1. National Council on Family Relations Family Life Education National Council on Family Relations

2. Once upon a time… There was a village built upon the edge of a river where the water churned roughly over the rocks.

3. National Council on Family Relations There were signs at the rivers edge warning of the danger, but people often ignored the signs & fell into the river. They either drowned or flowed downstream to a waterfall & were never seen again.

4. National Council on Family Relations The villagers came up with a plan. A net was put downstream to catch those who had fallen in the river. A full-time crew was hired to watch for villagers floating downstream, pull them from the river, dry them off, & get them to ambulances.

5. National Council on Family Relations A new hospital was built closer to the rivers edge. All these efforts increased the survival rate of the people who fell into the river, but many were still injured or drowned.

6. National Council on Family Relations A couple who moved to the village watched what was happening & asked if something more could be done to save them. (Collaboration) The villagers explained that they had developed a good system, & while they werent able to save everyone, things had improved.

7. National Council on Family Relations The couple decided to take matters into their own hands by… Helping to build a large fence along the rough part of the river (Prevention) Offering swimming lessons (Education)

8. National Council on Family Relations Speaking to villagers about the dangers of going into the river without a life jacket (Prevention & Education) Conducting classes to teach people how to maneuver their boats around the rocks (Prevention & Education)

9. National Council on Family Relations Soon… Fewer & fewer people were falling into the river & those who did were better able to help themselves out. FAMILY LIFE EDUCATION is about teaching the skills & knowledge needed to avoid falling into the river & about knowing how to help yourself if you do.

10. National Council on Family Relations What is Family Life Education (FLE)?

11. National Council on Family Relations Family Life Education Provides opportunities for individuals and families to enhance and improve their lives by providing the knowledge and skills needed for effective family living.

12. National Council on Family Relations Levels of Family Life Education Level 1 Minimal face-to- face contact Level 2 Information and Advice Level 3 Feelings and Support Level 4 Brief Focused Intervention Level 5 Family Therapy Adapted from: Doherty, W.J. (1995). Boundaries between parent and family education and family therapy: The levels of family involvement model. Family Relations, 44 (4) 353-358.

13. National Council on Family Relations Family Life Education is… Prevention Education Collaboration

14. National Council on Family Relations Operational Principles of FLE

15. National Council on Family Relations Prevention FLE is relevant to individuals and families throughout the life span because it focuses on prevention

16. National Council on Family Relations Education FLE takes an educational rather than therapeutic approach

17. National Council on Family Relations Collaboration FLE is based on the needs of individuals and their families through professionals and family members collaborating together –FLE is a multi-disciplinary area of study and is multi-professional in its practice –FLE programs are offered in many different settings –FLE presents and respects differing family values

18. National Council on Family Relations FLE Areas of Focus

19. National Council on Family Relations Individuals and Families in Societal Contexts Understanding families and their relationships to other institutions

20. National Council on Family Relations Internal Dynamics of Families Understanding family strengths and weaknesses and how family members relate to each other

21. National Council on Family Relations Human Growth & Development Over the Life Span Understanding the developmental changes of individuals in families throughout the life span

22. National Council on Family Relations Human Sexuality Understanding the physiological, psychological, & social aspects of sexual development throughout the lifespan

23. National Council on Family Relations Interpersonal Relationships Understanding of the development and maintenance of interpersonal relationships

24. National Council on Family Relations Family Resource Management Understanding the decisions individuals and families make about developing and allocating resources, including… ~ time ~ money and material assets ~ friends and neighbors ~ space

25. National Council on Family Relations Parent Education Understanding of how parents teach, guide, and influence children and adolescents

26. National Council on Family Relations Family Law & Public Policy Understanding of the legal definition of the family and laws which affect the status of the family

27. National Council on Family Relations Professional Ethics & Practice Understanding the character and quality of human social conduct and the ability to critically examine ethical questions and issues ?

28. National Council on Family Relations FLE Methodology Understanding the general philosophy and broad principles of family life education in conjunction with the ability to: ~plan ~implement ~evaluate educational programs

29. National Council on Family Relations Where do Family Life Educators Work?

30. National Council on Family Relations Human Services Parenting Education

31. National Council on Family Relations Faith Based Settings Caregiver & Long Term Care Programs

32. National Council on Family Relations Premarital & Marriage Education

33. National Council on Family Relations Schools & Educational Settings Family Law Settings

34. National Council on Family Relations Developing Curriculum Adoption Agencies

35. National Council on Family Relations Grant-Writing Non-profit Administration

36. National Council on Family Relations Public Policy Settings Medical Settings

37. National Council on Family Relations Emergency Preparedness

38. National Council on Family Relations

48. Why Hire a Certified Family Life Educator?

49. National Council on Family Relations Why Hire a Certified Family Life Educator? Training ~ Minimum Bachelors degree ~ Continuing education ~ Certification process Cost Effective ~Prevention focus ~Multi-modality approaches

50. National Council on Family Relations Ultimate Human Services Generalist Equipped to provide a variety of family science services to ever-changing family needs

51. National Council on Family Relations Certified Family Life Educators Teaching Families Changing Lives

52. National Council on Family Relations CFLE Advisory Board *PowerPoint subcommittee Kevin Allemagne Maryville Academy Sharon Ballard East Carolina University Jerica Berge* University of Minnesota Jeannie Buckner* The Family Expert Deborah Cashen Parenting Partnerships, Inc. Marty Covey* Spring Arbor University Carol Darling* Florida State University Susan Eitel TX Womans University Wm. Michael Fleming* University of Northern Iowa Kathy Steblea Childrens Services Council

53. National Council on Family Relations For more information on family life education and the Certified Family Life Educator designation, contact the NCFR office. NCFR - 3989 Central Avenue NE, #550 Minneapolis MN 55421 888-781-9331 www.ncfr.org