Collaboration between community-based agencies and research institutions are crucial to the growth of knowledge about community services and outcomes, as well as innovative approaches in the field. Yet, these complicated partnerships come with a number of challenges. This case study arises from a collaboration between an academic research center and a community agency designed to evaluate the impact of a parent engagement intervention on youth mentoring outcomes. We describe the study process, explain challenges from the research and agency perspectives, and conclude with concrete recommendations for future collaborations that highlight the role of clear and ongoing communication, and the potential benefits of an initial evaluability assessment phase.
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