NCFR Guiding Principles
Vision:
Every Family Thriving
Preamble:
The National Council on Family Relations (NCFR) is a member-driven scholarly organization focused on catalyzing knowledge about families into action through research, education, practice, policy work and advocacy. NCFR’s vision of every family thriving is inclusive of all families, referring to the broadest possible definition of families. NCFR is committed to equity, inclusion, diversity, and social justice, and is working to cultivate and bring into dialogue a wide range of scholarly paradigms, epistemologies, values, beliefs, theories, methodologies, and practices. NCFR recognizes its social responsibility to democratize knowledge and expertise and to utilize and apply this knowledge to promote the well-being of all individuals and families, and especially those experiencing marginalization in the United States and around the world.
Mission:
NCFR’s mission is to ensure that researchers, educators, practitioners, and policymakers are positioned to promote the thriving of every family.
NCFR's Ends:
Thriving Transdisciplinary Field:
Because NCFR exists, Family Science will grow and thrive as a transdisciplinary field, advancing the work of researchers, educators, practitioners, and policymakers.
Scientific Knowledge and Its Application:
Because NCFR exists, the body of scientific knowledge about families will increase, be disseminated broadly, and be impactful.
Just Societies:
Because NCFR exists, socially just practices, policies, rules, and laws will ameliorate the marginalization of families and make it possible for every family to thrive throughout complex systems and societies.
Principles of Governance and Management:
NCFR will be governed and professionally managed in a fashion that increasingly advances its Ends in a manner that is financially sustainable for the organization and its members and appropriately manages risk.
- NCFR will be a high-performing organization that excels at listening to, partnering with and serving its members and other key stakeholders in achieving its ends.
- The health and growth of the field will be secured by the nurturance of a spirit and structure of NCFR which emphasizes collaboration, co-creation, open-mindedness and reflection.
- Inclusion, diversity, justice, equity and international perspectives will be imbued into all aspects of NCFR’s mission, governance, programming, and professional practices.
- NCFR will be seen and sought out as a key force promoting the influence and impact of its members and the transdisciplinary field of Family Science