Defining Factors of Successful University-Community Collaborations: An Exploration of One Healthy Marriage Project

• Published in: Family relations Vol. 58; no. 1; pp. 28 - 40
• Main Authors: Carlton, Erik L., Whiting, Jason B., Bradford, Kay, Dyk, Patricia Hyjer, Vail, Ann
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Malden, USA Blackwell Publishing Inc 01-02-2009; Wiley Subscription Services, Inc; Blackwell Publishing; National Council on Family Relations
• Subjects: Academic Achievement; Case Studies; challenge points; Child care; Collaboration; Colleges & universities; Communities; Community; Community action; Community Relations; Cooperation; defining factors; Education; Ethnographic research; Ethnography; Family (Sociological Unit); Family Programming; Family relations; Family studies; Funding; healthy marriage initiative; Higher Education; Initiatives; Interviews; Joint ventures; Marriage; Outreach Programs; outreach scholarship; Participant Observation; Partnerships in Education; Program Evaluation; Program Implementation; Qualitative analysis; R&D; Research & development; Research methodology; Research methods; Respect; Scholarships & fellowships; School Community Relationship; Strategies; Success; Success factors; Universities; University administration; university-community collaborations
• ISSN: 0197-6664; 1741-3729; 0197-6664
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1741-3729.2008.00532.x

This study explored university-community collaborations by examining the workings of 1 healthy marriage initiative. An ethnographic case study research strategy was used to study the process of this initiative, specifically looking at how participants worked through and overcame traditional university-community collaboration challenges. Data consist of qualitative interviews with key initiative collaborators. Findings are organized into a model that offers a new way of looking at university-community collaborations in light of challenge points to be addressed and either resolved or unresolved. The model provides implications for other collaborative efforts and outreach scholarship.