Association for Filial and Relationship Enhancement® Methods (AFREM)
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What is AFREM? History: AFREM was incorporated on November 18, 2002 and had its organizational meeting in March, 2003. The idea for it came from the 2001 RE Conference. In 2003 a group of mental health professionals and lay persons came together to recognize and preserve the work of Drs. Bernard and Louise Guerney, the developers of Relationship Enhancement® (RE) and filial methods. In recognition of the fact that RE and filial therapeutic methods and psycho-educational programs had been invaluable in the lives of their clients, program participants, and own personal lives, these individuals formed the non-profit membership organization, AFREM. AFREM is devoted to the promotion of RE and filial methods through a variety of activities that serve all its members, who desire to continue to learn more about the application of filial and RE methods in their therapeutic work, programs, ministries and personal life. AFREM members are eligible to serve in the governance of the organization and to contribute their talents to serving its mission.
How is AFREM Different from IDEALS/NIRE? Rather than being a membership organization, the National Institute for Relationship Enhancement® (NIRE) is a non-profit training institute affiliated with its parent organization, the Institute for the Development of Emotional and Life Skills (IDEALS). NIRE’s mission is to promote Relationship Enhancement® and filial methods through training and by providing services to the general public. Contact with IDEALS/NIRE is generally short term and is limited to the context of training workshops and certification programs. Persons participating in NIRE workshops and training programs do so as clients/consumers, have no role in governance, and limited opportunities to participate in formal ways to promote its mission.
AFREM Mission Statement: The Association for Filial and Relationship Enhancement® Methods is a lay and professional association which exists to promote throughout the world the continued development, research and education in the use of these methods by individuals, couples, families and organizations in order to develop healthy relationships, reconciliation, and peace in homes, workplaces, and society.
Purposes: The purposes of AFREM are to:
- preserve and promote the body of knowledge as envisioned by the developers, Bernard and Louise Guerney, known as Relationship Enhancement® (c) including filial methods
- facilitate networking among those who use Relationship Enhancement®(c) and Filial methods
- develop standards of quality for the use and promulgation of Filial and Relationship Enhancement® (c) methods
- promote the dissemination of research about Filial and Relationship Enhancement®(c) methods
- promote training in Filial and Relationship Enhancement®(c) methods
- promote development of educational resources and materials pertaining to Filial and Relationship Enhancement®(c) methods
- promote the dissemination of Filial and to the general public in order to promote the general welfare and the betterment of society
Governance: AFREM is governed by a volunteer Board of Directors. The work of AFREM is facilitated by the work of committees.
Who can join? The Association is open to all who value and would like to champion Relationship Enhancement® (RE) in all its forms (skills training, enrichment, prevention, and therapy) and its sister programs for parent-child relationships, Filial Family Therapy and the Parenting Skills Program. It is open to all professionals and paraprofessionals, lay volunteers and those who value the methods because they have changed their lives.
Benefits of AFREM membership:
- network and consult with like-minded people
- opportunity to obtain up-to-the minute information on Filial and Relationship Enhancement®(c) methods cutting edge place develop and continually refine Filial and Relationship Enhancement®(c) skills
- opportunity to participate in setting policy for professional and lay groups affected by Filial and Relationship Enhancement®(c) methods
- AFREM Newsletter
- Annual meeting
- Bridge line telephone calls
Contact Information:
Address: Nancy Germann, AFREM, 7955 Valley View Road, Huntingdon, PA 16652.