Research-Practice Partnerships: Building Two-Way Streets of Engagement

P eople have long bemoaned the silos of research and practice.Researchers express frustration that practitioners do not use or misuse research.Practitioners respond that research is not relevant to their work, or is not easily accessible or understood.Research-Practice Partnerships (RPPs) across the country are seeking to undo these patterns.Many partnerships involve agencies working in longterm collaboration with external researchers.Others are partnerships between research and program offi ces within government agencies.In this paper, we discuss how partnerships challenge researchers and practitioners to work together in new ways in order to improve education and human services, and ultimately to enhance child and youth outcomes.Discussion covers various types of partnerships, strategies and conditions for success, and exemplar models.