe Without Orphans
Harare, Zimbabwe
Haiti
Overture International has benefited greatly from our partnership with Dr. Judith Rycus and the Institute for Human Services. Their willingness to be thought partners and to share their years of knowledge and experience have enabled us to develop effective strategies for family preservation, strengthening and reunification for the children and families in southern Haiti. The information, education and tools we’ve received have helped us equip our local Haitian social support teams to better understand the trauma that children have suffered and how to best to serve them through reunification and family strengthening. We often refer to the Institute’s work and rely on it to learn the most effective strategies for navigating the complex world of child welfare. Dr. Rycus and her team have also generously donated dozens of copies of their Field Guide to Child Welfare in French, which we are deploying to our social support teams in the communities we serve. We’re so grateful for IHS' continued work in developing best practices for child welfare and for their generous support of Overture International.
Lisa Hyatt, Executive Director
