Terms of EndearmentEngaging a community of learners in CU partnerships

Jessica Ball School of Child and Youth CareUniversity of Victoria

Linda HawkinsCentre for Families, Work and Well-BeingUniversity of Guelph

The Big Question:

What kinds of pre-commitments, organizational structure, leadership, divisions of labour, and personal qualities are most likely to engender:– secure attachments– sustained engagements– reciprocal learnings

Father Involvement Research Alliance

• National alliance of researchers, community organizations and fathers, dedicated to the development and sharing of knowledge on father involvement

• Funded by CURA• 8 Universities, 30+ community partners• BC, Alberta, Ontario, Quebec• 2 strategies for research program

1. A Canadian Knowledge BaseAnalysis of census and survey data • Profiles of Canadian fathers with demographic, economic, and socio-

cultural characteristics

Overview of Canadian policies • Policy inventory • Policy reference group• Commissioned policy papers • Policy conference

2. Engaging for change:fatherhood research clusters

• Participatory research • Socially defined subpopulations facing unique challenges• Development of evidence based tools & resources

Research Clusters

• Immigrant fathers • Gay fathers• New fathers

• Young fathers • Indigenous fathers • Separated & divorced

fathers • Fathers of children

with special needs

Terms of endearment

• Time• Clarity of purpose• Architecture• Differentiation• Flexibility• Passion

Father Involvement Research Alliance

Pre-CURA CURAPost-CURA

New Opportunities

Clarity of Purpose

Architecture

• Vision Review Committee

• Documents: vision & values; authorship; allocations; policy review

• Steering Committee, Projects, Clusters• Money • Review/Allocations Committee

Additional researchCluster Research

Policy

Demographics Demographics

Policy

Research/ Policy Conference

Thematic Overview

Forum ForumForum

Workshops and toolkits

Communication and DisseminationSteering Steering Steering Steering Steering

Coordination and Infrastructure

FIRA CURA Program

1 2 3 4 5

Differentiation

Flexibility

Passion