Butler Institute for Families

The Butler Institute for Families at the University of Denver Graduate School of Social Work collaboratively partners with organizations that serve children, youth, families, individuals and communities. Through research, evaluation, organizational improvement efforts, trainings, coaching and dissemination of information, we work to improve systems and programs in:

We help organizations build sustainable programs that center justice, equity, diversity and inclusion to support families and develop thriving communities.

Organizations across the country look to us to help them achieve their organizational goals, train their workforce and evaluate their programs.

Butler Upcoming Events

March 15, 2024 - May 11, 2024

Academy of Professional Coaching - Spring 2024

The Butler Institute Academy of Professional Coaching (APC) is designed to help you develop your coaching skills and provide the training you need to become a professional coach. By the end of the APC program, you’ll be ready to create and cultivate successful coaching relationships.

You’ll graduate the APC with the coaching training and mentor hours you need to apply for an Associate Certified Coach credential through the International Coaching Federation, the leading international credentialing organization for coaches.

Virtual

March 13

Leveraging Social Media in Human Services

When used strategically, social media is a powerful tool to increase awareness, spur engagement, and build influence. With so many platforms and more coming online each year, it can feel overwhelming to get started. How do we choose which ones to be on? How often should we post? What do we do if someone posts a disparaging comment? Join us to learn practical tips and tricks for leveraging social media to engage families, community partners, and the workforce. Who Should Attend: Leadership and staff responsible for communications and engagement at family resource centers, community-based organizations, child abuse prevention councils, and other child- and family-serving systems.

1-2 pm Mountain Time
Virtual

Colorado Child Welfare Attorney Academy Course Now Available

Interested in deepening your understanding about the roles and responsibilities of those involved in Colorado's child welfare judicial system and how to meaningfully engage families and work together with all partners? Explore these ideas and more in this comprehensive virtual learning experience!

Virtual

Find Out More

April 25, 2024 - June 20, 2024

Butler Foundations of Coaching - Spring 2024

Coaching is an essential professional development tool that helps to retain a highly skilled workforce. This series offers a low-cost approach to learn coaching fundamentals and begin integrating them into your organization.

Through this virtual, 5-module series, you will:

Engage in individual and collaborative learning with other professionals, and with the series facilitators, who are certified by the International Coaching Federation (ICF).
Gain the foundational knowledge and skills to begin coaching others.
Learn how coaching can transform your organization and workforce.

Virtual

March 20

Use of Metaphor and Imagery in Coaching

This session will explore the benefits of using imagery to help clients develop powerful insight. Much of our brain dedicates itself to visual processing. When we see an image, we immediately analyze it and finding the meaning within it. By incorporating imagery into coaching conversations, we can talk about our client’s motivations, values, needs and most of all, what is important to them.

12-1 pm Mountain Time
Virtual

Our Mission

Our mission is to strengthen child-, youth-, family- and community-serving systems with evaluation, capacity-building, and applied research.
Our Vision

Our vision is to create equitable, effective and innovative systems in which children, youth, families and communities thrive.
Our Values
We embed our values in all our work:
- Collaboration—Engage and partner to achieve the best possible outcomes
- Excellence—Deliver service and products of the highest quality
- Integrity—Meet the highest standard of honesty and accountability
- Innovation—Lead and initiate new ideas, thinking and action by continually asking what’s possible and how we can best achieve it
- Equity—Expect and embrace diversity and inclusion, and do everything with an equity lens in mind to improve outcomes for all

As a leader in research, evaluation, training and technical assistance, Butler has worked with programs, agencies, communities and organizations across the country to improve outcomes.