Research into university-community partnerships to eliminate health disparities is of growing importance. This presentation describes how a Historically Black College-University (HBCU) and community partnered to design, pilot, and implement a quality parenting leadership program to improve cognitive and social-emotional health in children. The principles of community-based participatory research (CBPR) were used throughout those three developmental stages Wallerstein’s CBPR conceptual model established the contextual framework for the intervention, while the design, content, and approach emerged from 18 listening and participatory sessions with parents, childcare workers, teachers, pediatricians and provider surveys. The program was first piloted at a transitional housing setting. Findings from the pilot were used to refine components of the intervention that was then implemented and formally evaluated relative to its ability to promote positive child development. Presently, the program has been implemented in thirteen states. The partnership process resulted in a community advisory board (CAB) and 40 parents that helped develop the peer-led Smart and Secure Children (SSC) parent leadership intervention. SSC proved an effective strategy for mothers in transitional housing; locally, 305 parents graduated from the SSC program with nearly 50 trained as peer parent leaders and mentors. Partnership expansion led to SSC pilots in 9 states; reported outcomes include reduced parental stress; improved self-reported parent/child diet and mental health; and improved decision-making for child educational needs. In general, the CAB has been an important partner in the evolution of SSC in the local community and want to see their function improved and sustained with university-sponsored capacity-building opportunities.