Integrating clinical, community outreach, educational and research areas creates a critical mass for developing innovative approaches and forging creative solutions.

Through a unique affiliation, The Family Institute is integrally linked with one of the nation's most prestigious institutions of higher learning, Northwestern University.

This relationship permits The Family Institute to remain an independent, not-for-profit organization - with its own governance, programmatic and funding autonomy - while benefiting from the academic richness of a major university.

Center for Applied Psychological and Family Studies
Under the partnership, The Family Institute operates the University's Center for Applied Psychological and Family Studies in cooperation with Northwestern's Graduate School and Office of Research.

Graduate Degree Programs
Academic and research activities at The Institute are conducted under the auspices of the Center. They include two graduate degree programs: Master of Science in Marital and Family Therapy and Master of Arts in Counseling Psychology Degrees for both programs are conferred by The Graduate School. While students in these programs receive most of their classroom work and much of their clinical training at The Family Institute, they enjoy the full benefits of a Northwestern University graduate education, including access to university libraries and other Northwestern facilities. The affiliation also provides faculty appointments through Northwestern's Department of Psychology for Family Institute staff members who teach the programs.

Research
The Northwestern partnership is also evident in The Institute's research programs. Two endowed positions at The Institute - the Patricia M. Nielsen Research Chair and the Kovler Research Scholar - are currently occupied by Northwestern University faculty from the Department of Psychology. The relationship with the university is expected to continue to grow in the coming years, as research becomes an increasingly important part of The Family Institute's operations.