The mission of the Center is to integrate the strengths of the University and
of the community in order to, together, promote the positive development of children,
youth, and families. The Center collaborates with all sectors of the community--including
schools, local and state government, business and industry, community organizations,
agencies, and NGOs--to envision, enact, and sustain effective and appropriately-scaled
programs and policies that promote development in ways valued by the community.
The Center describes this approach to community-university partnerships as outreach scholarship, and pursues such work in order both to make a direct contribution to the lives of individuals and families and develop a model of how universities may use their abilities to generate, transmit, preserve, and apply knowledge to enhance the life chances of diverse children and families. The Center forms partnerships at local, state, national, and international levels in order to understand the generality of the model that it is building.
The goal of CCFCP participants is to create stronger, healthier, and more economically sound communities. The Center offers technical assistance, program evaluation, needs assessment, training, and consultation to organizations in communities.
Boston Connects is a school-community-university partnership linking the Cluster Five Boston Public Elementary Schools, the YMCA and other community partners, and Boston College. This partnership coordinates resources to serve over 3,200 school children and families.Dr. Mary Walsh and Boston Connects Students.
