Family, Youth, and Community

Purpose

This major program is designed to prepare students intent on working in educational, social service, and ministry settings focused on the nurturing, support, and development of children, youth, and families.  All students that complete this major meet the academic requirements to be provisionally Certified Family Life Educators (CFLE) through the National Council on Family Relations. 

Objectives

The program objectives are aligned with the standards and criteria established by the National Council on Family Relations for the CFLE designation.  Students who successfully complete the Family, Youth & Community Major should be able to:

1. Demonstrate respect and understanding for individuals and families from a socio-ecological perspective taking into account economic, cultural, ethnic, and other social contexts which define, constrain, and support individual, family, and community development and functioning. 
2. Demonstrate an understanding that individuals are products of and contributors to flawed family systems with unique strengths, weaknesses, and internal dynamics.  Apply this understanding to practical ministry settings geared to strengthening relationships, families, and communities.
3. Demonstrate awareness of and adaptability to the developmental changes of individuals in families throughout the life span based on knowledge of physical, emotional, cognitive, social, moral, spiritual, and personality aspects.
4. Demonstrate an understanding of human sexuality from a holistic perspective, including the physiological, psychological, & social aspects of sexual development throughout the life span.  Apply this understanding to practical ministry settings focused on youth, marriage, and family relationships.
5. Demonstrate the nurturing, development, and maintenance of interpersonal relationships on an individual, small group, and community level.
6. Demonstrate an understanding of the short, medium, and long term decisions individuals and families make regarding the development, allocation, and management of resources including time, money, material assets, energy, friends, neighbors, and space.
7. Demonstrate an understanding of the complexities of parenting and parent education; from how individual parents teach, guide and influence children and adolescents to how parenting influences and is influenced by other socio-cultural institutions like the media, churches, schools, and extended family. 
8. Demonstrate an understanding of the social policies and judiciary processes that both impact families and are impacted by families in broader community, national, and global contexts.
9. Demonstrate the character and quality of a critically reflective practitioner who regularly examines ethical questions and issues as they relate to practical ministry with families, youth, and communities.
10. Show proficiency in the educational philosophy, methodology, and broad principles of family life education and demonstrate the ability to plan, implement, and evaluate such educational programs.