|
Students taking a specific set of CHFD courses as part of the CFD General Emphasis may apply to the National Council on Family Relations (NCFR) upon graduation to become a Certified Family Life Educator. CLFEs work in a variety of settings in areas such as parenting education, marriage enrichment, adoption, youth development, sexuality education, divorce mediation, prevention programs, senior centers, care facilities, immigration and migrant services, youth and/or family ministry, family financial counseling, and public policy. Although many different types of professionals serve families, CFLEs have a unique role to play through their use of a system-based, prevention orientation that is based in an educational rather than a therapy approach.
Through courses taken at UGA, students will gain knowledge and skills in ten content areas specified by NCFR as critical to a family life perspective. This includes knowledge on "how families work; the inter-relationship of the family and society; human growth and development throughout the life span; both the physiological and psychological aspects of human sexuality; the impact of money and time management on daily life; the importance and value of education for parenting; the effects of policy and legislation on families; ethical considerations in professional conduct; and a solid understanding and knowledge of how to teach and/or develop curriculum for what are often sensitive and personal issues."
Following graduation, students submit to NCFR an application form, along with an official transcript and an application fee, in order to obtain Provisional CFLE status. After two years of community-based experience as a CFLE, you may apply for Full CFLE status. Once achieving Provisional Status, you will be linked through email, listservs, and professional development experiences to an international group of family educators who are committed to enhancing the well-being of individuals and families across the life span. Some CFLEs continue with graduate education to further enhance their knowledge and skills and/or to obtain specialized training in clinical areas, such as marriage and family therapy.
Students who complete the following courses as part of the CFD General Emphasis may apply to NCFR for CFLE certification following graduation:
Required Major Courses:
CHFD 2100 Development within the Family (3 hours)
CHFD 2950-2950L Introduction to Child Development (3 hours)
CHFD 3110 Professional Development and Community Activities (3 hours)
CHFD 3700 Adolescent and Young Adult Survey (3 hours)
CHFD 3710 Midlife/Elder Years Survey (3 hours)
CHFD 3920 Issues in Family Systems (3 hours)
CHFD 4860 Parent Education and Child Guidance (3 hours)
HACE 2100 Family Economic Environment (3 hours)
HACE 3200 Introduction to Personal Finance (3 hours)
(Students who have a choice of HACE 3100 or HACE 3200 should take HACE 3200)
CHFD Major Electives:
CHFD 3930 Development of Interpersonal Relationships (3 hours)
CHFD 4130 Family Policy (3 hours)
CHFD 4330 Diversity in Human Development and Family Systems (3 hours)
CHFD 4870 or PSYC 3260 Human Sexuality Across the Lifespan (3 hours)
CHFD 4880 Family Life Education Methodology (3 hours)
CHFD 5900 Pre-Internship Orientation (1 hour)
CHFD 5930 Internship in Child and Family Development (3-12 hours)
A Variety of Possible Settings
According to NCFR, here are just some of the settings in which family life education takes place:
Business, Consumer & Family Resources Services: Em ployee Assistance programs, Corporate Day Cares, Consumer Protection Agencies, Family Financial Counseling & Planning Agencies, Food Assistance Programs, Research positions.
Community-Based Social Services: Youth Development Programs, Adoption Agencies, Foster Care Programs, Teen Pregnancy Services, Welfare Assistance, Vocational Rehabilitation & Job Training, Adult Day Care, Gerontology and Long-Term Care Programs.
Early Childhood Education: Day Care Centers, Head Start Programs, Montessori Schools, Child Development Organizations.
Education: Public School Teaching in Family & Consumer Sciences with state licensure, University Teaching, Family Science Research, Family Life Education, Sexuality Education, Parenting Education, Marriage & Family Enrichment Programs, Curriculum Development.
Faith-Based Organizations: Ministry, Family Life Education, Parenting Education, Youth Programs.
Family Intervention: Individual & Family Therapy Support Services, Crisis & Hotline Services, Divorce Mediation, Abuse Protection Services, Drug & Alcohol Prevention Programs, Residential Treatment Programs.
Government & Public Policy: Family Policy Analysis, Child Welfare Advocacy, Cooperative Extension Specialist, Military Family Support Services, Departments of Child & Family Services.
Health Care & Family Wellness: Public Health Programs & Services, Hospital Based Family Support, Nutrition Education, Prenatal and Maternity Services, Holistic Health Centers, Long-Term Care Settings, Hospice Programs.
International Education & Development: International Family Policy, Peace Corps and NGO Leadership, Global Family Planning Programs, International Human Rights Advocacy, Immigration & Migrant Families Services.
Research: Grant Proposal Writing, Academic and Government Research in Family Science, Population Studies & Demographic Research, Community-Based Research for Non-Profit Family Agencies, Program Evaluation & Assessment.
Writing & Communication: Curriculum & Resource Development in Family Life Education, Media and Technology Settings, Newspaper & Magazine Writing.
|
Certified Family Life Educator Track 
