1. CFLE Is It For Me?

2. Certification for Family Life Educators National Council on Family Relations (NCFR) sponsors the only program to certify family life educators.

3. Family Life Education Defined FAMILY LIFE EDUCATION has as its primary purpose to help individuals and families learn about human growth, development, and behavior in the family setting and throughout the life cycle. Learning experiences are aimed at developing the potential of individuals in their present and future roles as family members. The core concept is relationships, through which personality develops, about which individuals make decisions to which they are committed, and in which they develop self-esteem. Family Life Coordinator, 1968

4. Family Life Education Content Areas

5. 10 Family Life Content Areas Families in Society Internal Dynamics of Families Human Growth & Development over the Life Span Human Sexuality Interpersonal Relationships Family Resource Management Parent Education and Guidance Family Law & Public Policy Professional Ethics Family Life Education Methodology

6. 1. Families in Society Marital choice Cross-cultural and minority families Kinship Changing gender roles Demographic trends Historical issues Work-family relationships Societal relations Structures and functions Cultural variations Dating Courtship

7. 2. Internal Dynamics of Families Internal social processes Communication Conflict management Normal family stresses Family crises Special needs in families

8. 3.Human Development over the Life Span Prenatal Infancy Early and middle childhood Adolescence Adulthood Aging

9. 4. Human Sexuality Reproductive physiology Biological determinants Aspects of sexual involvement Sexual behaviors Sexual values and decision-making Family planning Sexual response Sexual dysfunction Influence on relationships

10. 5. Interpersonal Relationships Self and others Communication skills Intimacy Love Romance Relating to others

11. 6. Family Resource Management Goal-setting & decision-making Development & allocation of resources Social environment influences Life cycle and family structure influences Consumer issues and decisions

12. 7.Parent Education and Guidance Parenting rights and responsibilities Parenting practices/processes Parent-child relationships Variation in parenting solutions Changing parenting roles over the life cycle

13. 8. Family Law and Public Policy Family and the law Family and social services Family and education Family and the economy Family and religion Policy and the family

14. 9. Professional Ethics Ethics of Professional Practice Formation of values Diversity of values in pluralistic society Examining ideologies Social consequences of value choices Ethics and technological change

15. 10. Family Life Education Methodology Planning and implementing Evaluation Education techniques Sensitivity to others Sensitivity to community concern

16. Careers Opportunities In Family Life Education

17. Family life educators work with individuals and families in varying capacities. They have specific training in family systems and development that enables them to bring a family perspective to their chosen career, regardless of the employment sector.

18. FLE Employment Settings State, federal, & local government Nonprofit and for-profit organizations Social services Health promotion Military family support Parenting education Faith communities University and colleges Extension Entrepreneur Counseling Communication Business Education

19. FLE Employment Venues Practice- teaching, education, program or curricula development, Administration - leadership or management, organizing, coordinating, and Promotion - public policy, lobbying, advocating for system change and awareness.

20. Benefits of Certification

21. Increases credibility as a professional by showing that the high standards and criteria needed to provide quality family life education have been met Validates experience and education Adds credibility to the field by defining standards and criteria needed to provide quality family life education

22. Benefits of Certification continued Recognizes the broad, comprehensive range of issues which constitutes family life education and expertise in the field Acknowledges the preventive focus of family life education Provides avenues for networking with other family life educators both locally and nationally

23. Benefits of Certification continued Quarterly newsletter, Network, and a Directory of Certified Family Life Educators Access to CFLE listserv Certification offers the opportunity to attend special CFLE meetings and events

24. Certification Regular Application Process Abbreviated Application Process

25. Academic Program Review Because NCFR has already approved your school’s course work in the 10 substance areas, the certification process saves you time and money!

26. Regular Application Process Portfolio Process Submission Deadlines each year: September 3 & March 3 $250 for NCFR members; $350 for non- members

27. Abbreviated Application Process Graduates of NCFR-approved academic programs can apply for provisional certification through an abbreviated application process. Each NCFR-approved program has a checklist of pre-approved courses. Graduates complete the checklist and submit it along with the application and an official transcript showing degree completion and the application fee

28. Abbreviated Application Process Checklist No submission deadline, apply anytime. $75 fee for NCFR members, $105 for non- members

29. Provisional Certification Provisional Certification is intended for applicants who have met the academic requirements of the CFLE designation. Provisional CFLE’s upgrade to Full certification status after they have completed 2 years of Family Life Education work experience.

30. Benefits of Abbreviated Process You save $$! It is less expensive and less time intensive to apply under the Abbreviated Process! No submission deadline; applications are accepted at any time Provisional CFLEs can upgrade to Full certification after earning two year’s experience in family life education

31. Step by Step Application Process

32. WWW.NCFR.ORG Congratulations! You have completed the first step to certification. You are attending an approved school. Access NCFR’s comprehensive website. Go to the CFLE section of the site. Go to Abbreviated Application Process Go to CFLE Abbreviated Application Letter and Form

33. WWW.NCFR.ORG Print the Abbreviated Application Letter and Form Go to NCFR Approved Academic Programs Scroll down the list of approved schools until you locate your school. Click on the checklist for your school. PRINT the checklist

34. It Pays to Plan Ahead... Consult the checklist as you plan your coursework within your major.

35. Graduation!! Submit: An Official Transcript A Completed Checklist The Application Fee

36. What about Substitutions? NCFR allows for TWO Substitutions Substitutions MUST cover required content area (e.g. Infant development is not an acceptable substitute for an aging class in Substance Area #3)

37. More about Substitutions Remember: When substituting classes, always submit the class syllabus and a brief description of how the class met the content area.

38. What if I Transferred Classes? NCFR accepts transferred classes from both approved and unapproved schools (e.g. If you took Human Sexuality at an unapproved school it probably covered the required content).

39. Avoid the Most Frequent Mistakes.. Submit an OFFICIAL TRANSCRIPT (not a copy) Official Transcript must show DEGREE COMPLETION. Substitute no more than 2 classes. Be sure they cover the required content area. Become an NCFR member (It saves you money)

40. Welcome On Behalf of NCFR Staff, all CFLE’s, and the general NCFR Membership, we Welcome YOU to your Professional Home.

41. Further Questions? Please feel free to contact Laura Eiklenborg at NCFR for any of your questions, concerns, or comments. Laura can be reached at laura@ncfr.org or toll-free at 888.781.9331

42. Thank You for Your Time and Attention NCFR Staff