The Center’s mission is to advance science, implementation, and innovation to promote healthy child and youth development, learning, and thriving. The Center advances this mission through four core strategies, capitalizing on a long-term research-practice partnership known as City Connects: (1) Science: The Center supports applied research and evaluation to uncover and better understand the impacts of programs, policies, and practices that hold promise for bettering the lives of young people; (2) Implementation: We support the development, implementation, and refinement of best practice for educators, programs, schools, and agencies interested in more effectively addressing the complex needs and strengths of children and families. (3) Systemic Impact: We translate knowledge to inform policies, budgets, and practices at scale. The Center is an incubator for collaborations between researchers, practitioners, and policy makers; and (4) Innovation: We pursue new frontiers so that every child can receive supports and opportunities that promote healthy development, learning, and thriving. Learn more about the CTC at our website