UA Little Rock MidSOUTH and Arkansas DCFS Open Child Welfare Learning Lab
The University of Arkansas at Little Rock’s MidSOUTH Training Academy and the Arkansas Department of Human Services (DHS), Division of Children and Family Services (DCFS), celebrated the grand opening of the Child Welfare Learning Lab August 19. This initiative marks a new chapter in preparing Arkansas child welfare professionals to better serve children and families statewide.
“It’s always exciting to open a new space on campus, but it’s especially meaningful when that space will have an impact far beyond our university,” said Chancellor Christina S. Drale. “Thanks to our partnership with the Arkansas Department of Human Services, this Learning Lab will help prepare child welfare professionals to better serve children and families throughout the state. We are honored to be part of that work.”
The Child Welfare Learning Lab provides an innovative environment where new professionals can practice decision-making, communication, and case management through realistic simulations before working directly with families.
Developed through a partnership between MidSOUTH and DCFS, the Learning Lab immerses participants in real-world scenarios reflecting on-the-job challenges. Trainees gain hands-on experience in interviewing, assessing family needs, documenting case activities, and managing complex situations, all while receiving immediate coaching and feedback.
“Today, we are not just opening a new building, we are opening a new way of preparing child welfare professionals to serve Arkansas children and families. This space was built with one goal in mind: to bridge the gap between learning and practice,” said Tiffany Wright, Director of Children and Family Services. “Every decision matters. Every conversation matters. Every interaction has the potential to change the trajectory of a child’s life. We have a responsibility to prepare our workforce the best way possible, and that is exactly what this Child Welfare Learning Lab represents.”
Located in a remodeled house on the UA Little Rock campus, the Learning Lab was developed by MidSOUTH to provide a realistic setting for child welfare training. MidSOUTH led the site development and renovations while partnering with DCFS on curriculum development. DCFS championed the integration of simulation into the training experience, giving new professionals valuable hands-on experience before entering the field. Together, the partners transformed an actual house into a flexible training environment that can be reconfigured to represent different home settings and circumstances professionals may encounter in the field.
The idea of creating a dedicated, adaptable home for child welfare training has been a long-standing goal for MidSOUTH, particularly for Dr. Greg Smith, executive director of MidSOUTH, and the Learning Lab brings that vision to life.
“This has truly been a partnership built on a shared commitment to improving outcomes for children and families,” he said. “The Child Welfare Learning Lab gives our newest professionals the opportunity to practice, learn, and build confidence before they encounter these situations in the field. Ultimately, every investment we make in preparing our workforce is an investment in the safety, well-being, and success of Arkansas’s children and families.”
The Learning Lab is a significant investment in Arkansas’s child welfare workforce, blending classroom learning, simulation, and structured field training. This approach helps new employees build confidence and competence while strengthening services for children and families across Arkansas.
“The more new professionals within the Division of Children and Family Services can practice here, the more prepared they’ll be when they walk into someone’s home for the first time,” said Provost Ann Bain. “We all know there are no easy days in child welfare. The decisions these professionals make can have a lasting impact on a child’s life, so it’s important they have a place to practice where the stakes aren’t quite so high.”