by Sharon M. Ballard, Ph.D., FLE & Alan C. Taylor, Ph.D., CFLE
Family life education is relevant across the lifespan, is inclusive of all types of families, and is designed to meet the needs of the target audience. However, given the diversity of families, it is often difficult to determine the true needs of an audience and many audiences may be hard to reach. Therefore, we advocate for the need for evidence-based practices, which often are called best practices.
This second edition of Black Fathers built upon and continued the tradition of the first edition by looking into the soul of Black America and seeing the integral role that the Black father plays.
Reviewed by Professor Richard Glotzer, Ph.D., CFLE
Sociologists George Yancey and Richard Lewis remind readers that the American context is evolving both demographically and interpersonally. Interracial Families explores attraction, dating and family formation in an emerging environment that is less socially bounded and retaliatory about personal choices than even in the recent past.
Chaos and Its Influence on Children’s Development: AnEcological Perspective, is one in a series of books sponsored by the American Psychological Association to showcase important topics in psychology. This text provides an interdisciplinary perspective on how chaotic environmental settings influence human development from infancy through adolescence.
I Want to Make Friends combines a children’s picture book story with a focused parenting manual for guiding social skill development in young children ages 3-6. The story is engaging for the young child and teaches both the child and parent about effective strategies for interacting with peers and forming friendships. It is a good example of a children’s book that addresses both the child and adult audience and their different needs.
A thorough compendium of writings on the topic of sexuality, the third edition of Speaking of Sexuality is meant to serve as a thought-provoking conversation-starter for the sexuality education classroom.
by Deborah Gentry, Ed.D., CFLE, NCFR Academic Program Liaison
In keeping with the theme of multiculturalism for this issue of the newsletter, I have chosen the CFLE Content Area 1 – Families and Individuals in Societal Contexts as a focus for this column. Several recent happenings in my life have reinforced my high regard for the importance of this Content Area and its objectives.
by Dawn Cassidy, M.Ed., CFLE, Director of Education
National Council on Family Relations (NCFR) has been actively involved in events and activities that promote and support the profession of family life education. In addition to hosting our first webinar, we sponsored the Family Life Education Month Contest and held a special session focused on family life education and the Affordable Care Act at the NCFR conference.
Each year we recognize a Certified Family Life Educator (CFLE) who has made an impact on the Certified Family Life Educator program, whether through long-term, ongoing efforts or through involvement in a specific event or activity that has helped to increase awareness and understanding of the CFLE designation and the practice of family life education.
Recently, I sat with my family watching the televised presentation of the London Summer Olympics. We were interrupted with breaking news from a Milwaukee, Wisconsin suburb where a shooting took place during worship at a Sikh temple. While there have been many days I have wondered if my chosen path makes a difference in the world – yesterday I realized just how important pluralistic education is to our families, our communities, and our nation. In stunned silence my husband, two children and I watched the tragedy unfold.
As a Certified Family Life Educator and as a practicing Muslim woman, I have had the opportunity to reflect about diversity, be it within Islam or in the broader context of working in family education.
On November 1, 12 participants, 28 audience members and 2 Skypers participated in a Focused Dialogue, Parenting and Family Life Education and the Affordable Care Act.
