At the Institute for Child and Family Well-Being (ICFW), we support changemakers, funders, and communities working to create better systems for children and families. Our services help partners design bold strategies, evaluate progress, and grow the networks needed for lasting change.
Community Systems Change Support
Systems don’t change because of a plan; they change when people work differently together. We help communities move from good ideas to shared action, building the local capacity to lead and sustain change. Helping cross-sector partners align around a shared vision to take action on the root causes.
What We Offer:
- Strategy development & facilitation
- Coaching and support for changemakers
- Community-led innovation labs
- Policy and systems design workshops
What This Looks Like in Action
In Wisconsin, ICFW partnered with 35+ communities and 200+ changemakers to shift from fragmented efforts to coordinated systems helping improve how families access housing, mental health care, and family strengthening programs.
Ideal for: Nonprofits, collaboratives, and local/state governments
Learn more about about the Community Systems Change Support service (PDF).
Learning-Focused Evaluation and Storytelling
Turn learning and data into action. Use stories to drive change. We help communities use strategic learning to make better decisions, strengthen alignment, and tell the story of their impact. Our approach blends reflection, adaptation, and storytelling with evidence and research to support real-time improvement.
What We Offer:
- Developmental evaluation
- Outcome harvesting
- Strategic learning infrastructure
- Tools for data storytelling
What This Looks Like in Action
Through the Clinical Systems Integration initiative, the ICFW used strategic learning activities to help partners adapt trauma treatment services, improving how mental health providers, child welfare staff, and system leaders worked together to support families. Learning sessions improved strategy, alignment, and access to trauma care.
Ideal for: Funders, systems leaders, and multi-partner collaboratives
Learn more about the Learning-Focused Evaluation and Storytelling service (PDF).
Network Building and Strategic Collaboration
Networks don’t just spread ideas, they build power. We help changemakers build shared language, trusted networks, and aligned strategies across places and systems. Through learning communities, roundtables, and field-level tools, we strengthen the infrastructure that enables collective impact.
What We Offer:
- Facilitation of cross-sector learning communities
- Network strategy and backbone support
- Storytelling and narrative reframing (e.g., podcast, framing tools)
What This Looks Like in Action
Through the Strong Families, Thriving Children, Connected Communities (SFTCCC) network, over 200 changemakers across sectors are working together to reduce neglect and improve family well-being in Wisconsin by sharing strategies, removing barriers, and driving collective action.
Ideal for: Field builders, foundations, backbone orgs, policy coalitions
Learn more about the Network Building and Strategic Collaboration service (PDF).
Let’s Collaborate
Whether you’re launching a new initiative, looking for evaluation support, or strengthening a community network, ICFW can help. Let’s explore how we can support your goals.