Faculty to Lead Evaluation of New Jersey’s Child Welfare System in Partnership with Department of Children and Families

Montclair State University’s Department of Social Work and Child Advocacy has been awarded a significant, two-year renewable contract with the New Jersey Department of Children and Families (DCF). The work will be led by Associate Professor Wendy Zeitlin, in collaboration with Professors Emily Douglas and Svetlana Shpiegel, and represents a renewed and impactful partnership between Montclair and the state.

The project is an excellent match between faculty expertise and the needs of the state: ensuring the safety, stability, and well-being of children and families across New Jersey.

“We’re honored to be trusted with this work,” said Zeitlin. “We see this not just as a two-year project, but the beginning of a long-term collaboration to improve the lives of children and families across New Jersey.”

Supporting a Historic Transition in NJ Child Welfare Oversight

In 2006, New Jersey’s child welfare system came under federal oversight following widespread concerns about its performance. Over the next several years, the state made sweeping changes and improvements under the guidance of a federal monitor. When federal oversight ended, stakeholders created a legislative plan to maintain and build on those gains.

In 2022, state legislation charged the Staffing and Oversight Review Subcommittee (SORS) with producing annual performance reports on the child welfare system’s effectiveness in key areas — a responsibility now supported by Montclair State’s expert faculty.

“I am very proud of our faculty,” said CHSS Dean Fatma Mili. “They are investing their research expertise on some of the most important issues, the welfare of the most vulnerable members of our society. Their work has long lasting lessons and an immediate impact on our society. Professors Zeitlin, Douglas, and Shpiegel are a great example of how a public university can serve the public good.”

Faculty Expertise, National Context

Drawing on deep knowledge of national child welfare trends and access to federal data sets, Montclair’s team will contextualize New Jersey’s progress within a broader national landscape. Their work will include replicating and refining previous analyses, enhancing data storytelling, and helping SORS produce reports that are not only technically rigorous but also accessible and meaningful to stakeholders across the system.

“This work is not just about data — it’s about making sure the data tells the story of what is happening right now, and what is needed to best support children and families who come in contact with the child welfare system,” says Shpiegel.

In year two, the project will expand to incorporate additional indicators and responsibilities outlined in state legislation, with the goal of building a long-term evaluation structure that supports ongoing system improvement.

A Transformative Opportunity for Students and the State

The project also creates rare hands-on opportunities for Montclair students, who will gain exposure to the policy, evaluation, and systems-level challenges facing New Jersey’s child welfare agencies.

“Working directly with faculty on this project, our students will learn how research and evaluation can serve communities and drive real-world change,” says Douglas.