Promoting Research to Practice - Schools, Families, Communities (Center for)

L111 Iacocca Hall, 111 Research Drive 610-758-3267

Lee Kern, Ph.D., Director

The mission of the Center for Promoting Research to Practice (CPRP) is to generate new knowledge that will truly impact the lives of individuals with or at risk for disabilities and to enhance the translation of new knowledge into practice. All too often research that is created for these individuals remains at the development level and is not disseminated into best practices. The Center is focused on conducting and disseminating applied research and assuring research outcomes get into the hands of parents and practitioners as quickly as possible.

Applied Research Opportunities

The CPRP focuses on applied research that has a significant impact on the lives of individuals who have identified areas of disability or are considered at risk for developing disabilities. Research conducted through the CPRP is supported primarily through federal grants. Projects focus on assessment and intervention in schools.

Partnership

The Center forms and maintains partnerships at national, regional, and local levels. Several objectives are established to accomplish this goal. The CPRP assists with the development and implementation of research projects designed in local school districts and intermediate units, as well as early childhood education and intervention providers. Many school districts do not have the capacity to engage in wide scale research efforts. Yet, these districts often have very significant needs for empirically-based decision making. The CPRP provides a cost effective vehicle for these districts to engage in such research efforts. Another level of partnership for the CPRP is interdisciplinary research within the University community. This objective is met through facilitating cross-college and cross-program proposals. Continuous efforts are made to invite colleagues from across departments and colleges in the University to join with faculty in the College of Education in pursuing research interests that are within the mission of the Center.  Research also is conducted with colleagues across institutions.

Dissemination

The CPRP is a resource for facilitating the translation of research into practice. Investigators conducting research have published the outcomes of findings in professional journals and outlets. In addition, the CPRP disseminates research findings and state-of-the-art interventions and strategies to parents, teachers, and other practitioners through our website and other dissemination activities.

Lehigh University Autism Services

Lehigh University Autism Services is a clinic housed in the Center for Promoting Research to Practice. The mission of the clinic is to develop and disseminate research-based practices that improve the well being of children with autism and their families and to serve the local community.  The clinic provides intervention programs for young children with autism spectrum disorders (diagnosis to age 5) and their families. http://wordpress.lehigh.edu/cprp/autism-services/

For more information, contact Dr. Lee Kern, Director, Center for Promoting Research to Practice, College of Education, Lehigh University, Iacocca Hall, 111 Research Drive, Bethlehem, PA 18015; 610-758-3267 or email lek6@lehigh.edu; Web site:  http://www.lehigh.edu/go/cprp.