Institute for Human Services

Institute for Human Services Contact information, map and directions, contact form, opening hours, services, ratings, photos, videos and announcements from Institute for Human Services, P. O. Box 30349, Columbus, OH.

The Institute for Human Services (IHS) drives meaningful and constructive change in the fields of child welfare and child maltreatment by equipping organizations and professionals with the knowledge, strategies, and tools needed to achieve best practice.

Organizations often encourage employees to exercise, practice mindfulness, or participate in wellness programs. While th...
09/04/2026

Organizations often encourage employees to exercise, practice mindfulness, or participate in wellness programs. While these efforts are valuable, they're only part of the solution.

When excessive workloads, unclear expectations, or limited support become the norm, personal resilience alone cannot overcome unhealthy workplace conditions.

Healthy organizations recognize that employee well-being is supported not only through wellness programs, but through organizational systems, leadership, policies, and resources that help employees succeed every day.

In the latest article in our Building Healthy Workplaces series, we explore how organizations can move beyond self-care to create environments where employees—and the people they serve—can thrive.

Read the full article: www.ihs-trainet.com/blog

We're offering a legislative overview as part of our Issues in Brief series on Poverty, Neglect, and Child Protection R...
08/31/2026

We're offering a legislative overview as part of our Issues in Brief series on Poverty, Neglect, and Child Protection Reform.

Enactment of PRWORA and TANF: The Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act (PRWORA) of 1996 replaced previous entitlement programs with the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) block grant. This legislation limited lifetime eligibility for public assistance to 5 years and imposed job-training and employment requirements.

State Autonomy and Eligibility: PRWORA gave states the power to determine their own time limits and eligibility criteria for TANF benefits, leading to a wide range of assistance levels and durations across states.

Reduction in Benefits and Support Services: This legislation cut financial subsidies and support services, which meant many families lost essential resources when TANF benefits ended. There were also significant reductions in child nutrition programs and other social services.

Impact on Poverty and Assistance: Studies show that TANF contributed to increased poverty levels and a decrease in both the number of families receiving benefits and the amount of cash assistance provided. Over time, funding for direct assistance has also diminished.

Long-Term Consequences: Concerns raised by Peter Edelman about TANF’s negative impact on impoverished families and children have been supported by research indicating increased poverty and diminished effectiveness of public assistance programs.

Learn more: https://cmprc.org/child-welfare-system-reform

Employees experience organizational culture through their daily interactions with supervisors and colleagues. Simple lea...
08/28/2026

Employees experience organizational culture through their daily interactions with supervisors and colleagues.

Simple leadership practices—clear communication, regular feedback, recognition, collaboration, and respectful responses to concerns—can strengthen trust, increase engagement, and create healthier workplaces.

Learn how leadership decisions shape the psychosocial work environment in our latest blog.

Read more at www.ihs-trainet.com/blog

Youth on S*x Offender Registries: What Happened When One State Stopped This Practice?At the Institute for Human Services...
08/24/2026

Youth on S*x Offender Registries: What Happened When One State Stopped This Practice?

At the Institute for Human Services’ Child Maltreatment Policy Resource Center (CMPRC), we believe in the power of research to bring clarity and truth to complex issues. Our latest research project explores a critical question: Do registration and notification laws protect children, or do they inadvertently cause harm to adolescents, their families, and their communities?

Let's bring facts into the conversation and work towards a fairer system for all. Read more: https://cmprc.org/youth-on-sex-offender-registries


A Positive Workplace Culture Isn't Enough A psychologically healthy workplace involves much more than good morale. The w...
08/21/2026

A Positive Workplace Culture Isn't Enough

A psychologically healthy workplace involves much more than good morale.

The way work is organized, leadership communicates, workloads are managed, and employees are recognized all influence staff well-being, motivation, and performance.

Our newest article explores one of the World Health Organization's four pillars of organizational wellness: the psychosocial work environment—and why it matters in human services.

Read the full article at www.ihs-trainet.com/blog.

Differential Diagnosis: Depression vs. Anxiety Depression and anxiety are two of the most common mental health condition...
08/17/2026

Differential Diagnosis: Depression vs. Anxiety

Depression and anxiety are two of the most common mental health conditions—and they often overlap, making accurate diagnosis challenging.

Join Jim Still-Pepper, MA, LSW, for an interactive 90-minute training exploring how to distinguish between depression and anxiety using the metaphor “The Heart That Sinks / The Heart That Races.”

Participants will learn how untreated anxiety can resemble depression, how untreated depression can present as anxiety, and how to improve diagnostic accuracy using research-supported tools, including the PHQ-9, GAD-7, and a practical “Big 10” clinical decision tree.

By the end of the training, participants will be able to:
• Differentiate core symptom patterns of depression and anxiety
• Use a clinical decision tree to improve diagnostic accuracy
• Apply differential diagnosis principles to strengthen clinical decision-making

Learn more and register today to build your confidence in distinguishing depression from anxiety in clinical practice. https://ow.ly/u1Qb50Zumih

Why Organizational Wellness Matters Healthy workplaces don't just benefit employees—they strengthen organizations. Resea...
08/14/2026

Why Organizational Wellness Matters

Healthy workplaces don't just benefit employees—they strengthen organizations.

Research consistently shows that positive work environments are linked to greater employee engagement, higher job satisfaction, stronger collaboration, lower burnout, and improved retention. In human services, these benefits extend even further by helping organizations provide better outcomes for children, families, and communities.

Discover why organizational wellness is both a workforce strategy and a quality improvement strategy in the latest article of our six-part series.

Continue reading: www.ihs-trainet.com/blog

Child development is influenced by more than what happens at home. The environments where children grow, learn, and buil...
08/12/2026

Child development is influenced by more than what happens at home.

The environments where children grow, learn, and build relationships also shape their health and well-being. Our latest blog explores why developmental science offers an important perspective when considering policies that affect children and families.

Read more: https://cmprc.org/blog

Intrafamilial Child Torture (ICT) is a unique form of maltreatment, distinct from typical abuse. It involves deliberate ...
08/10/2026

Intrafamilial Child Torture (ICT) is a unique form of maltreatment, distinct from typical abuse. It involves deliberate actions within a child's family aimed at controlling their development. Unlike other forms of abuse, ICT is a systematic, prolonged type of abuse, which can leave the child feeling captive. Understanding these differences is key to tackling this issue effectively.

Learn more: https://cmprc.org/intrafamilial-child-torture

When we think about workplace wellness, it's easy to focus on helping employees become more resilient. But even the most...
08/07/2026

When we think about workplace wellness, it's easy to focus on helping employees become more resilient. But even the most dedicated professionals can struggle in environments with excessive workloads, unclear expectations, limited support, or poor communication.

Healthy workplaces don't happen by accident. They are intentionally built through leadership, organizational culture, and systems that support employees every day.

In the first article of our new six-part series, Building Healthy Workplaces: Creating Organizational Wellness in Human Services, we explore why organizational wellness is just as important as individual wellness—and why it matters for the people we serve.

Read the full article at www.ihs-trainet.com/blog

Address

P. O. Box 30349
Columbus, OH
43230

Telephone

+16142516000

Website

,

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Institute for Human Services posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Shortcuts

Share