Strengthening child maltreatment research and child welfare practices in Canada.

The following topics are some of the topics covered in the CARe RTP curriculum: research design (quantitative, qualitative, and mixed methods); Indigenous research methodologies; Indigenous data sovereignty; confounding, mediation, moderation analyses; survey design and implementation; measurement; public health approaches; Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs); research ethics and safety; resilience and protective factors; sex and gender, trauma- and violence-informed principles; culturally safe and responsive research; health equity; manuscript writing; and knowledge translation and mobilization.

The CARe RTP is meant to be an added learning experience and extra training while in a Canadian graduate program. For this reason, the schedule is designed to be not too onerous. The CARe RTP will run from September to May (9 months), however the research projects will continue until they are completed within 18-24 months. The CARe RTP will start with an in-person 1.5 day workshop in Winnipeg Manitoba (expenses paid by the CARe RTP) in early Fall (September or October). After the workshop, each month will involve 1-2 hours of virtual pre-recorded lectures (no lectures in December), 1 virtual full group 1-hour meeting in the Fall and 1 in the Winter term to discuss lecture material and extend learning, virtual small group meetings to advance research projects, 2 virtual student-led journal clubs (student can volunteer to lead and be provided an honoria), and four 1-hour sessions by experts in the field.

Students admitted into the CARe RTP will be required to attend an in-person 1.5 day workshop in Winnipeg, Manitoba along with community partners, and academics. All expenses (i.e., airfare, hotel, taxi, and food) will be provided from the CARe RTP. Attendance at the workshop is mandatory and must be confirmed at the time of acceptance to the program. The cohort 3 workshop is scheduled for September 27, 2026 to September 29, 2026! 

There are no admission fees to join the CARe RTP. This is not a degree program, but rather an additional training opportunity ideally suited for a graduate student (Masters or PhD) in an area related to child maltreatment or child welfare (e.g., community health, population or public health, epidemiology, social work, psychology, nursing, medicine, education, sociology, law, etc.) who already have a foundational knowledge of basic research methods. Students/Trainees in the CARe will receive a certificate upon completion of the program, and will be provided opportunities to apply for funding to subsidize open access publication fees and conference fees to disseminate their research.

Upon completion of the CARe RTP curriculum in May, students/trainees will be provided a certificate of completion. Research projects may not be completed in May. However, academic mentors will continue to work with students/trainees beyond the 9-month program in an effort to complete and disseminate research projects. Once graduated, the CARe RTP cohort will become alumni of the program and will have the opportunity to serve as student mentors for the new incoming cohorts.