About Us

The Community-University Partnership (CUP) for the Study of Children, Youth, and Families is a hub of excellence in community-engaged research at the University of Alberta. We were founded in 2000 in response to communities calling for more meaningful research partnerships with the university. Our home is the School of Public Health.

CUP’s projects and initiatives span several focus areas, with attention to collaborating with partners to improve the lives of children, youth, families, and communities. Across our projects, we work with community members, students, researchers, non-profits, schools, funders, business and industry, governments, and policymakers across Alberta and beyond.

Community-Engaged Research

CUP has a community-engaged model that makes us unique on campus. While “engaged” approaches go by many names (i.e., action research, community-based research, participatory research, collaborative research), they are underpinned by a belief that research should be conducted with a group of people and not on them. 

At CUP, we are committed to long-term collaboration with community members at all stages of the research process. We aim to create equitable environments that emphasize the importance of community voices, lived experiences, and real-world needs. All CUP projects honour the knowledges and strengths of communities, with partners equitably participating in the research process.

There are three main groups involved at CUP:

  • Communities partner with researchers to gain evidence, knowledge, and access to university resources. They bring their lived experiences, knowledge, and concerns into research projects.
  • Researchers work with communities to develop research activities, identify problems, design studies, collect and analyze data, and help communities reach their goals.
  • Students contribute to research activities, gaining hands-on experience in community engagement and applying theory to practice in a real-world setting.

Why engage with CUP?

Students

  • Find research assistant (RA) opportunities
  • Access unique learning opportunities
  • Grow your community & university networks
  • Do research directly connected to community
  • Gain mentorship

Community

  • Share your expertise
  • Build your research and evaluation capacity
  • Gain knowledge to inform decision making
  • Access networks and collaborations
  • Become a CUP Collaborator

University

  • Create or access student learning opportunities
  • Network development
  • Interdisciplinary collaborations
  • Enhanced research impact in community
  • Community-engaged research expertise

Vision, Mission, and Values

Our Vision

Equitable and engaged communities that support the wellbeing of children, youth, families, and communities.

Our Mission

To create equitable environments where evidence is generated to contribute to effective practices, programs and policies to promote community wellbeing.

2024-2028 Strategic Plan

Our 2024-2028 Strategic Plan centres our work around five key roles. Together, these roles drive us toward achieving our goal: To be a hub of excellence in community-engaged research.

GOAL: Be a hub of excellence in community-engaged research

CUP plays 5 key roles with our partners.

1. Capacity Builders

Build the capacity of community, students, and scholars to develop equitable partnerships and generate evidence.

2. Community Connectors

Create sustainable relationships that leverage diverse forms of knowledge and advance strategic thinking.

3. Systems Thinkers

Convene conversations that unpack the systemic influences shaping complex issues in the health and social sectors.

4. Co-Creators

Work alongside partners to generate new knowledge equitably, supporting innovative and equitable solutions.

5. Activators

Mobilize knowledge from community-engaged research to create tangible changes in programs, practices, and policies.