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Certified Family Life Education Program

The National Council on Family Relations (NCFR), the only national program to certify family life educators, has approved the Family Social Science undergraduate program at The University of Minnesota as meeting the Standards and Criteria required for the Provisional Certified Family Life Educator (CFLE) designation.

What is Family Life Education?
Family life education provides skills and knowledge to enrich individual and family life. It includes knowledge about how families work; the interrelationship of families and society; human growth and development throughout the life span; the physiological and psychological aspects of human sexuality; the impact of money and time management on daily family life; the importance and value of parent education; 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

Why Become a Certified Family Life Educator?
Certification recognizes a proven background and understanding in each of ten family life substance areas. While CFLEs may work specifically in one discipline, such as parent education or marriage enrichment, their understanding of the many areas that affect today's families enables them to be more effective in their efforts to educate and work with individuals and families. The Certified Family Life Educator designation recognizes the educational, preventative, and enriching nature of their work. CFLE certification requirements.

What are the Benefits of Certification?

For additional information contact:

William Joseph Goodman, Ph.D.
Senior Lecturer and Associate Professor
Department of Family Social Science
University of Minnesota
290 McNeal Hall
1985 Buford Avenue
St. Paul, Minnesota
612-625.1282 Office
612-612.4227 Fax



Family and Social Science: 290 McNeal Hall, 1985 Buford Avenue, St. Paul, MN 55108 Tel: 612-625-1900  Fax: 612-625-4227  E-mail:

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Last modified on January 19, 2011.