CAES Newswire

 College of Agricultural & Environmental Sciences UGA Cooperative Extension
Menu
Published on 02/04/21

Futris conferred Fellow status by National Council on Family Relations

By Cal Powell

Ted Futris, professor of human development and family science in the UGA College of Family and Consumer Sciences and UGA Cooperative Extension family life specialist, has been named a Fellow of The National Council on Family Relations.

The NCFR confers Fellow status to living members on the basis of their outstanding contributions to the discipline of family science. Fellows are nominated by their peers and selected by the NCFR Fellows Committee.

“NCFR is one of the primary national professional organizations for HDFS, and Fellow status is a prestigious lifetime award,” said Noel Card, head of the FACS department of human development and family science. “Ted’s selection reflects the high quality of his work and brings important national visibility to our department.”

Futris researches couple and co-parenting relationships across various contexts to inform the development of educational programs and resources that promote healthy and stable families. He also evaluates the efficacy of family life programs to better understand educational practices that lead to healthy couple and family relationships.

“I’m deeply honored to be recognized by my peers with this rare and prestigious status,” said Futris, who is the 123rd NCFR member and only the fifth UGA faculty member in HDFS to have been awarded the NCFR Fellowship since its inception in 1998. “During my 20-year career, I have always been committed to translating research to practice, and working collaboratively with communities to promote family health and stability.”   

In October 2020, Futris and a team of faculty in FACS were awarded a five-year, $6.2 million grant from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services for a project that aims to enhance the relationship quality of over 2,200 Georgia couples.

The funding allows the team to expand on the success of the Fostering Relationship and Economic Enrichment Project, or Project F.R.E.E., that reached nearly 1,400 families involved in the child welfare system in northeast Georgia through a campus-community partnership initiative from 2015-20.

Futris’ work has received more than $27 million in federal and state grants. He received the NCFR’s Margaret E. Arcus Family Life Educator Award in 2018 along with co-recipient Francesca Adler-Baeder for their prolific scholarship and contributions to advancing resources and best practices in couples and relationship education.

The NCFR is the premier professional association for the multidisciplinary understanding of families. NCFR has a membership of nearly 3,000 family researchers, practitioners and educators. Fellow status is limited to no more than 3% of current membership. 

Jay A. Mancini, adjunct professor and former Haltiwanger Distinguished Professor in HDFS, who nominated Futris for Fellow status, described him as an applied family scientist “conducting research with the end in mind targeted to prevention and intervention,” and that his programmatic work “is timely, relevant, and adopted widely.”

Futris will be recognized as a new Fellow at the 2021 NCFR Annual Conference, scheduled for Nov. 3-6 in Baltimore, Maryland. Previous NCFR Fellows from UGA are Sharon Price (1999), Patricia Bell-Scott (2000), Don Bower (2002) and Lynda Walters (2008). Mancini was conferred a Fellow in 2002 during his tenure at Virginia Tech. A full list of Fellows is available here.

The NCFR press release can be viewed here.

Cal Powell is the director of communications for the University of Georgia College of Family and Consumer Sciences.

Authors:
Cal Powell
Experts/Sources:
Ted G. Futris
Ted Futris, professor of human development and family science in the UGA College of Family and Consumer Sciences and UGA Cooperative Extension family life specialist, has been named a Fellow of The National Council on Family Relations.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipisicing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua.
Download Image
The holiday season can be a time of anticipation and joy, but balancing multiple commitments and personalities across families and friends can be a source of stress for hosts and visitors alike. Like preparing parts of the meal ahead of time to spend more of the holiday with guests, taking time ahead of the day to set expectations can go a long way to ensuring enjoyable gatherings, said Ted Futris, University of Georgia Cooperative Extension specialist and professor of human development and family science in the College of Family and Consumer Sciences. CAES News
Manage holiday stress with kindness, boundaries 11/21/24 Maria M. Lameiras
The holiday season can be a time of anticipation and joy, but balancing multiple commitments and personalities across families and friends can be a source of stress for hosts and visitors alike. Much like preparing parts of the meal ahead of time allows you to spend more of the holiday with guests, setting expectations ahead of the celebration can go a long way to ensuring enjoyable gatherings, said Ted Futris, University of Georgia Cooperative Extension specialist and professor of human development and family science.
LiceCheck CAES News
A back-to-school guide to the nitty-gritty on head lice 08/12/24 Allison Johnson
As students return to school, head lice often become a common concern for administrators and parents. Understanding how to prevent and manage head lice infestations is crucial for maintaining healthy environments in schools and at home. Allison Johnson, the Pesticide Safety Education Program coordinator for the University of Georgia, provides essential information and advice to help mitigate the spread of this pesky pest.
For some students, heading back to school feels like entering a pressure cooker. Parents can ease anxieties by helping their students develop strategies for handling stressful situations. CAES News
Families should make a plan to manage back-to-school stress 07/29/24 Merritt Melancon
As summer draws to an end, both students and parents need to prepare for the return to school. While a new backpack and a collection of notebooks and pens might top their to-do list, students also need to prepare emotionally, said Diane Bales, a human development specialist for University of Georgia Cooperative Extension and a professor of human development and family science in the UGA College of Family and Consumer Sciences.
03 20 2024 Farm Stress Summit Allisen Penn and panel 048 CAES News
2024 Farm Stress Summit provides mental health resources for Georgia farm communities 03/25/24 Jordan Powers
As Georgia’s No. 1 industry, agriculture pumps billions of dollars into the state’s economy each year. While headlines often highlight Georgia’s commodities — peanuts, blueberries, poultry and more — one aspect of agriculture is often not discussed, the farmers themselves. At the 2024 Farm Stress Summit, held at the Chattahoochee Technical College Jasper campus, a few critical points were woven throughout each of the day’s sessions: The people are the most important part of Georgia’s agricultural industry, and the state needs to come together to help farmers and promote agricultural education and awareness.  
ELEVATE couple CAES News
UGA ELEVATE program strengthens relationships across Georgia 02/13/23 Amanda Budd
even after 14 years of marriage, there are always new opportunities to improve, according to Kiara and Rashad Baker. After a recommendation from a friend, the Bakers decided to attend the ELEVATE workshop in Clayton County to find new ways to communicate and connect.
The Georgia Capitol's Mental Health Day will include an update on rural mental health from UGA Extension Agent Jennifer Dunn. Mental health advocates will also have the opportunity to discuss their goals with Georgia lawmakers. CAES News
Mental Health Day at Georgia Capitol to highlight rural mental health 01/25/23 Amanda Budd
Mental Health Day at the Georgia State Capitol will be held from 8 a.m. to noon Tuesday, Jan. 31, to raise awareness of mental health issues and allow mental health advocates to share their insights with lawmakers. The event is an opportunity to increase awareness about mental health and health services, especially for those in rural areas, according to University of Georgia Cooperative Extension agent Jennifer Dunn.