National Council on Family Relations

The National Council on Family Relations (NCFR) provides a 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.

What NCFR does:
Publishes two scholarly journals - Journal of Marriage and Family and Family Relations - plus books, audio/video tapes, and learning tools.
Sponsors an Annual Conference of juried cutting-edge research papers, methods, and practices including research updates for practitioners sessions, and awards for research and services conducted in the family field.
Promotes family life education, sets criteria and guidelines for family life education curriculum, develops other family life education publications and products, and certified family life educators.
Fosters dialogue among family professionals through interaction at the Annual Conference, state/regional Affiliate Councils, special interest Sections, and Focus Groups. Networking and collaboration are actively pursued by NCFR members via the newsletter REPORT internet, list

servs, discussion forums, task forces and committees.

For more information check out the NCFR website.

American Association of Family and Consumer Sciences

The American Association of Family & Consumer Sciences (AAFCS) is the only national forum where K-12 teachers, university educators and corporate executives collaborate to improve the quality of individual and family life. The AAFCS has over 10,000 professional members who educate and influence generations of American consumers in  classrooms, companies, and communities.

For more information check out the AAFCS website.

The International Textile & Apparel Association, Inc.
http://www.itaaonline.org/

The ITAA is a professional, educational association composed of scholars, educators, and students in the textile, apparel, and merchandising disciplines in higher education. ITAA welcomes professionals employed in those fields who wish to join with members of the Association in the pursuit of knowledge, interchange of ideas, and dissemination of knowledge through meetings, special events, and publications.

ITAA advances excellence in research, theory development, education, creative work, and their applications in the global textiles and apparel field.

When you join ITAA, you are joining an established network of scholars with common interests and concerns. Annual meetings provide opportunities to -   

• report on and learn about new developments and research in textiles, apparel, retailing, and related areas;
• report on and learn about new teaching techniques and methodologies;
• compete in international textile and apparel design competitions and exhibitions;
• compete for grants, fellowships, and scholarships;
•  meet and interact with textile and apparel leaders in academia, industry, and government;
• explore common interests and problems with persons from diverse institutional environments;

introduce students to professional association activities.

All of our current Textiles, Merchandising, and Design full-time faculty are members of ITAA.
 

The Interior Design Educators Council, Inc.
http://www.idec.org/

The Interior Design Educators Council, Inc. (IDEC) was founded in 1963 and is dedicated to the advancement of education and research in interior design. IDEC fosters exchange of information, improvement of educational standards, and development of the body of knowledge relative to the quality of life and human performance in the interior environment.

IDEC concentrates on the establishment and strengthening of lines of communication among individual educators, practitioners, educational institutions, and organizations concerned with interior design education.

IDEC members are interior design educators, practitioners, researchers, scholars, and administrators in institutions of higher education. Membership is also offered to individuals who are interested in interior design education and the activities of IDEC.