The Center for Families

The Center for Families empowers all families to thrive in nurturing environments that meet their essential needs, reduce their exposures to risk, and enhance their individual and collective strength and resilience.

Our Approach…

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Discover

Promote the study of families from a multidisciplinary, life course perspective while also increasing the opportunity for new knowledge.

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Connect

Foster collaboration among academics, policymakers, and practitioners to identify where research about families is needed.

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Empower

   Identify high-quality family research from around the world, used to inform decisions that impact families.

LATEST RESEARCH AND NEWS

  • Image for 2026 Symposium on Family Caregiving in Later Life, focusing on caregiving for family members with Lewy Body Dementia. Sponsored by Purdue University's Center for Families and Center for Aging and Life Course, the event is scheduled for October 2, 8:00 am to 12:00 pm, both in STEW 214 A-D and via Zoom, featuring speaker Karen Fingerman, PhD.
    Realities of Family Caregiving in Later Life, CALC Symposium, Oct. 2
    What does it really take to care for aging family members? This fall, the CALC Symposium brings together keynote speaker Dr. Karen Fingerman with Purdue researchers Jill Suitor, Melissa Franks, and Nasreen Lalani to share findings on the challenges, dynamics, and support needs of family caregivers. Attendees will leave with research-backed perspectives on caregiving relationships across the life course, plus a closing panel discussion for deeper Q&A. Free and open to all, in-person or via Zoom. RSVP by Sept. 25.
  • graphic with Lauren Ema headshot. Welcome, Center for Families Faculty Partner: Lauren Ema, Nursing
    CFF Welcomes Lauren Ema as a Faculty Partner!
    The Center for Families is pleased to welcome Dr. Lauren Ema, Clinical Assistant Professor in the Purdue School of Nursing, as its newest Faculty Partner. Her research interests include pediatric health promotion, pediatric illness and injury prevention, lactation support for working families, and the healthcare of the young family. Read more…
  • What Shapes Sibling Closeness? New Findings on Latino/a Families
    Kimberly Updegraff – Sibling relationships are often a child’s first lessons in closeness and conflict, shaped deeply by family life. A new study followed Latino/a sibling pairs and their caregivers over time to explore how these bonds shift across middle childhood and into early adolescence. The findings show how parents’ warmth and conflict ripple into sibling relationships, with notable differences by gender and family immigration background. This research supports culturally responsive approaches to strengthening family life in Latino communities.
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CURRENT INITIATIVES

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Fellowship Lecture speaker Libby Richards at podium, the back's of two people's heads.
The Family Dinner Project dot Org logo
2026 Center for Families Funding Recipients
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Families, in all their diverse forms, are the foundation of society. No culture has been able to provide anything better than the family for producing strong individuals for the journey of life.

—Dr. Donald Felker, Dean of School of Consumer and Family Science, 1987-1992

150+ Faculty Members

have engaged in projects that have added to the creation & dissemination of new knowledge

Who are our Faculty Partners?

$750 Thousand+

of funding provided directly to support over 175 students, faculty, & educators & their research & programs

Read about funded research & programs

30 Years

of harnessing the power of faculty, staff, students, alumni, & friends to improve our quality of life

Learn about Center milestones

YOUR SUPPORT MAKES AN IMPACT

Every gift, no matter how large or small, makes it possible for the center to be involved in innovative initiatives that impact individuals and families.

GIVE NOW