Innovation is the creation of new objects or ideas - it is the process by which people introduce, re-think, adapt, surprise, generate, transform, and otherwise move some part of the world in a new direction. Innovation brings attention to human agency and creativity, and the importance of recognizing our capacity to think, act, and react beyond "the norm" or what is expected. The 2010 NCFR annual conference theme is "Families and Innovation." [See page for links to the conference program booklet; audio/video order form; program schedule; presentation downloads/handouts; and more]
Growing numbers of children in the United States experience multiple family living arrangements during childhood
September 29, 2010
A forthcoming issue of the Journal of Marriage and Family states that children today are less likely to be born into a "traditional" family structure, defined as two biological married parents. Growing numbers of children in the United States experience multiple family living arrangements during childhood. How these transitions affect the individual child's well-being needs to be fully addressed by researchers and policymakers alike. This article fully reviews the existing research from the past ten years on these topics in an effort to guide and inform current policy debates about the role of marriage in reducing poverty and improving child outcomes.
Ronald Sabatelli, Ph.D., Professor and Department Head, Human Development and Family Studies, University of Connecticut, and Editor, Family Relations: Interdisciplinary Journal of Applied Family Studies
The purpose of this essay is to offer advice on how to write for publication. Papers giving advice on how to write articles and how to succeed at publishing, in theory, reduce the anxieties that accompany the writing process. Advice provides information that, in turn, makes the writing process a little less intimidating.
In this issue of NCFR Report, we are going to underscore our logo’s tagline “catalyzing research, theory and practice” completely. Its authors are some of NCFR’s most respected researchers, including two of our journal editors. Research and theory will come alive as you read how other expert researchers have taken their studies and applied them to the media and public policy.
New research and practice information is added to the field continually. What are some of these innovations? In our Family Focus section, read about the newest thought about families and spirituality, biological influences, the transition to parenting and the impact of the latest information technologies.
How do family professionals find their career paths? Is it careful planning-or "luck?" What roles do mentors play? How can we combine a "family" career with our own family responsibilities? In this issue of NCFR Report, read how your colleagues have developed professionally-and how they've developed the profession.
Teasing out the issue of Social Class from other family demographics such as race, ethnicity, occupation, and geographic setting isn't easy. Annette Lareau, Stephen Marks and other scholars will get us started- And so "Class" begins now.
Once the research design is established, the data collected, and the proper calculations made, researchers must still ask, "What do these findings mean for real families in real situations? And what are the policy implications for government, business, and family-serving organizations?" In other words, "So what?" In this issue, we attempt to help researchers answer this question. We offer suggestions on how to present research findings to policymakers and engage students in policy discussions. We also explore the relationship between public policy and child care, child custody, single-mother families and other issues.
