by Yan Ruth Xia, rxia2@unl.edu; Rich Bischoff, John DeFrain, Marjorie Kostelnik, and Cody Hollist, on behalf of the working team of the Global Consortium for International Family Studies
Currently, the most common way to develop global competence is through experiential learning abroad, but this requires financial means that put these experiences out of reach for most students. Nevertheless, global competence is needed by all family professionals. To address this problem, the University of Nebraska–Lincoln, in collaboration with other universities in Australia, India, China, and Greece, have developed the Global Consortium for the International Family Studies, whose mission is to advance family studies worldwide through education, research, and international engagement.
The Encyclopedia of Family Studies will be published in print and online in 2015. The five-volume project takes an international and interdisciplinary approach to the large and growing field of family studies.
Family Life Now Census Update 2e explores the ways that family members and intimate partners interact, and examines how families adapt to stresses, changes, and everyday challenges. As products of our families of origins, who we are and who we become is influenced by our family lives, a central theme woven throughout the book.
NCFR 2012 is almost here! Before arriving in Phoenix, the FFS officers and the Alexis Walker Steering Committee would like to provide you with updates and highlight several exciting sessions at NCFR this year.
International Family Studies: Developing Curricula and Teaching Tools offers a collection of innovative ideas and resources for educators who wish to enhance the international content of their human development and family science curriculum. Contributors share their experiences of transforming department commitments, modifying existing and/or creating new courses, developing stimulating exercises and projects, capitalizing on existing faculty development programs to enhance educators’ own international understanding, partnering with universities overseas, and utilizing existing institutional structures to incorporate international study-abroad opportunities and internships for students. The book presents teaching tools and techniques, specific resources, and theoretical models for use in family studies, human development, and social science programs.
The June 2012 issue of the Journal of Family Theory & Review (JFTR) is an issue dedicated to articles on Qualitative Methodology, Theory, and Research in family studies.
In terms of research, GLBT families constitute a neglected segment of society. Gender and sexual orientation can make the issues in family studies even more difficult to work through. An Introduction to GLBT Family Studies tackles a challenging research topic by presenting noted experts. This groundbreaking text explores a wide range of unique problems faced by nontraditional families, as well as issues common to traditional families that need to be approached with a GLBT perspective.
