MINNEAPOLIS — The National Council on Family Relations and its Board of Directors are pleased to announce the two recipient projects of the organization's first Innovation Grants program, each of which will receive a $10,000 research grant. The recipients will report on their research at the 2014 NCFR Annual Conference, scheduled for Nov. 19-22 in Baltimore, Maryland.

The 2013-14 NCFR Innovation Grant recipients, chosen from 26 submitted projects, are:

"The Role of Family Relationships in Adherence to Supplemental Oxygen Therapy"

Kristen Holm, Ph.D., MPH - Principal Investigator
Mark Aloia, Ph.D.; Katherine Sterba, Ph.D., MPH; Jeffrey Swigris, DO, MS; Frederick Wamboldt, MD

This project will examine how families influence adherence to medical therapy, specifically in regards to individuals who are prescribed supplemental oxygen for chronic lung disease.

Drs. Holm, Aloia, Swigris and Wamboldt are affiliated with National Jewish Health in Denver, Colorado. National Jewish Health was named the best respiratory hospital in the United States by U.S. News & World Report for 15 consecutive years. Dr. Sterba is affiliated with the Medical University of Southern Carolina in Charleston, South Carolina.

"Effects of Daily Stress on Same-Sex Relationships: Understanding Vulnerabilities, Resilience, and Dyadic Coping"

Casey J. Totenhagen, Ph.D. - Principal Investigator, and Ashley K. Randall, Ph.D. - Principal Investigator

This project will examine how vulnerabilities such as outness and internalized homophobia affect experiences of stress for same-sex couples, how common and gay-related stress affects relational functioning, and how coping with stress together ameliorates negative effects.

Dr. Totenhagen is affiliated with the University of Alabama's College of Human Environmental Sciences in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. Dr. Randall is affiliated with Arizona State University's School of Letters and Sciences in Tempe, Arizona.

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The NCFR Board spearheaded this exciting new initiative — aimed at highlighting the interdisciplinary and translational research and practice that the organization is known for — for 2013-14. It builds on NCFR's rich heritage and ongoing commitment to promoting innovative interdisciplinary approaches to theory, research, and practice to support the well-being of families. The grant initiative is an investment in innovative interdisciplinary approaches to facilitating the NCFR Global Ends, including:

• providing opportunities for professional development and knowledge development in family research, theory, policy, education, and practice
• supporting the dissemination and application of research and theory based information about family well-being and
• establishing standards for research, education, and practice by advocating for the development and advancement of the profession.

The NCFR Board will be accepting proposals for the 2014-15 round of NCFR Innovation Grants in the near future.