Update Sept. 14, 2016: NCFR has submitted comments in response to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics' decision not to add family life educator as a new occupation in its Standard Occupational Classification (SOC).

In NCFR's comments, we recommended that family life educator be included under several categories as an illustrative example of an occupation in those categories (as detailed below).

Your own comments in response to the recent decision should be submitted by Sept. 20, 2016, to [email protected], with the subject line "2018 SOC."

NCFR will respond — and encourages members and Certified Family Life Educators to respond — to the denial of our request to add family life educator as a new occupation in the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics' Standard Occupational Classification (SOC).

The committee that is revising the SOC advised that family life educator falls into other existing categories, and NCFR will recommend that family life educator be included under each of the categories as an illustrative example of an occupation in those categories.

Comments in response to the recent decision should be submitted by Sept. 20, 2016, to [email protected], with the subject line "2018 SOC."

Background

In July 2014, NCFR responded to a request for public comments to revise the SOC, the system that federal agencies use to classify workers to collect and disseminate employment data.

NCFR requested that family life educator be included as a new detailed occupation.

NCFR provided a report that included the nature of the work performed by family life educators; how the work performed is distinct from other detailed occupations in the SOC; job titles; indications of the number of jobs or workers in the occupation; types of employers; education and training; licensing information; tools and technologies; and professional and trade associations and unions for family life educators.

On July 22, 2016, the SOC Policy Committee (SOCPC) announced their recommendations for the 2018 SOC. The committee did not accept NCFR's recommendation:

Docket 1-0218 requested a new detailed occupation for Family Life Educator. The SOCPC did not accept this recommendation based on Classification Principle 2, which states that occupations are classified based on the work performed. "Family Life Educator" is a job title that can apply to workers who have a variety of different duties, working within a variety of settings. These individuals should be coded into existing SOC categories based on the work they perform. Specifically, they are likely to fall within the following SOC codes: 21-1091 Health Educators; 21-1093 Social and Human Services Assistants; 21-1099 Community and Social Services Specialists, All Other; and 25-9021 Farm and Home Management Advisers.

Again, NCFR will be responding to recommend the inclusion of the title family life educator as an illustrative example under each of the suggested SOC categories: 21-1091 Health Educators; 21-1093 Social and Human Services Assistants; 21-1099 Community and Social Services Specialists, All Other; and 25-9021 Farm and Home Management Advisers.

Individuals are invited to submit comments, as well. Send your comments by Sept. 20, 2016, to [email protected], with the subject line "2018 SOC."

Other Occupation Categories

Health Educators

Provide and manage health education programs that help individuals, families, and their communities maximize and maintain healthy lifestyles. Collect and analyze data to identify community needs prior to planning, implementing, monitoring, and evaluating programs designed to encourage healthy lifestyles, policies, and environments. May serve as resource to assist individuals, other health professionals, or the community, and may administer fiscal resources for health education programs. Excludes "Community Health Workers" (21-1094).

Social and Human Service Assistants

Assist in providing client services in a wide variety of fields, such as psychology, rehabilitation, or social work, including support for families. May assist clients in identifying and obtaining available benefits and social and community services. May assist social workers with developing, organizing, and conducting programs to prevent and resolve problems relevant to substance abuse, human relationships, rehabilitation, or dependent care. Excludes "Rehabilitation Counselors" (21-1015), "Psychiatric Technicians" (29-2053), "Personal Care Aides" (39-9021), and "Eligibility Interviewers, Government Programs" (43-4061).

Community and Social Service Specialists, All Other

All community and social service specialists not listed separately.

Farm and Home Management Educators

Instruct and advise individuals and families engaged in agriculture, agricultural-related processes, or home economics activities. Demonstrate procedures and apply research findings to advance agricultural and home management activities. May develop educational outreach programs. May instruct on either agricultural issues such as agricultural processes and train in techniques, pest management, and food safety, or on home management issues such as budgeting, nutrition, and child development, Excludes "Dietitians and Nutritionists" (29-1031).