荔枝视频

Dr. Katharina Maier has seen first-hand the impact 鈥� sometimes adverse 鈥� that the family justice system can have on people鈥檚 lives. 

With her appointment as the '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.

Maier, PhD, whose 荔枝视频 appointment begins on July 1, co-leads the , an examination of unhoused people鈥檚 experiences, including interactions with legal and social services actors.

鈥淚n my current research on homelessness and street life, issues around family well-being 鈥� including experiences with the family law system 鈥� come up frequently in our data, and we have worked to understand the impact,鈥� says Maier.

鈥淢any of the people we鈥檝e talked to no longer had custody of their children. Some reported negative experiences with Child and Family Services. Other people talked about their desire to reunify with their children, but also about the various barriers that make it difficult to regain custody.鈥�

Currently an associate professor in the University of Winnipeg鈥檚 department, Maier is originally from Germany, where she received her law degree from the University of M眉nster.  

Looking to expand her knowledge and education, she moved to Canada to do her master鈥檚 degree and PhD at the at the University of Toronto.

Her work primarily focuses on marginalized populations鈥� experiences with legal and non-legal systems and, in turn, how those institutions work with individuals and communities. 

A need for system change 

As research chair, Maier will work as part of the , an innovative collaboration between the faculties of Law and funded through a significant gift from the .

The centre is focused on systemic change in the family justice system to put the well-being of children and families first. It is intended to put research into action to enhance outcomes for those facing challenges such as separation and divorce, intimate partner violence, and child-welfare issues.

Maier says the position is an opportunity to do 鈥渋mmensely meaningful鈥� research in collaboration with government, community organizations and other scholars.

鈥淭here is an 鈥榚vidence to practice gap,鈥� which means that evidence and research don鈥檛 always get translated effectively into policy and practice,鈥� she says. 

鈥淲hen I read the job posting and the idea behind the Centre for Transformation, I felt this was a really unique strategy to help close the evidence to practice gap by connecting researchers to community, policymakers and decision makers early on.鈥�

Maier says the centre reflects the need to 鈥渂reak disciplinary silos鈥� and welcomes the opportunity to work with her counterpart, Dr. Kate Maurer, PhD, who became the at the start of January.

Research in Alberta 

Maier is no stranger to Alberta, having done research in Edmonton as a doctoral student. Her recent research on homelessness, addiction and victimization has also brought her to Lethbridge, 荔枝视频, Red Deer and Fort McMurray, and her team has received grants from the Alberta government for her research in these areas.

, JSD, dean of the Faculty of Law, looks forward to welcoming Maier to the law school. 

鈥淒r. Maier brings the expertise and vision that make her the ideal choice as the Chair in Law at the Centre for Transformation,鈥� says Spitz.

鈥淲ith her in the position, the centre is poised to produce research that not only deepens our understanding of pressing social issues, but also informs practical solutions with real impact.鈥�

Diana Lowe, KC, senior director of the Centre for Transformation, says having two distinguished academics as the research chairs is a huge asset for the centre and its work.

鈥淲e are very excited to work with them and see where their research takes us,鈥� she says.