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

• Published date: 01 February 2009
• Date: 01 February 2009
• Author: Erik L. Carlton,Kay Bradford,Jason B. Whiting,Patricia Hyjer Dyk,Ann Vail
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.1111/j.1741-3729.2008.00532.x

ERIK L. CARLTON University of Kentucky

JASON B. WHITING Texas Tech University*

KAY BRADFORD Utah State University**

PATRICIA HYJER DYK University of Kentucky***

ANN VAIL University of Kentucky****

Def‌ining Factors of Successful University-Community

Collaborations: An Exploration of One Healthy

Marriage Project

This study explored university-community col-

laborations 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 over-

came traditional university-community collabo-

ration 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 col-

laborative efforts and outreach scholarship.

Successful university-community collaborations

require combining the contexts and assets of the

higher education system with those of the com-

munities of the higher education institution

(Lerner, Ralston, Mullis, Simerly, & Murray,

2000). Compared to university settings, commu-

nity organizations are more accustomed to ser-

vice delivery and advocacy than generation of

knowledge. Erickson and Weinberg (2000) and

Bray, Lee, Smith, and Yorks (2000) counseled

that collaborations should be reciprocal and

inclusive. Collaborators should recognize the

strength of multidisciplinary expertise.

Although collaboration is important, some

scholars point to potential ineff‌iciencies or com-

plications in collaborations. Lerner et al. (2000)

indicated the downfalls that occur when groups

compete for ‘‘turf’’ or leadership or when services

Department of Family Studies, University of Kentucky, 206

Scovell Hall, Lexington, KY 40506-0064 (erik.carlton@

uky.edu).

*

Departmentof Applied and ProfessionalStudies, Texas Tech

University,P.O. Box 41162, Lubbock,TX 79409-1162.

**

Department of Family, Consumer, and Human Develop-

ment, Utah State University, 2705 old Mam Hall, Logan,

UT 84321-2705.

***

Department of Community and Leadership Development,

University of Kentucky, 709 Garrigus Building, Lexington,

KY 40546-0215.

****

Department of Family Studies, University of Kentucky,

102 Erikson Hall, Lexington, KY 40506-0050 .

Key Words: challenge points, def‌ining factors, healthy mar-

riage initiative, outreach scholarship, university-community

collaborations.

28 Family Relations 58 (February 2009): 28–40

A Publication of

the National Council on

Family Relations