• Surveys Webinar Next Week
• TCRM Proposals Due April 27
• NCFR Nexus: Spring Issue
• Donate to Student Access Grant
• Call for NCFR Awards
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• Apply for NCFR Honors for Summer
• New Research From NCFR Journals
• FR Call for Papers: Ukrainian Families
• On Demand: Qualitative Research Series
• >> Job Opportunities <<
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NCFR Webinars
Better Surveys, Better Data: A Practical Guide for Researchers
April 29, 2026 / Noon–1 p.m. CT
Presented by: Ting Yan, Ph.D., David Dutwin, Ph.D.
Is your research built on a solid foundation? Are you confident in the quality of data from your most recent survey? Join leading experts Ting Yan, Ph.D., and David Dutwin, Ph.D., on April 29 for a practical guide to building surveys that deliver reliable, generalizable results.
This webinar will walk through the survey design process with clear, real-world examples and practical guidance. Ideal for both beginners and those interested in a refresher, you’ll gain actionable strategies to strengthen your methods, improve data quality, and elevate the quality and impact of your research.
Approved for 1.0 hour of CFLE continuing education
REGISTER TO ATTEND
Can't attend live? Register and receive access to the on-demand recording.
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2026 NCFR Annual Conference | Minneapolis | Nov. 18-21
TCRM Workshop Accepting Proposals
Proposals Due April 27, 2026
Thank you to everyone who submitted proposals for the NCFR conference!
Proposals will be accepted through April 27 for the 2026 Theory Construction and Research Methodology (TCRM) Workshop, the preconference event held on site at the 2026 NCFR Annual Conference.
Each year at TCRM, working papers on family theory and research methodology are reviewed, discussed, and strengthened in an interactive environment. TCRM's unique purpose and format are designed to promote discussion and provide a forum for feedback that moves working papers and ideas forward.
LEARN MORE & SUBMIT
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POLICY
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NCFR Policy Corner
This Week's Policy Highlights
April 23, 2026 | Two-Minute Read
FY 2027 Budget Proposals Published – The White House's FY 2027 budget proposal seeks deep funding cuts to resources and programs, including supplemental nutrition assistance, child care, early learning, and affordable housing. Click to our website for ways in which you can engage with your members of congress to support funding programs that
support families.
Opportunities:
National Science Foundation (NSF) Webinar Opportunity – Multiple NSF Directorates Invite Research Security-Related Proposals at April 29, 2026, 4-5:30 p.m. ET. Register for webinar
National Science Foundation (NSF) Comment Request – Survey of Graduate Students and Postdoctorates in Science and Engineering. Comments will be accepted through May 8, 2026. Submit your comments
National Institutes of Health (NIH) Request for Information (RFI) on Framework for the NIH-Wide Strategic Plan. Comments will be accepted through May 26, 2026. Submit your comments
The American Public Health Association’s 2026 Policy Action Institute Registration Open. Held in-person and digitally June 9-10. Register here
READ FULL POLICY CORNER
Have a policy issue on your radar? We'd love to hear from you! Share your insights with us at policy@ncfr.org.
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NCFR PUBLICATIONS
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Spring Issue: NCFR Nexus
Theme: Exploring Shifts in Work and Education
NCFR Nexus is a quarterly digital publication to serving NCFR’s transdisciplinary community of researchers, educators, practitioners, and policymakers. This issue explores the impacts of recent shifts in work and education on individuals, families, and family professionals.
Focus on Practice
Focus on Applied ResearchFocus on Teaching and LearningBook Review
READ SPRING ISSUE
Join NCFR or renew your membership or become a CFLE to access articles
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NCFR MEMBER OPPORTUNITIES
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NCFR Grants
One Week Left to Reach Our Goal
Invest in Student Access Grants before April 30
Over the past six years, 300 students have received the National Council on Family Relations (NCFR) Student Access Grant, opening doors to career-changing opportunities within Family Science.
This April, NCFR is working to raise $10,000 to support Students of Color in accessing professional development and advancement in the discipline.
With your help, the students will receive:
Please consider donating. Every contribution, big or small, helps us create opportunities that might otherwise be out of reach. Just $5 from each NCFR member would reach our goal quickly. Together, we can empower the next generation of diverse Family Scientists.
INVEST IN STUDENTS OF COLOR
If you are not able to donate at this time, you can still make a meaningful impact. Joining or renewing your NCFR membership directly supports the student resources and professional development opportunities NCFR provides. Every member strengthens our ability to foster the next generation of Family Science professionals.
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NCFR Awards and Recognition
Who Will Be This Year's NCFR Award Winners?
Nominate Yourself or Others by May 22
Honor the outstanding accomplishments of your colleagues, students, mentors, or yourself — nominate or apply for one of the many NCFR awards available this year.
Awards are offered that recognize achievement in research, teaching, mentorship, leadership, and more.
The application deadline for most awards is May 22, 2026.
NOMINATE OR APPLY |
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Apply for the Cognella Innovation in Teaching Award
Deadline May 31, 2026
Cognella and NCFR have partnered to recognize outstanding Family Science teachers through this prestigious award.
We are searching for outstanding higher education instructors in Family Science who bring innovation, passion, and personal drive for excellence to their teaching practices each and every day.
The first-place recipient will receive a $1,000 cash prize, and the second-place recipients will each receive a $500 Cognella book credit.
Submissions will be accepted through May 31, 2026.
NOMINATE OR APPLY
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Summer Grads: Apply for NCFR Honors
Students graduating from a degree program this summer can now apply for NCFR Honors. This award recognizes NCFR student members with strong academic achievements in Family Science.
Eligibility:
- Current NCFR student member
- 30+ family coursework credits
- 3.5+ GPA in major
- Graduating in summer 2026
What you’ll receive:
- NCFR Honors designation
- Graduation stole & certificate
- Recognition in NCFR communications
APPLY BY JUNE 1
Please join us in congratulating the spring 2026 NCFR Honors recipients.
Questions? Contact membership@ncfr.org
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UPCOMING EVENTS
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CFLE Conversation
Increasing Your Visibility as a Certified Family Life Educator
May 6, 2026 / Noon–1 p.m. CT / Free for CFLEs
Facilitator: Jody Johnston Pawel, LSW, CFLE, CTSS, CFLC-E
Are you a Certified Family Life Educator (CFLE) trying to advertise yourself and your services? Join this conversation to engage in active discussion with other CFLEs about ideas, challenges, and tips for increasing your visibility as a CFLE. Come prepared to share and chat with others. The facilitator will share their experiences and guide the conversation.
Ms. Johnston Pawel is an award-winning author of over 100 research-based parenting curricula, programs, and resources. She has trained over 100,000 parents and professionals and has certified over 100 Parent’s Toolshop® trainers and coaches worldwide. She serves as a parenting expert to the media, with 300+ media appearances in the first year of the launch of her award-winning book The Parent’s Toolshop®, and was the Assistant Producer and On-air Parenting Expert of the Emmy-nominated Ident-a-Kid television series.
RESERVE YOUR SEAT
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OneOp Webinar
IDD, Aging, and Military Families: Challenges and Opportunities
Wednesday, April 29, 2026 / 11 a.m. – Noon ET
Free to attend
This engaging session explores how adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) in military families can age well. It will examine age-related health needs, living arrangements and family caregiving, and practical strategies for supporting this population. Learn how to address current and future needs of people with IDD.
LEARN MORE & REGISTER
All OneOp webinars are free and approved for CFLE continuing education credit.
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ON-DEMAND WEBINAR
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On-Demand Webinars
Qualitative Research: 2-Part Series
FREE for NCFR members and CFLEs
In this two-part webinar series, attendees can improve their qualitative research knowledge and skills in two areas: qualitative coding and writing limitations.
An Introduction to the Art of Qualitative Coding Differentiate between validity of inductive and deductive approaches;
Implement the steps of an inductive approach, from open coding, including starting clustering into categories, to developing themes; and
Engage in deductive coding using a predetermined coding framework.
Writing Limitations Sections in Qualitative and Grounded Theory Studies Write a limitations section in qualitative research that provides relevant and appropriate recommendations;
Using grounded theory, connect the research design and limitations; and
Link the limitations section with results.
Each webinar is approved for 1.5 hours of CFLE contact hours of continuing education credit.
WATCH ON DEMAND
Members and CFLEs receive free access to NCFR webinars 1 year after their premiere — Become a member or become certified.
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NCFR JOURNALS
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NCFR Journals
Peruse New Research From NCFR's Journals
Read 8 Articles Published April 12-18
Read the newest research from NCFR's scholarly journals — Journal of Marriage and Family (JMF), Family Relations: Interdisciplinary Journal of Applied Family Science (FR), and Journal of Family Theory & Review (JFTR) — including these open-access articles:
FR: Household Chaos: Parents' Self-Compassion and Difficulties of Children With and Without Autism
JFTR: Discovering Legacies: Fathers, Sons, Masculinities, and Equity Within Families
JMF: Life Course Changes in the Geographical Distance Between Adult Children of Immigrants and Their Parents: The Role of Partnership Formation and Dissolution
SEE ALL NEW NCFR RESEARCH
If you are an NCFR member subscribed to one of our journals, you can access articles by logging into your NCFR account. You can also sign up for email alerts.
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CALLS FOR PAPERS
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Family Relations
Ukrainian Forced Migrants' Transnational Families
Deadline Extended to May 30
The deadline has been extended for letters of intent for an upcoming special section of NCFR's Family Relations: Interdisciplinary Journal of Applied Family Science (FR), themed "Ukrainian Forced Migrants’ Transnational Families: New Relationality and Shared Agency."
Letters of intent are now due May 30, 2026.
For authors then invited to submit manuscripts, manuscripts will be due Dec. 30, 2026.
SEE FULL CALL FOR PAPERS
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NCFR Nexus
Family Communication and Conflict Resolution
Submission Deadline: May 1
The summer 2026 issue of NCFR Nexus will explore family communication and conflict resolution using the broadest possible definition of "family."
Healthy and effective communication is essential to family well-being and supports NCFR’s vision of "Every Family Thriving." Yet, communication breakdowns and unresolved conflicts are common challenges across all types of families, regardless of structure, background, or stage in the family life cycle.
NCFR Nexus invites articles from researchers, educators, practitioners, and policymakers. Submissions are due May 1, 2026, via the NCFR Nexus Article Submission Form.
READ MORE
Questions or ideas? Contact editor Beth Magistad, Ph.D., CFLE, at nexuseditor@ncfr.org.
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NCFR PUBLICATIONS
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Wisdom for Parents. Key Ideas from
Parent Educators
Edited by Elizabeth A. Ramsey, Ph.D., CFLE
$29.95 retail. $25.95 for CFLEs
Family Science professionals from across the discipline share stories, reflection, and poems in this extensive collection of parenting knowledge that can benefit anyone— teachers, researchers, students, and parents!
A variety of relevant topics on the joys and challenges of parenting are woven together to create a valuable resource both in and out of the classroom setting. This second edition includes updated entries, new contributions, and discussion questions.
Family Life Education: The Practice of Family ScienceEdited by Wm. Michael Fleming, Ph.D., CFLE; and Michael J. Walcheski, Ph.D., CFLE
$79.99 retail. $69.99 for NCFR members and CFLEs
Useful and informative for seasoned and emerging professionals, as well as for students, this textbook provides a comprehensive examination of the profession from the perspectives of many leading family scholars and educators.
The second edition includes four sections that consider the knowledge and skills needed for the effective practice of Family Life Education (FLE) and chapters on FLE with various populations and relevant issues.
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NCFR JOBS CENTER
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Employment Opportunities
Employers: Get your job opening included in Zippy News by posting it in
NCFR's online Jobs Center! Get started here.
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No new job postings this week.
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