Spring 2021 Lab

Mission Statement

The Family Journeys Co-Lab (FJ Co-Lab) aims to translate interdisciplinary research into programs designed to support children, their families, and the institutions that serve them. Our focus is on preventing harm and promoting well-being across the first three decades of life. Through collaborations (or Co-Labs) with scientists, providers, community partners, and families, we seek to create knowledge, tools, and programs that nurture healing and thriving, particularly in opportunity (formerly termed at-risk) contexts.

The Co-Lab

The FJ Co-Lab director, Dr. Andrea Hussong, is a NC-licensed clinical psychologist, UNC-CH professor, and federally funded researcher with over 25 years of experience studying the development of risk and resilience in a variety of populations. The Co-Lab aims to be a dynamic set of intersecting partnerships that engage in applied research and training. These partnerships include early career scientists at the undergraduate, graduate and postdoctoral levels.

Strategic Aims

Our strategic plan is necessarily fluid, given the fickle nature of funding (especially in these uncertain times). Thus, our goals are aspirational and our pursuit of them balances purposeful and opportunistic actions, allowing us to be flexible, efficient, and effective. These goals include:

• Translating research into tools and programs that will directly impact children and families.
• Conducting applied research to inform the development of such tools and programs.
• Advancing methods for studying development and family processes.
• Training early career scientists in the study of family journeys.
• Disseminating findings to key stakeholders who serve and represent children, youth, and families.

Code of Conduct

The Family Journeys Co-Lab acknowledges the importance of creating a lab environment that welcomes contributors, students, and staff of all backgrounds and identities. Every member of the Co-Lab brings their own unique identities, perspectives and experiences, and we aim to celebrate these differences as we build a lab environment that fosters inclusion and support for all its members. 

This Code of Conduct provides the expectations for the Family Journeys Co-Lab team members and outlines unacceptable behavior. Additionally, it details ways that contributors can hold themselves and others accountable, and compiles campus resources for those who may be experiencing discrimination or harassment. Overall, this Code of Conduct details the ways in which the Family Journeys Co-Lab can create and maintain an environment for personal growth, peer support, and scientific development.  

Expectations  

• All members of the Co-Lab are entitled to an environment free of discrimination and harassment due to any aspect of their identity.  
• Aspects of identity include race, ethnicity, gender identity, sex, sexual orientation, age, ability, religion, and citizenship status. 
• In order to cultivate this safe environment, all team members should be committed to supporting and respecting all team members and their unique experiences. Additionally, it is expected that all members are respectful towards all participants in the Co-Lab projects, guests who join lab meetings, and to the community as a whole. 
• The lab encourages addressing difficult conversations, emphasizing authentic engagement rather than avoidance. Through mutual respect and challenge by choice, we aim to educate ourselves as a group and as individuals.  

Unacceptable Behavior 

• UNC-CH’s official Policy on Prohibited Discrimination, Harassment, and Related Misconduct details conduct that is prohibited by the University and should be reported to the Equal Opportunity and Compliance (EOC) office. Below are some of specific behaviors from this policy that are more applicable to a laboratory setting, and that will not be tolerated in the Family Journeys Co-Lab. 
• Discrimination: treating a person differently than others based on one or more aspects of their identity. 
• Harassment: a type of discrimination that happens when verbal, physical, electronic, or other behavior based on a person’s identity interferes with their participation in the lab and/or creates a hostile, intimidating, or abusive environment. 
• Race-based harassment involves any harassment based on an individual’s race, while sexual/gender-based harassment is based on an individual’s sex, gender identity, or sexual orientation. 
• Complicity: knowingly aiding, assisting, promoting, or encouraging another person to commit a prohibited act in this code of conduct. 
• Retaliation: acts or words taken against a person because the person: 
  • Reported, investigated, or confronted someone about a violation of the code of conduct. 
  • Opposed policies or actions in the lab that they believe violate the code of conduct. 
  • Requested accommodations based on religion or disability. 

Ways to be Accountable 

• All contributors should be dedicated to holding themselves and their team members accountable to all the expectation of the Family Journeys Co-Lab. By accepting this responsibility, each member will contribute to the safe and inclusive environment our lab is creating. 
• This means speaking out when a violation of the code of conduct is committed in order to let the individual know that their statement or action is wrong. An individual’s intentions may have been positive, but if their impact was negative, they should be made aware of their mistake.  
• Each lab member should take time for themselves to understand the aspects of their own identity and how they impact their view on the world. By understanding our individual identities, the collective team can better acknowledge and respect the identities of all team members. 
• Additionally, each team member should identify the privileges in different aspects of their identity. It is important to acknowledge these privileges and understand the advantages that one has in order to work towards a more equitable environment.  

Campus Resources  

Below is a compilation of many campus resources available for those who have experienced or witnessed any misconduct at UNC-Chapel Hill.  

• Carolina Ethics Line : an anonymous reporting hotline for the campus community to report possible unethical or improper conduct, and/or violations of University policies and procedures, regulations, or state and federal laws. The website is maintained by a third-party vendor to allow people to make reports anonymously. 
• Office of Dean of Students: students who feel they have been harassed or discriminated against due to a protected status are encouraged to meet with the Office of the Dean of Students and formally report their concerns.  
• UNC Equal Opportunity and Compliance Office: handles student, employee, and visitor reports of discrimination and harassment based on age, color, disability, genetic information, national origin, race, religion, sex (including gender, gender expression, or gender identity), sexual orientation, and veteran status. This includes reports of sexual misconduct, including sexual harassment and sexual violence. Their office also handles reports of relationship violence and stalking. 
• UNC LGBTQ Center: allows you to complete a Harassment or Assault Report Form if you have experienced threats, discrimination, or harassment due to your sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression. 
• Safe at UNC: is the main portal at UNC-CH for resources and information about discrimination, harassment, sexual violence, interpersonal violence, and stalking.  
• UNC Ombuds office: an informal, impartial, and independent service allowing all Carolina staff, faculty, students and administrators to speak in confidence about any campus issue, problem, or dispute. 
• UNC Delta Advocates : undergraduate women in the fraternity and sorority life community trained to provide an empathic and informed response for victims/survivors of gender-based violence or harassment. 
• Gender Violence Service Coordinators: provide confidential support and advocacy for all students (undergraduate and graduate), faculty, staff, and postdocs of all identities who have experienced or have been impacted by gender-based violence or harassment before or during their time at UNC-Chapel Hill.