The Center for Families
The Center for Families harnesses the power of faculty, staff, students, alumni, and friends to improve our quality of life. We increase and enhance collaboration among academic disciplines, professionals, policymakers, corporations, and community organizations to build a better world for all families.
How we bring about change focused on families . . .
Opportunity
Promote the study of families from a multidisciplinary, life course perspective while also increasing the opportunity for new knowledge.
Collaboration
Foster collaboration among academics, policymakers, and practitioners to identify where research about families is needed.
Recognition
Identify high-quality family research from around the world, used to inform decisions that impact families.
LATEST RESEARCH AND NEWS
- Now Accepting Applications: 2026 Center for Families Funding Program
Each year, the Center for Families’ offers funding opportunities that encourage collaborative, multi-disciplinary work focused on families across the life - CFF welcomes Laura Elenbaas as a faculty partner!
Laura Elenbaas joins CFF as an Assistant Professor of Human Development and Family Science. Research interests include moral development, social identities, social cognition, and peer relationships. - MFRI announces The Thompson – An evolution and expansion the annual research award
The Thompson is a national initiative that recognizes and amplifies the most impactful research on military and veteran families. It is a dynamic platform designed to elevate outstanding research and ensure that evidence-based insights reach practitioners working with military and veteran families. An evolution and expansion of MFRI’s annual research award, The Thompson brings together several key initiatives under one name.
CURRENT INITIATIVES
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 and dissemination of new knowledge
Who are our Faculty Partners?$700 Thousand+
of funding provided directly to support over 150 students and faculty and their research
Read about funded research30 Years
of harnessing the power of faculty, staff, students, alumni, and friends to improve our quality of life
Learn about Center milestonesYOUR 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.
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