The Mid-Atlantic

Council on Family Relations

Welcome to the Mid-Atlantic Council on Family Relations - formally known as the Pennsylvania/Delaware Council on Family Relations – (MACFR). We are a regional affiliate of the National Council on Family Relations [NCFR].  Our membership includes family professionals in Pennsylvania, Delaware, and Maryland.

Our Purpose :

• To plan and act together on concerns relevant to all forms of marriage and family relationships
• To promote and coordinate educational efforts to help and strengthen families
• To encourage research and dissemination of information on family issues 
• To further effective social action promoting strong, diverse and vibrant families

For more information about the MACFR, contact our President,

MACFR Activities & Programs :

Annual Conference – MACFR hosts a day-long conference in the fall with speakers and workshops focused on a specific theme. For information, go to: http://www.messiah.edu/departments/family/resources/BSF2005/pdf/2006_call.pdf

The Mid-Atlantic Council on Family Relations and supporting universities and agencies are sponsoring this conference for the purpose of:

• Recognizing the critical role of families
• Encouraging research and dissemination of information about families
• Fostering dialogue among family professionals and educators
• Promoting family life education

Proposals for hour-long workshops may include descriptions of successful programs, research findings, curriculum, panel discussions, participation exercises, or other creative formats.  We expect the program to be interactive for participants.  Proposal Guidelines:

Page 1: Title page listing:    

Title of the presentation
Name(s) of the presenter(s)
Affiliation to an agency or institution
Complete mailing address, daytime telephone number, and e-mail

Page 2: One page abstract of the presentation to include:

a)      Title of the presentation
b)      Objectives of the presentation
c)      Overview of workshop content
d)      Proposed method of presentation (e.g. discussion, lecture)
e)      How the presentation relates to the theme
f)       Type of equipment needed (overhead projector, TV/VCR, easel, etc.)

Page 3: Brief biographical sketch of the presenter(s).

Previous P/DCFR and MACFR conference topics:

1995 - Rebuilding Families After Divorce
1996 - Relationships Among Those Over 50
1997 - Healthy Families: A Challenge for the year 2000
1998 - Evaluating the Effectiveness of Family and Community-based Program 
1999 - Men in Families
2000 - Raising Healthy Children in a Diverse  Society
2001 - The Power of Positive Expectations: Schools, Families, and Communities 
2002 - Intergenerational Issues in Families
2003 - Creating Healthy Families: A Toolbox
2004 – International Year of the Family
2005 - Families in Transition

Awards :

The Distinguished Service to Families Award is given in recognition of individuals who have made an outstanding contribution (vocational or avocational) to the cause of family life. The award is given at the state level and makes nominations for the NCFR national awards when appropriate.

Student Support :

MACFR provides various opportunities for student involvement. Students may attend career workshops as well as the annual conference and local meetings. Conference fees are reduced for students and awards for the outstanding student posters/papers are given at the conferences.

Newsletter :

MACFR publishes a periodic newsletter which includes a listing of family-related conferences and programs, updates on resources and new programs, book reviews and more. 

MACFR Board of Directors

Larry Forthun, Acting President
Penn State University, DuBois
lff3@psu.edu

Jacqueline Schwab, President Emeritus
Penn State, Mont Alto
sen@psu.edu

Jane Landis, Secretary
Penn State University Cooperative Extension
jam37@psu.edu

Stephen Brown, Treasurer
Mansfield University
sbrown@mnsfld.edu

Debra Berke, Delaware Representative
Messiah College
dberke@messiah.edu

Kay Packer, Legislative Liaison
Harrisburg, PA
kpacker@panetwork.com

William Rose, Maryland Representative
Villa Julie College
f-rose@mail.vjc.edu

Cynthia Drenovsky, Member-at-Large
Shippensburg University
ckdren@ship.edu

Denise Anderson, Member-at-Large
Shippensburg University   
dland@ship.edu

Raeann Hamon, Member-at-Large
Messiah College  
rhamon@messiah.edu

Membership

All members of the National Council on Family Relations from the states, Pennsylvania, Delaware, and Maryland are automatic members of their regional affiliate

If you are not a member of NCFR and you would like to become a member of MACFR, contact:

Stephen Brown
80 Vosburg Street
Mansfield, PA 16933