The framework for lifespan family life education revisited and revised. The Family Journal: Counseling and Therapy for Couples and Families

ond edition of the framework continues a long, rich history in family life education by building on the work and contributions of many dis-tinguished individuals and scholars. This article updates practitio-ners, counselors, and theorists on changes made to the framework. Changes include the addition of a “later adulthood ” age group, nine conceptual areas instead of seven, and the inclusion of both systemic and “multicultural, gender-fair, special-needs-aware ” viewpoints. Uses of the framework are also addressed. The family life education movement began around theturn of the 20th century as a means of strengthening fam-ily living. This movement was created to respond to a variety of social conditions that were placing stress on individuals and families (Arcus, 1992; Darling, 1987). The origins of the movement began in home economics, but quickly spread beyond the boundaries of home economics as widespread academic interest in the family increased. Today, the family life education movement encompasses a broad range of disci-plines such as health science, sociology, psychology, counsel