Mobilizing Knowledge About Development

Project Manager: Sherry Ann Chapman
Funders: Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council Alberta Centre for Child, Family and Community Research Office of the Vice-President (Research), University of Alberta Faculty of Rehabilitation Medicine, University of Alberta Faculty of Arts, University of Alberta Faculty of Education, University of Alberta Faculty of Nursing, University of Alberta Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry
Duration: 2006-2010

The MKAD initiative had three components:

  1. evaluating knowledge mobilization strategies;
  2. developing community-based research workshops for community members;
  3. developing a graduate certificate program in community-based research at the University of Alberta.

Researchers, community agencies, and policymakers were becoming increasingly concerned about mobilizing research knowledge to improve programs and policies that influence the development of children, youth, and families. CUP developed this project in collaboration with the Alberta Centre for Child, Family and Community Research (ACCFCR) to push knowledge mobilization forward through two initiatives focused on effective knowledge-sharing strategies and capacity-building among university students, researchers, community members, and policymakers.

The Capacity-Building Initiative included the development and implementation of the CBRE Workshop Series and the CBRE Certificate Program. Community Engagement programming is now integrated into the Faculty of Extension. www.ualberta.ca/extension  

The Evaluation Initiative focused on the evaluation of CUP's and ACCFCR's knowledge-mobilization activities, including CBRE Workshop Series and the CBRE Certificate Program, as well as the development of a knowledge-mobilization framework.

This project enabled CUP and ACCFCR to expand their capacity to engage in research and knowledge sharing as well as to establish an innovative program of activities that will serve as a model for community-university cooperation in promoting evidence-based practice.

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