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CFLEs—WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU! The “CFLE in the News” column is a great place to share your accomplishments and important work in Family Life Education with other CFLEs. Have you received a grant, promotion, or award? Have you recently implemented a new curriculum or created a new program? Do you have a Family Life Education success story you would like to share? Please send information to Dawn Cassidy at [email protected].

CFLEs as Authors

Cristina Prestin-Beard, M.S., CFLE, has written a book called Finding Mercy in the Madness. The book challenges readers to examine their behaviors choices, as well as the consequences, throughout their lifetime.

It studies the impact of labels and statistics and how they can alter our paths without our knowing. It is a work of self-reflection by the author that strongly encourages readers to do the same as they journey together. The book is self-published at www.findingmercyinthemadness.com.

Elizabeth Ramsey, Ph.D., CFLE, is coauthor with Melinda Swafford, Ph.D., of a new family and consumer sciences text published by Cognella. Family and Consumer Sciences: Preventative and Restorative Education prepares future educators to develop engaging lessons for their students using a variety of methodologies to address the ever-changing societal issues facing individuals and families.

The text recognizes that family and consumer sciences education works to improve the lives of individuals, families, and communities and is naturally preventative and restorative in nature.

CFLEs Kelly J. Welch, Ph.D., and Victor Harris, Ph.D., have coauthored a new book, Parenting Life Now, which will be available through Sage Publications in early 2023. With its conversational tone and blend of theory and application, the book offers an informative and practical introduction to the study of parenting, rearing, and educating children. The authors illustrate the ways in which parents and professionals who work with them—from teachers and health care providers, to therapists, sociologists, and childcare providers—can implement best practices to provide effective, quality education and care.

Bethany Willis, Ph.D., CFLE, is one of three recipients of the 2022 NCFR Olson Grant: Bridging Research, Theory, and Practice. The proposed study, “A Multimethod Approach to Understanding Transitions to Adoptive Parenthood” will test the theoretical model, published by Dr. Willis, that utilizes the lens of symbolic interactionism to capture the consideration and decision to adopt, the transition to adoptive parenthood, and post-adoption family adjustment over time. Now in its third year, this $10,000 annual grant is available to NCFR members working to contribute creatively to the discipline of Family Science by effectively uniting research, theory, and practice in their work. Congratulations Bethany!

Four Programs Renew Their CFLE-Approved Program Status

One graduate program and three undergraduate programs recently renewed their status as NCFR CFLE-approved programs. The graduate program was the Family and Child Studies program at the University of Central Oklahoma (UCO). The renewal of UCO’s undergraduate program in Human Development & Family Sciences was also approved. Other approved undergraduate programs include the Family Science and Social Work program at Miami University and the Child & Family Sciences undergraduate program at Abilene Christian University. There are currently 126 CFLE-approved programs. For a list of CFLE-approved programs visit NCFR’s Degree Programs Guide.