Long Call for Proposals
ABSTRACT DEADLINE – 11:59PM ON DECEMBER 13, 2024
The Southeastern Council on Family Relations (SECFR) is pleased to distribute this Call for Proposals for our 2025 Annual Conference to be held in Chattanooga, Tennessee from April 10 – 12, 2025. The theme of this year’s conference is “Strengthening Family Ties: Caring for Every Generation.”
We are seeking high-quality proposals to present at our conference. All conference sessions should be informative and relevant, promote learner engagement, and demonstrate application to the work of participants. In addition, we especially desire proposals that:
- Have diverse presenters (with varying levels of experience in the field; of different nationalities; or from different institutions and geographic regions).
- Are based on or supported by research.
- Contain original, innovative ideas.
- Stimulate and provoke discussion.
- Have strong connections to practice and/or policy. To maintain the highest quality for all presentation sessions and comply with requirements for Continuing Education Units, clear learning objectives must be stated on each proposal. If you have questions regarding content, please email the Proposal Coordinator, Dr. Cecy Brooks ([email protected]).
Proposal Formats
Paper Presentations: Paper presentation involves a focused description of scholarship, literature and/or policy information in its own dedicated room. Such information can derive from the author(s)’ publishable manuscript, published paper/article based on research or current practice (see FAQ’s below), completed doctoral dissertation, completed master’s thesis, or completed student paper containing fully-developed ideas and concepts of an empirical, conceptual, or practical nature. Paper Presentations last approximately 15 minutes, plus about 5 minutes for questions/discussion. Presentations usually occur in “breakout sessions”, where there are 3-4 presenters within a session.
Practice Presentations: The presentations can include tools, resources, theory or methodological updates and novel approaches for working with individuals and families, inclusion of technology and/or successful partnerships. These sessions provide an opportunity for you to exchange ideas, gather feedback, and share the impact of family life education. Practice presentations last approximately 15 minutes, plus about 5 minutes for questions/discussion. Presentations usually occur in “breakout sessions,” where there are 3-4 presenters within a session.
Posters: A poster involves the display of detailed information by emphasizing graphics that summarize initiated or completed empirical research, completed student projects, and/or practice, methodologies, or programs that have been or will soon be implemented by practitioners. All posters should refer to scholarly literature. Authors are expected to be at the poster the entire session (either 45 or 60 minutes) to answer questions and distribute handouts. Empirical and non-empirical research proposals will be accepted.
Roundtables: A group of presenters may wish to present and discuss a topic with significant time allotted for interaction among the presenters and with the attendees. The roundtable session will span one hour and each session will have a 20-minute window for conversation in order to allow for participants to enjoy multiple roundtables during the hour window.
***The SECFR board reserves the right to suggest alternative formats that may optimize participant experience, available space, and/or available time (for example, if a proposal is submitted as a Poster, the SECFR Board reserves the right to accept the proposal as a Paper presentation).
Proposal submissions will be accepted until December 8, 2024 with notifications beginning on January 13, 2025. All submissions will receive full consideration and may be accepted, rejected, or recommended for resubmission (with revisions).
Submission Checklist
- Identify and Confirm Order of Proposal Authorship
- Identify your Preferred Proposal Format
- Create a Blank Review Document:
- Title (no more than 50 words)
- Abstract (no more than 250 words)
- Keywords (at least three)
- Three learning objectives
- Up to 2 supplemental figures and/or tables (optional)
- APA reference page
Complete and submit the required information into the online abstract submission portal (link provided in “Submission Process” section of this document)
Submit by no later than 5:00 pm CT on Sunday, December 8, 2024
Register to attend and book your hotel by no later than March 13, 2025
Accepted presenters will be notified by mid-January
Student Awards
Student Awards Competition: Undergraduate Students and Graduate Students have the opportunity to apply for consideration of special recognition within one of the following categories:
- Undergraduate Poster Presentation Competition: All undergrad students are invited to apply for the Undergraduate Poster Presentation Award where they can have their Oral Poster presentation reviewed at the annual SECFR conference. An award will be presented to the top undergraduate poster presentation in the following categories:
- individual empirical research category (work completed by ONE undergraduate student)
- individual non-empirical category (work completed by ONE undergraduate student)
- team category (can be empirical or non-empirical completed by multiple undergraduate students as part of a course, ONE team award will be given)
- Graduate Poster Presentation Competition: All graduate students are invited to apply for the Graduate Poster Presentation Award where they can have their Oral Poster presentation reviewed at the annual SECFR conference. An award will be presented to the top graduate poster presentation. First place winners will be announced.
- individual empirical research category (work completed by ONE graduate student)
- individual non-empirical category (work completed by ONE graduate student)
- team category (can be empirical or non-empirical completed by multiple graduate students as part of a course, ONE team award will be given)
**All students must indicate whether or not they want to be considered for an award during the proposal submission process for the SECFR annual conference. Presenter(s) listed in the submission will be the names used on the award.
Submission Process
Please note that changes cannot be made once an abstract is submitted.
A completed submission includes the following:
- Name
- Affiliation
- Co-authors information (if applicable)
- Contact information
- Student Status
- If you are a student, you must indicate if you would like to be considered for a student award according to one of the categories listed above in the student awards section.
- Select your preferred presentation format (i.e., paper, practice, poster, or roundtable)
- Enter a title (limit 50 words)
- Submit an abstract of up to 250 words
- Submit at least three keywords
- Agree to the permission to publish, authorship approval, and conference attendance
- Submit a single PDF file for uploading with no identifying information that includes the following:
- Title
- A list of at least 3 learning objectives associated with your proposal, using the stem “After viewing this presentation, attendees will…”
- Abstract
- Keywords
- Up to two supplemental figures and/or tables (optional)
- An APA reference list
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ’s)
I am a student and am not currently involved in any empirical research projects. May I submit a recently completed course paper or project to present at the conference? Absolutely! As a regional conference, we strongly encourage student participation in our conference, both as attendees and presenters. Papers completed for a course may be submitted for presentations and completed projects of other sorts may be submitted as posters. Students are also free to propose a panel discussion session, perhaps on a topic with particular relevance to students. Students are also encouraged to submit a paper for the new writing awards (see above).
I am a practitioner and don’t typically do empirical research. May I submit something related to my work that I feel would benefit the conference attendees? The first stated goal of the SECFR is “to provide a network for collaboration among family professionals” of all kinds, both university- and community-based. We desire for this conference to be a unique gathering of academics, practitioners, and students, all joined together with one cause in mind – to help families in the Southeast. Therefore, we welcome submissions from practitioners of a non-empirical nature, whether conceptual, practical, and/or programmatic as either a presentation or poster.
I am a student and interested in applying for one of the student awards. May I submit something that includes co-authors or must I submit a proposal as a single author? As long as you are first author on the proposal than you may submit a proposal that includes co-authors. Co-authors may be fellow students, advisors, or other professionals.
What if I need A/V equipment? SECFR will provide computers and video projectors in every meeting room. Please be aware that presentations are limited to no more than 10 slides including a title page. If you would like to share additional information, we encourage you to bring handouts if applicable to your presentation.
May I submit a published paper for presentation? If you have recently completed a paper that has not been presented at a conference, please propose it.
How many proposals can I submit? There is no limit on the number of proposals.
When should I register for the conference? Authors of accepted proposals are expected to register for and commit to attend the conference. Completed registration forms, and the necessary fees, should be completed online (or postmarked) by the deadline.
To ensure full consideration, proposals must be received by the stated deadlines. All proposals must be submitted using the above link to the Digital Abstract system.
Questions?
Contact the Proposal Coordinator, Dr. Cecy Brooks ([email protected])
