Family Engagement in Research (FER) Course

Sponsored by the Azrieli Accelerator in collaboration with One Child Every Child

The Family Engagement in Research (FER) Course covers principles and frameworks of family engagement in research alongside discussions of the practicalities and challenges of research partnership. Through course work and a team project, participants will strengthen their competency and confidence in both the theory and practice of family engagement in research.

The Azrieli Accelerator sponsors an Alberta-based cohort each year, tailored to researchers and individuals with lived/living experience of neurodevelopmental conditions (as either a family member, caregiver, or self-advocate). By bringing both researchers and community members together in this course, we aim to build capacity for engaged research with positive impact.

The FER program was transformative for me! I learned how crucial it is to bring families' voices into research. The workshops offered practical skills and sparked incredible discussions, and I was lucky to build relationships with researchers and family partners who share this commitment. Thanks to the FER program, I now have a strong network and the tools to embed family perspectives in my work."

Dr. Olajumoke Oyebode, PhD

Research Associate, EDI, One Child Every Child, Alberta Children’s Hospital Research Institute

Who can apply?

Community members with lived/living experience of a neurodevelopmental condition in Alberta: This includes self-advocates (adult or youth), caregivers, and/or family members (parents, siblings, grandparents, etc.). We are looking for people who are interested in building their skills to partner in research in universities and hospitals related to neurodevelopmental conditions.

Researchers in Alberta: This includes investigators, clinicians, health care providers, senior graduate students, research coordinators and postdoctoral associates who seek to build their skills in engaging people with lived/living experience to design impactful research. Through our collaboration with One Child Every Child, researchers from UCalgary, UAlberta, ULethbridge and AthabascaU are all welcome to apply.

What will I learn?

Through readings, discussions, and coursework, learners will gain a better understanding of:

Why it’s important to partner with people with lived/living experience.
How to partner throughout the research process.
Barriers and facilitators to research partnership.
The ethics of partnership.
Tools and resources to support and evaluate partnership.

What will we do during the course?

Across the 10-week course, you will be required to:

Complete individual review of course materials week by week.
Attend four live, online sessions on Zoom. These are 2-hour sessions in weeks 1, 4, 6, 10.
Work with a group to develop a tool to share information or best practice about family engagement in research. This will require you to meet weekly for 30-60 minutes with your assigned group. The tools developed might be: a poster or infographic, a podcast, a brochure, etc.

You can find examples of past group projects from the FER course here.

This course requires a time commitment of 3hrs/week.

Where and when is the course offered?

The 2025 cohort runs from February 3 to April 11, 2025. Applications for the winter 2026 cohort will open in fall 2025.

This is an online course, that involves online discussions, review of written materials, case studies, and collaborative online group exercises.

There are four, live online sessions that are mandatory to attend in weeks 1, 4, 6, and 10. Participants will have their choice of sessions:

Tuesdays, 12:00-2:00 p.m. MT

Wednesdays, 6:00-8:00 p.m. MT

For the final project, participants should be able to commit 30-60 minutes/week for online discussions with their assigned group.

This course requires a time commitment of 3hrs/week.

What is the cost to participate?

For the 2025 Alberta-based cohort, spots are limited but the course is free for accepted applicants thanks to the sponsorship of the Azrieli Accelerator.

In addition to this Alberta based cohort, the FER Course is also offered annually in Winter and Fall by CanChild and Kids Brain Health Network. These offerings are open to people from across Canada interested in child health research. Anyone interested can apply to these courses as well. Course fees are $800. A limited number of scholarships are available with priority given to family members and trainees.

Is this a certificate course?

Yes! Participants will receive certification of completion and a McMaster University / CanChild / Kids Brain Health microcredential.

By the end of the course, learners will be ready to more effectively partner in future research studies.

This course has been eye-opening and inspiring. I have applied insights to strengthen my EDIA practices in all my research projects, which I believe is crucial for delivering meaningful and impactful results.”