Nav Screen Region
Site Header Region
Page Header
Main Content Region

Department Mission and Values

CSUSB Department of Child, Adolescent, and Family Studies

 

Department Vision Statement

The Department of Child, Adolescent, and Family Studies envisions a dynamic and  engaged academic community that develops future professionals, scholars, and  advocates who are prepared to be thoughtful change agents in the systems that shape  children's and families' lives. We aspire to expand access, equity, and opportunity for students while strengthening our partnerships with schools, agencies, and communities.

We aim to be a department in which faculty model advocacy, leadership, and community engagement; where students take ownership of their learning and professional growth; and developmental science is actively used to challenge inequities and improve practice. Our vision includes expanded experiential learning  and research opportunities, increased pathways to graduate education and career planning, and a strong field identity that encourages graduates to use their knowledge and skills to promote justice, well-being, and positive change.

By fostering culturally sensitive practice, critical thinking, and an applied understanding of developmental science, the department seeks to increase its impact locally and beyond-empowering graduates to navigate complex systems, address barriers to access, and advocate effectively for children, adolescents, families, and communities.

Department Mission

The Department of Child, Adolescent, and Family Studies is dedicated to improving the lives of children, youth, and families by preparing students to engage thoughtfully, ethically, and effectively in work that supports development from early childhood through young adulthood. Grounded in developmental science and informed by a systems perspective, the department integrates theory, research, and applied practice to address the complex contexts in which children and families grow. 

Through teaching, scholarship, and community-engaged work, our department emphasizes strengths-based, culturally responsive, and equity-centered approaches to understanding development. Our programs prepare students for meaningful careers and advanced study by fostering critical examination of information, responsible engagement with research, and the application of evidence-based practices in real-world settings. We serve students, families,community organizations, and broader systems by generating and translating knowledge that supports positive development.

Department Core Values

The Department of Child Development is committed to working together via a systems perspective to achieve success for our students, community, and each other. This highlights the importance of maintaining dedication to lifelong learning, a growth mindset, flexibility, and a willingness to engage in selfreflection and open-minded exchange. As such, dismissiveness, gossip, and lack of inclusivity will not be tolerated in the Department.

 
Professional Development Values
  • Strive to engage in collaborative effort to produce meaningful, relevant output
  • Attention to creating links between professional development endeavors and our students
  • Provision of inclusive opportunities for student participation
  • Engagement in effective interactions with community agencies and partners
  • Work to promote/market the department in the community
 
Teaching Values 
  • Maintain excellence in teaching practices
  • Strive to maintain equity in theory and practice
  • Demonstrate commitment to the ongoing learning and improvement of ALL learners
  • Provide reinforcement, differentiated instruction, and scaffolding to students
  • Determine critical knowledge, skills, and dispositions and build these across time
  • Maintain relationships with past CD students to build an ongoing professional network that serves both the community and the university
 
Service Values
  • Provide mentorship and technical assistance to our university and community partners
  • Advocate for children and families
  • Participate in active and sustained engagement with the university
  • Encourage current and former students to engage in service activities and celebrate their endeavors
 
Collegiality Values 
  • Engage in clear and respectful communication
  • Embrace diversity of opinion and ideas
  • Provide sustained support for all departmental members professionally and personally
  • Foster trust in one another
  • Advocate on behalf of colleagues
  • Create a culture of "checking in and clarifying" rather than calling out and isolating colleagues
  • Share moments of laughter and joy
 
Dedication to Progress
  • Make space to check back in as a department every year to clarify and refine desired goals/values
  • Engage in continual self-assessment - How are we doing? What can we do better?
  • Continue to refine self-assessment processes across time
  • Include all in the self-assessment process - students, faculty, and staff
 
Commitment to Transparency
  • Strive to make the unknown explicit (hidden curricula of academia, norms, historical contexts)
  • Identify true supports needed in the RPT process
  • Commitment to socialization of junior and adjunct faculty related to goals, expectations, resources, and values
  • Create agreed upon learning outcomes for courses that are shared with students and fellow faculty