Families and the people who serve them often have difficulty accessing research information and using it to improve practices, policies, and the lives of families. At the same time, the quality and relevance of research is significantly enhanced when it is informed by families and those who work with them. The Center acts as a vehicle through which the University is able create and share knowledge as well as capitalize on expertise found outside the University to promote healthy human development and family life. The Center provides research opportunities for faculty, graduate, and undergraduate students in departments across the UW-Madison campus in cooperation with researchers and policymakers in state and federal government, foundations and community-based nonprofit organizations. Undergraduate collaborations with community-based organizations include opportunities to provide counseling and education in local communities, as well as independent studies and internships.