Monica B. King

What is Human Development and Family Studies (HDFS)?

Human Development and Family Studies is a multidisciplinary subject area based on research and theory from the fields of anthropology, psychology, sociology, public policy, and education. (1)
Human Development and Family Studies is the scientific study of lifespan development and familial and social relationships. (2)
The HDFS program at Winthrop University is designed to prepare graduates for career opportunities in community-based social services; early childhood education; family intervention; health care and wellness including working with an aging population; faith-based organizations; government and public policy; international education and development; business, consumer, and family resource services; and research, writing and communication.

Family Science is the scientific study of families and close interpersonal relationships. A unique combination of characteristics makes up the Family Science lens, establishing Family Science as a distinct social science discipline and knowledge base for professional practice:

Family Science focuses on relationships and interactions among family members. It uses a systems perspective, which means it considers families and family relationships within broader societal systems. Family Scientists understand what healthy relationships look like across a diversity of families, and they have a sophisticated understanding of family dynamics across the lifespan.
Family Science is focused on families’ strengths and on how families can build on their strengths to be sustainable and self-sufficient.
The Family Science perspective applies knowledge about healthy family functioning to help prevent problems before they occur.
The findings of Family Science research are meant to be translational, meaning applied in real life to help strengthen families.
The Family Science knowledge applied in teaching and practice comes from rigorous scientific research. Family Scientists use multiple methods to gather evidence and conduct research, and Family Science has its own distinct methodologies and theories.

Those who conduct research in Family Science use the scientific method, just as other sciences do, by asking research questions, collecting and analyzing data, and looking at the results to better understand families and family relationships.

What is Family Life Education?

Family Life Education is the professional practice of equipping and empowering family members to develop knowledge and skills that enhance well-being and strengthen interpersonal relationships through an educational, preventive, and strengths-based approach. The skills and knowledge needed for healthy family functioning are widely known:

strong communication skills
knowledge of typical human development
good decision-making skills, positive self-esteem
healthy interpersonal relationships

The goal of Family Life Education is to teach these skill and knowledge areas to family members across the lifespan, and foster positive individual and family development so families can function optimally.

What is the difference between Family Life Education, Family Therapy, and Family Case Management?

Family Life Educators, Family Therapists, and Family Case Managers all share a vision of healthy and strong families. The differences lie in their intermediate goals, methods, and approaches:

Family Life Educators concentrate on increasing knowledge and skills by providing information, tools, and strategies. The goal is to motivate and equip families to improve their lives and their functioning.
Family Therapists, in contrast, attempt to ameliorate problems, which may be individual or relationship based, but the purpose of therapy is to correct a condition that is keeping families and individuals from functioning optimally.
Family Case Managers also work with families who are facing problems, but the goal is helping families to negotiate and comply with systems and supports. Professionals using case management models focus on ﬁxing situations more than people, but they do assume that there is a problem to be addressed.

Myers-Walls, J.A., Ballard, S.M., Darling, C.A. and Myers-Bowman, K.S. (2011), Reconceptualizing the Domain and Boundaries of Family Life Education. Family Relations, 60: 357-372. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1741-3729.2011.00659.x

What is the difference between HDFS, social work, psychology, and counseling?

Human Development and Family Studies is a multidisciplinary subject area based on research and theory from the fields of anthropology, psychology, sociology, public policy, and education. (1)
Human Development and Family Studies is the scientific study of lifespan development and familial and social relationships. Psychology focuses primarily on the study of individuals, and Social Work involves the application of addressing social issues within communities. (2)
Counselors provide therapeutic services to their clients, while social workers have a broader role that includes guiding clients to services to improve their quality of life. (3)

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