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• Submit Your Proposals for NCFR 2026
• Seeking Half-Day Workshop Proposals
• NCFR Election Results
• New Focus Groups
• Proposal Reviewers Needed |
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• Submit NCFR Grant Proposals
• New NCFR Research
• Calls for Papers
• Apply for FR Editorial Fellowship
• >> Job Opportunities << |
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2026 NCFR Annual Conference | Minneapolis | Nov. 18-21
Submit Your Proposals: Families at the Nexus of Law and Policy
Proposals Due by April 1, 2026
Bring your research, teaching, and practice to the forefront of how law and policy shape families—and how Family Science can shape law and policy in return. This year's theme is Families at the Nexus of Law and Policy: The Intended and Unintended Consequences of Legislating Families and Relationships. Read more.
New for 2026: Submit a proposal for a half-day workshop on Saturday at the conference. Learn more.
Don’t miss this opportunity to share your expertise, strengthen your professional leadership, and connect with colleagues across the transdisciplinary Family Science community.
Submit your proposals by April 1, 2026.
SUBMIT YOUR PROPOSALS |
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NCFR MEMBER OPPORTUNITIES |
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NCFR Awards and Recognition
It's Time for NCFR Award Nominations
Deadline May 22 for most awards
It is that time of year where you get a chance to nominate yourself, your students, colleagues, or mentors for an award from NCFR and/or its member groups!
NCFR awards recognize those who further the interests of NCFR, and exemplify the standards to which members aspire. Award recipients are distinguished colleagues who have dedicated themselves to working in the family field and have achieved outstanding accomplishments.
All award applications are now submitted through a secure online platform.
The application deadline for most awards is May 22, 2026.
NOMINATE OR APPLY |
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NCFR Grants
Submit Your Research Grant Proposals by April 1
NCFR grant submission period is now open!
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NCFR Olson Grant: Bridging Research, Theory, and Practice: $10,000 annual grant available to NCFR members working to creatively contribute to the discipline of Family Science by bridging research, theory, and practice in their work. Learn more.
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NCFR Darling Family Life Education Research Initiative Grant: $5,000 biennial grant available to NCFR members and Certified Family Life Educators with the purpose of integrating Family Science research into the practice of Family Life Education. Learn more.
Please note: Application for IRB approval must be submitted prior to submitting the grant application and match the project name. |
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NCFR Volunteers
Call for Conference Proposal Reviewers
Sign up by April 1
A large number of proposals is expected for this year's NCFR conference, and your involvement as proposal reviewer is paramount to ensure a high-quality program. All proposals will be blind-reviewed.
Serving as a proposal reviewer is a benefit of NCFR membership.
SIGN UP TO REVIEW
Not a member? Join or renew your membership and you too can partake in this volunteer opportunity. |
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POLICY |
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Join the NCFR Delegation in Washington, D.C.
Social Science Advocacy Day
March 23-24, 2026
Join NCFR for Social Science Advocacy Day 2026, hosted by the Consortium of Social Science Associations (COSSA). Current registration is $125/members and $50/students. Make sure to register now!
Unable to attend in person? Join us virtually! Meeting with your elected officials has just as much impact. Only you can provide real-world examples of how Family Science and Social Science informs policy, improves programs, and empowers and strengthens families and communities. Find out how you can participate from home here.
Already registered or plan on attending? Complete this webform so we can plan to gather as a group: COSSA NCFR Delegation. |
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NCFR MEMBER NEWS |
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Board and Governance
NCFR Announces 2026 Elected Officers
In February, the membership of the National Council on Family Relations voted to elect NCFR members who will serve in various leadership positions beginning in November 2026, following the annual conference.
Thank you to everyone who voted, and congratulations to these incoming elected officers.
VIEW ELECTION RESULTS |
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New Focus Group
Family-Centered Participatory Action Research Focus Group
A new focus group is available for NCFR members to share resources, make connections, and host discussions.
The Family-Centered Participatory Action Research (FCPAR) Focus Group brings together family scholars and practitioners to advance FCPAR, an approach that centers families as partners and knowledge holders in the research process.
LEARN MORE
Focus groups are free for NCFR members to join. To add or remove a focus group from your membership, log in at my.ncfr.org, click "Join Additional Focus Groups," then choose he check or uncheck the boxes for the focus groups you wish to join or leave, then save.
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UPCOMING EVENTS |
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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.
This webinar provides a comprehensive overview of the survey design process, blending literature with practical, real-world examples. Whether you’re new to surveys or seeking a refresher, this session equips you with actionable strategies to design surveys that deliver trustworthy insights on family life and inform policies affecting family well-being. By the end, you’ll have a clear roadmap for making informed design decisions that elevate the quality and impact of your research.
Approved for 1.0 hour of CFLE continuing education
REGISTER TO ATTEND
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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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NCFR JOURNALS |
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NCFR Journals
New Issue of JMF, Plus More New NCFR Journal Articles
Read 5 New Early-View Articles Published March 8–14
Catch up on the latest 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).
In addition to new early-view articles, the April issue of JMF is available online now, featuring research on financial and childcare resources, couple and family dynamics, and more.
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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NCFR Journals Apply for an Editorial Fellowship With Family Relations
Application Deadline: April 10, 2026
The editorial team of NCFR’s Family Relations: Interdisciplinary Journal of Applied Family Science is seeking three Editorial Fellows, with the objective of increasing participation in the editorial process for early-career professionals and those who have an interest in Family Science. Persons whose voices have historically been underrepresented are encouraged to apply.
Fellows will develop experience with and skills in manuscript review, editorial processes, and evaluation of translational implications of research, and will become familiar with Family Science research from around the world.
Apply by April 10, 2026. Successful candidates will be notified by mid-April/early May 2026. Fellowships will run from June 1, 2026, to May 31, 2027, with the possibility of extending into a second year.
LEARN MORE & APPLY
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CALLS FOR PAPERS |
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Call for Papers: Family Relations Special Section
Theme: Ukrainian Forced Migrants' Transnational Families
Submit letters of intent by April 30 for a 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."
The guest editors welcome submissions that offer one or more of the following:
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Problematizing perspectives that elaborate the specificities of UFMTFs
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Empirical perspectives on specific aspects of this target group
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Applicative perspectives offering practical, policy- and solution-oriented insights
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Co-research-based methodologies and/or work led by forced migrant researchers
For authors invited to submit a paper, manuscripts will be due Sept. 30.
SEE 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 Science
Edited 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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University of Rhode Island
The University of Rhode Island seeks a tenure-track Associate or Full Professor to serve as PhD Program Director in Health Sciences. This nine-month position emphasizes leadership, external research funding, and mentoring doctoral students. The successful candidate will advance interdisciplinary, applied research focused on child health, lifespan development, and family well-being. The department values teaching excellence, community engagement, and collaboration across health disciplines. Candidates must hold a PhD in a related field, demonstrate strong scholarship, and have experience working with diverse populations. Preferred qualifications include clinical licensure, graduate leadership experience, and interdisciplinary collaboration, particularly within healthcare or medical systems.
Location: Kingston, Rhode Island
Required Education: Doctorate
Application Deadline: Applications reviewed after April 4, 2026; open until filled
SEE FULL DETAILS |
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