About the National Council on Family Relations
The National Council on Family Relations (NCFR), founded in 1938, is the oldest nonprofit, nonpartisan, multidisciplinary professional association focused solely on family research, practice, and education.
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.
Revised Global Ends introduced in January 2025 describe the outcomes NCFR seeks to achieve. Because NCFR exists:
- Family Science will grow and thrive as a transdisciplinary field, advancing the work of researchers, educators, practitioners, and policymakers.
- The body of scientific knowledge about families will increase, be disseminated broadly, and be impactful.
- 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.
About NCFR Member Groups
NCFR members are dedicated to understanding and strengthening families. Our members come from more than 35 countries and all 50 U.S. states, and include scholars, professionals, and students in Family Science, Family Life Education, human development, marriage and family therapy, sociology, psychology, anthropology, social work, theology, child development, health, and more.
NCFR members work in research, college teaching and pedagogy, program development, Family Life Education, counseling, and human services.
NCFR members gather and convene through different groups as a benefit of their membership:
- Sections — 10 groups bring together members around specific family topics of interest
- Focus Groups — Smaller interest groups foster collaboration at a grassroots level
- Local Affiliates — State/regional and student affiliates, or chapters, give NCFR a local flavor
- Students and New Professionals (SNP) — The SNP group includes anyone who is an undergraduate or graduate student, or anyone within two years of last degree earned