The Regional Centre for Child and Youth Mental Health and Child Welfare, North (RKBU North) at the Faculty of Health Science at UiT The Arctic University of Norway (UiT) is one of four knowledge centers in Norway that focus on researching and improving health and social services for children, young people and their families.

Our applied research contributes to high quality services provided to the main target group, regardless of where the families live, as well as the public service sector (municipal- and specialized health services), decision-makers, leaders, kindergartens, and schools in the northern regions of Norway. The goal is to strengthen competence and knowledge development in working with children, youth, and their caregivers. The main fields and focus of research and innovation at RKBU North has been our efforts to develop, evaluate and disseminate knowledge about effective interventions that prevent mental health problems and promote well-being, in addition to conduct research for the future of child- and family welfare.

RKBU North consists of three research groups: 1) Preventive and Health Promoting Interventions, 2) Evidence-based Practice in Services for Children and Adolescents, and 3) Child Welfare and Family Counselling and Mediation.