National Council on Family Relations — NCFR
Who We Are
The National Council on Family Relations (NCFR) is a nonpartisan, nonprofit professional association whose members work to support all families through research, teaching, practice, and advocacy. NCFR represents the Family Science discipline and supports scholars, professionals, and students in Family Science.
NCFR’s diverse members, who come from all 50 U.S. states and nearly three dozen countries, are:
researchers who study family
college faculty who research and teach about families
educators and practitioners working directly with families
students who want to learn more about families and, often, prepare for a family-related career
NCFR is a tax-exempt 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.
What We Do
Publish three international scholarly journals that feature top research from around the world about families.
Organize an annual conference of peer-reviewed, cutting-edge research, methods and practices, pedagogy, and more related to understanding and strengthening families.
Offer the Certified Family Life Educator (CFLE) credential to validate the experience and knowledge of Family Life Education professionals.
Educate about public policy related to families. NCFR and its members disseminate information about families to inform legislators and other decisionmakers about the possible effects of policy on families.
Provides other professional and career resources to our members, including membership programs and communities, professional development and learning events, research-based content about families, networking opportunities, and more.
Our History & Focus
Since its formation in 1938, NCFR has been a membership organization of scholars, students, and practitioners from many disciplines and fields: Family Science, human development, sociology, psychology, anthropology, family and consumer sciences, demography, therapy and counseling, social work, theology, health, and more.
What all NCFR members have in common is a professional interest in family. Our members make an impact by focusing on understanding, strengthening, and empowering all families.
As a result, NCFR serves as the professional society for the growing discipline of Family Science, the scientific study of families and close interpersonal relationships.