Fall Term 2025
Embedded Files
Child, Youth, and Family Studies Major: A Multidisciplinary Education
2025-2026
Welcome Family Studies and Human Services Students
Welcome back CYFS! I am looking forward to another year with those who are returning to PSU, as well as those who are new to PSU. Please stop by and say hello, my office is located in ASRC on the 6th floor 620J or via email jpursley@pdx.edu. The CYFS Program will be kicking off activities and meet-and-greets during the new University "Community Time" this fall, more information to come.
This year marks the start of my 22nd year as faculty at PSU and in the CYFS Program. There have been a lot of changes at PSU in 22 years, but one consistency is our amazing students. The past two years I have served as the Program Director of CYFS and I look forward to another year of working with all of you through whatever comes our way!
This year also marks an exciting milestone—our program now includes two undergraduate majors: Child, Youth, and Family Studies (CYFS) and Human Services (HS), which together make up the Family Studies and Human Services Program.
Thank you for choosing CYFS and choosing a career pathway that gets you out there supporting people and communities! Looking forward to another academic year!
Jana Pursley (Meinhold)
Program Director Office Hours: by appointment
The Certified Family Life Educator (CFLE) credential has achieved significant recognition by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and Office of Head Start. The CFLE credential is awarded by the National Council on Family Relations (NCFR) and is recognized across the U.S. and Canada for its excellence in Family Life Education. Excitingly, the Child, Youth, and Family Studies (CYFS) program at Portland State University is a CFLE-Approved Program. This approval means that our graduates are well-prepared to meet the rigorous standards required for the CFLE credential, further solidifying our commitment to excellence in Family Life Education.
Our picks for FALL term courses:
Our picks for FALL term courses:
CFS 494, CRN: 10490; WIC PROF SELF: CRITICAL THINKING
CFS 489, CRN: 10487; ACTIVISM FOR SOCIAL CHANGE
CFS 410, CRN: 13810; TOP: FOSTER CARE TO ADOPTION
CFS 440, CRN: 10482; CRITICAL YOUTH STUDIES
CFS 496, CRN: 10491; WIC: PROF SELF: INTEGRATION
CFS 492, CRN: 10488, FAMILY LAW AND POLICY
CFS386U, CRN: 10477 YOUTH SEXUAL HEALTH EDUCATION
CFS310, CRN: 10466; CRIT HISTORY CYFS: GEN/RACE/CLASS
CFS 494, CRN: 10490; WIC PROF SELF: CRITICAL THINKING
Students will begin the process of documenting their achievement of the first CFS Learning Outcome as they establish the foundation of the CFS Professional Portfolio. The history and development of female-intensive professions, professionalization, ethical decision-making, and the creation and use of theoretical knowledge will also be a focus.
CFS 489, CRN: 10487; ACTIVISM FOR SOCIAL CHANGE
This course prepares students for activism in professional settings serving children, youth, and families. Building on CFS 487 and CFS 488, students will study social change and activism. They will research a social injustice, conceptualize and carry out a social change action, and reflect on lessons learned for their activism.
CFS 410, CRN: 13810; TOP: FOSTER CARE TO ADOPTION
this course will focus on child welfare system in Oregon, the complexities of the adoption process (both from policy and personal perspectives), the impacts of trauma on children involved with the child welfare system (developmental trauma), cultural considerations and implications, and supporting families who adopt through the foster care system.
CFS 440, CRN: 10482; CRITICAL YOUTH STUDIES
Drawing on fields including history, sociology, education, literature, religion, politics, psychology, economics, cultural studies, and more, Youth Studies examines the development, history, and meaning of youth as a social construct. Critical Youth Studies adds to this analysis the consideration of power as it shapes the construction and experience of youth. Post-structuralism, discourse, the sociological imagination, critical race theory, queer theory, and critical feminisms ground this analysis. Practical implications for education and human services are explored.
CFS 496, CRN: 10491; WIC: PROF SELF: INTEGRATION
Students will complete their CFS Professional Portfolio as they document their achievement of the final CFS Learning Outcomes. They will consider the relationship between person and professional ethical decisions, the role of change agents in society, and attend a professional organization meeting.
CFS 492, CRN: 10488, FAMILY LAW AND POLICY
Laws and policies that influence the well-being of families, youth, and children will be examined from a historical, socio-political perspective. Analysis of contextual influences and community based learning experience will assist students in practical applications related to professional roles.
CFS386U, CRN: 10477 YOUTH SEXUAL HEALTH EDUCATION
Explores the demands, parameters and possibilities of healthy relationship and sexuality education (HRSE) for youth. Together we will wrestle with what has come before and imagine what could be, focusing on the strengths and voices of people who are currently and historically pushed to the margins, and exploring what youth tell us they want and need. Through active participation, students can gain ‘best practices’ foundational skills and understanding of equitable methods for facilitating group HRSE lessons.
CFS310, CRN: 10466; CRIT HISTORY CYFS: GEN/RACE/CLASS
This course provides a space for critical reflection on the nature of power in professions serving children, youth, and families. Students will explore historical and contemporary patterns of feminization of these professions and the implications, including the social and economic de-valuation of this work and institutions as gendered settings. Students will also critically consider the racialized history of this work and resistance by communities served by these professions.
TOJC has developed justice and inclusion teaching/learning Toolkits with activities for ECE classrooms, home visit programs, and in-home care settings and for families, based on the six core social identity categories: race/skin color; gender, family structure, culture/language, socio-economic status, and able-ness. The Toolkits are available online to purchase and download and will be available in hard copy soon!
Are you interested in serving as a Student Representative in the CYFS?
The School of Social Work values student input and participation on SSW committees. Duties: attending CYFS Team meeting once a month. These committees influence policies, practices, faculty training, and curriculum, in addition to other school-wide functions. Interested? Please email: cyfs@pdx.edu, looks great on your resume
CYFS program has purchased APA guidelines for all of the CYFS majors. We hope that this tool is useful to you as you move through your classes. Writing using the APA format is something CYFS majors work on in all of our classes, but especially in the Professional Self required writing series. Please let us know if you find this tool helpful.
Please fill out the form with your PDX.edu email below if you did not received an APA guideline and would like one. We can not guarantee you will receive one (but will try our best).
CYFS Students Resources:
The Learning Center at PSU https://www.pdx.edu/learning-center/ has academic coaching, D2L support, tutoring and a variety of tools to help you find success in your studies. These programs are free and remote this term.
The library at PSU provides a number of academic supports for students, including long term loans of Chromebooks and other equipment. You can find out more about their Spring services here https://library.pdx.edu/services/library-services-2021/
Your CYFS faculty is also here if you have questions or concerns. Please feel free to contact your instructors, stop in during their virtual office hours, or visit me on Tuesdays from 3-4 at https://pdx.zoom.us/j/86438158970 .We are not together in person yet, but we are here.
This SSW Undergraduate Programs newsletter will be the place to look for current information and events throughout the term. It will appear at the beginning and middle of each month. If you have any information you would like to share with your fellow students, you can do by submitting it to sswundergrad@pdx.edu
The PSU Covid-19 Response page is a good place to find out the most current guidelines, information, and resources for PSU students.
Portland State University requires all employees and all students who live, work, learn, or access services on our campus to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 or be approved for an applicable exemption. You can find additional information on the PSU Covid -19 Vaccinations page.
Masks are no longer required in most spaces at PSU, except for campus health care and child care spaces. However, quite a few people are still most comfortable wearing masks, so we need to recognize and respect that people will be comfortable with differing mask usage. You can find out additional information on the PSU Masks page.
All of the CYFS faculty and staff look forward to seeing you - whether online or in person. Make sure to reach out to us so we can assist you in having a good school year. My weekly open office/student hours are on Tuesdays from 4-5 on zoom https://pdx.zoom.us/j/89938911731
Check out our community partnership page and get involved. Our children development center at Portland State University is looking for students who are interested in gaining leadership skills in family and children learning environment by joining their advisory board and attending a meeting once a month. Contact Helen Gordon Child Development Center
Previous newsletter information: Link to previous newsletter information here
Roberta Hunte & Susanne Klawetter recently published "'Black Nurses in the Home is Working:' Advocacy, Naming, and Processing Racism to Improve Black Maternal and Infant Health" in Maternal and Child Health Journal. The article explores how racism-related stress impacts Black women’s health, pregnancy, & parenting and how a culturally-specific program can affect this relationship. Any Student interested in working or discussing research with Roberta Hunte, email hunte@pdx.edu
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