Mandate, Mission Statement, Values and Organizational Principles

Mission Statement:

PART exists to increase the ability of child welfare agencies and staff members to utilize research to achieve the following goals: (a) improve outcomes for children and families; (b) promote evidence informed practice; (c) create an organizational and systemic learning environment that promotes critical thinking and (d) develop a strategic direction and vision for child welfare related research that is linked with university partners. PART provides active support towards the development of a collaborative network of committed agencies, underpinned by the beliefs that better outcomes for children and families can be achieved if:

• Children and their families receive services that are informed by research on the most effective ways to promote positive outcomes for them;
• Knowledge of research is embedded in the delivery of professional services for children and families;
• Front-line, managerial and policy staff take personal responsibility for developing their research knowledge and use and application;
• Front line, managerial and policy staff take personal responsibility for developing their ability to determine criteria for sound research findings and the use and application of research knowledge.
• Member agencies take responsibility for creating an organizational culture and resources to facilitate effective use of research knowledge and its application in practice.

Vision Statement:

By regularly and transparently evaluating the impact of what services PART provides we aim to be both responsive as well as proactive, both to the needs of our member agencies and ultimately to the needs of our end users- vulnerable children and their families.

Statement of PART values:

Empowerment: Members of PART believe that high-quality evidence-informed literature and practice materials can improve the quality of life for children, youth and families served by child welfare organizations.

Engagement: Member agencies must have meaningful input into the information and services provided to them. Partner organizations are critical to the ongoing development and success of the PART program design and implementation.

PART Organizational Principles include:

• Membership within PART is both voluntary and at the discretion of each individual child welfare agency;
• A focus on providing high quality materials, training and organizational and systemic change initiatives that benefit all member agencies;
• Program evaluation is seen as a key component for the continuous improvement of the PART model;
• Each member agency has an equal voice and one that must be heard and respected within the context of all member organizations;
• Promotion and facilitation of collaborative opportunities that will enhance the capacity of member agencies on an individual and collective basis;
• Emphasis on strategic priorities and program development is essential;
• Building on existing structures in the child welfare and children's mental health community;
• Utilization of the core principles of adult learning theory to bridge the knowledge gap between researchers and practitioners;
• Concern for the broader child welfare community that includes various key stakeholders and university partners;
• Key deliverables are provided whereby all members feel they are receiving ‘value for money'.
• Strategize ways to promote child welfare practitioners' access and time to integrate research evidence in their practice.