Professional Organizations

Membership in professional organizations can help support your work in marriage and family research and evaluation. Most organizations produce peer-reviewed journals with the most up-to-date findings and analysis. Additionally, several professional organizations also provide members with information in email listservs that publicize new journals, books, job opportunities, funding announcements and other resources. Finally, professional organization conferences are a great place to present and get feedback on your own research, learn about upcoming projects and papers and network with colleagues. This section of the website contains information on various American and International professional organizations that either focus on marriage and family research or have a large number of members that do. Additionally, we present information on professional evaluation organizations and membership organizations that focus on social and human policy and government.

National Council on Family Relations (NCFR)

NCFR provides an educational forum for family researchers, educators, and practitioners to share in the development and dissemination of knowledge about families and family relationships, establishes professional standards, and works to promote family well-being. NCFR publishes two scholarly journals: Journal of Marriage and Family and Family Relations Interdisciplinary Journal of Applied Family Studies. It sponsors an annual conference, administers the Certified Family Life Educator credential, and its family life curriculum is used by about 100 colleges and universities offering undergraduate and graduate degrees in family science.

American Evaluation Association (AEA)

AEA is an international professional association of evaluators devoted to the application and exploration of program evaluation, personnel evaluation, technology, and many other forms of evaluation. Evaluation involves assessing the strengths and weaknesses of programs, policies, personnel, products, and organizations to improve their effectiveness. AEA has approximately 5000 members representing all 50 states in the US as well as over 60 foreign countries. AEA conducts an annual conference and a summer institute. It also has an evaluator locater section on its Web site. AEA publishes two quarterly journals, New Directions in Evaluation and American Journal of Evaluation.

American Association of Marriage and Family Therapy (AAMFT)

AAMFT is the professional association for the field of marriage and family therapy, representing the interests of more than 24,000 marriage and family therapists throughout the United States, Canada and abroad. AAMFT facilitates research, theory development and education. It develops standards for graduate education and training, clinical supervision, professional ethics and the clinical practice of marriage and family therapy. AAMFT hosts an annual national training conference each fall as well as a week-long series of continuing education institutes in the summer and winter, and publishes the research journal Journal of Marital and Family Therapy.

American Psychological Association (APA)

APA is a scientific and professional organization that represents 148,000 psychologists in the United States. APA offers continuing education; establishes professional standards of ethics and conduct; and increases the field's knowledge of psychology through meetings, professional contacts, papers, discussions, and the publication of numerous journals.

Association for Public Policy Analysis and Management (APPAM)

APPAM was established to improve public policy and management by fostering excellence in research, analysis and education. APPAM conducts an annual multi-disciplinary research conference and publishes the Journal of Policy Analysis and Management.

National Association of Social Workers (NASW)

NASW is the largest membership organization of professional social workers in the world, with 150,000 members. NASW works to enhance the professional growth and development of its members, to create and maintain professional standards, and to advance sound social policies. It administers a credentialing program, offers continuing education, sponsors conferences, and publishes a number of journals related to social work practice.

Population Association of America (PAA)

PAA member are dedicated to studying populations and population change. Its members are often demographers, sociologies, economists and public health experts. PAA publishes the journal Demography, a series that focuses on three major activities within demography: birth, death and migration.

American Sociological Association (ASA)

ASA was founded in 1905 as a professional organization dedicated to developing sociology as a scientific discipline and furthering knowledge that can be used for the greater good. ASA publishes 10 journals that address methodology, theory, teaching sociology, health, social psychology and urban environments.

Society for Research in Child Development (SRCD)

SRCD has a membership of over 5,000 professionals. The society promotes the advancement of multidisciplinary research in human development and is active in social policy affecting children. SRCD publishes the journal Child Development and five other serial publications.

American Educational Research Association (AERA)

AERA's mission is to improve education and the educational process through scholarly research and evaluations and the wide dissemination of those findings. Its over 25,000 members are educators, sociologists, economists, behavioral scientists, evaluators, government employees and counselors. AERA publishes six journals including Educational Evaluation and Policy Analysis.