OVERALL AIMS OF THE SPECIAL ISSUE

1) Share information about how to develop and maintain practice relationships to support child mental health services and prevention research

2) Identify theoretical or conceptual models which guide the formation and maintenance of research partnerships

3) Identify future research directions related to practice relationships.

Possible Topics to Address in the Manuscript:

• Role of partnerships or "practice relationships" to support implementation of mental health prevention programs and improved service delivery across multiple service sectors (e.g., schools, mental health).
• The process, importance, and outcomes of forging partnerships between researchers and practitioners to foster high quality child mental health services and prevention research.
• Lessons learned from forming and sustaining partnerships. What works or doesn't work?  What can we learn from the examples of partnerships that have been forged successfully?  What are the key components or facets of successful partnerships between practitioners and researchers? What are researchers' strategies for fostering successful partnerships?  In what situations do practitioners or service providers find it advantageous to seek out and build ongoing relationships with researchers?
• Contextual influences on partnerships. Are there differences in the role of partnerships across context or service sector (e.g., schools, community mental health, child protective services)?
• The reality of forming partnerships (e.g., missteps, challenges, feasibility).
• With whom to partner. Building personal and professional relationships which are sustainable and authentic.
• Insights into trade secrets (e.g., contact points, information technology, data sharing, liaisons, troubleshooting, facilitation, infrastructure, motivating factors).
• Resource sharing and shared decision-making.
• Do relationship-brokers help promote sustainability and higher quality research?
• Role of theory: Are there theoretical models which guide the formation of partnerships?
• The science of partnerships: future research directions.