The Centre for Transformation
The Centre for Transformation is a transdisciplinary collaboration between the Faculties of Law and Social Work, dedicated to leading transformative change in the family justice system so that children and families can thrive in Alberta.
Transforming the Family Justice System
The Centre for Transformation, established through a generous grant from the Alberta Law Foundation, is dedicated to creating transformative change in the family justice system. Through community engagement, research, education and law reform, the centre seeks to improve how individuals and families experience and navigate family justice challenges and processes in the province.
A central priority of the centre is empowering families to resolve non-legal issues outside of the courts. This work is led by the Re-imagining the Family Justice System (RFJS) initiative, which promotes a collaborative, multi-sector approach. The initiative focuses on improving outcomes for individuals and families experiencing family breakdown, child protection matters, and family violence by ensuring timely and effective access to non-legal supports.
Research is foundational to the centre’s work. With leading research chairs in Social Work and Law, the centre puts its research into practice by developing policy recommendations, supporting law reform efforts, advancing education initiatives, and partnering with communities on local projects.
Guided by ii’ taa’poh’to’p, the University of Calgary’s Indigenous Strategy, the centre is committed to working “in a good way” with Indigenous Elders, communities and scholars to improve outcomes for Indigenous families within the family justice system.
What's New
Family Justice Research Chair named in Law faculty
Dr. Katharina Maier has seen first-hand the impact — sometimes adverse — that the family justice system can have on people’s lives.
With her appointment as the Faculty of Law's first Research Chair in Family Justice, she is looking forward to the chance to help transform that system into one that better promotes the well-being of both families and communities. See More
First Research Chair in Family Justice starts in post
An opportunity to work with communities to bring about systems transformation was an opportunity too important to pass up for Dr. Kate Maurer, PhD.
Maurer has been appointed the inaugural Research Chair in Family Justice in the Faculty of Social Work, starting in the post on Jan. 1. In this role, they will work in tandem with the Centre for Transformation, an innovative partnership between the social work and law faculties. See More
Find more news on the Centre for Transformation here