The Mission of The Merrill-Palmer Institute for Child and Family Development is to promote the optimal development of children and families in urban and large metropolitan areas by stimulating and facilitating interdisciplinary research, education and engagement with communities.

The Merrill-Palmer Institute of Child and Family Development has a long and respected history as one of the country's foremost institutions producing research in the area of child development and providing information that could be applied to program development and policy formulation. Organized in 1920, it soon became internationally known for its research programs and its model demonstration projects. It served as the model for important child development centers established across the country and played a role in helping to develop the philosophy and national standards for the federal Head Start program. The Merrill-Palmer Quarterly was established in 1956, and has remained an important journal for publication of research findings in child development.

Incorporated into Wayne State University in 1982, Merrill-Palmer is a free standing Institute within the University structure. Truly interdisciplinary, faculty university-wide are affiliated with Merrill-Palmer in programs of research, education and community engagement.