Mission

The mission of the Center is to lead the development of Bowen family systems theory into a science of human behavior and to assist individuals, families, communities, and organizations in addressing major life challenges through understanding and improving human relationships. The Center carries out its mission locally, nationally, and internationally through learning and development programs, conferences, research, clinical services, and its website and publications. The Bowen Center for the Study of the Family is an educational, research, and clinical center incorporated as a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization in the District of Columbia.

Strategic Goals

Our goals and programs are designed to reflect and fulfill our mission:

• Maintain and develop practices of scientific inquiry through collaboration and interaction with scientists and active participation in scholarly pursuits.

• Contribute to the development of Bowen theory as a science of human behavior through promoting research and writing, fostering thoughtful interchange among Bowen theorists, and maintaining viable contact with the natural sciences.

• Contribute to the development of leadership of Bowen theorists locally, nationally, and throughout the world through learning programs and collaboration.

• Convey Bowen theory accurately as a resource to address major life challenges for individuals, families, organizations, and communities.

• Financially sustain and enhance the Bowen Center and its mission.

• Engage with the communities in the Washington/Baltimore area through education and service.

Current Initiatives

Bowen Center and Technology

While the transition to fully remote operation has expanded the Bowen Center's ability to fulfill its mission to extend theory throughout the world, growing program demands have brought new challenges. The Center’s focus is on maintaining and enriching the quality of its programs through robust work collaboration and effective utilization of innovative technology.

Instituto Iberoamericano del Bowen Center (IIBC)

One of the strategic goals of the Center is to disseminate Bowen theory throughout the world. Making theory more available for learning, research, and application for Spanish speakers is part of this goal. In 2018, a dedicated group of Spanish speaking professionals established the Instituto Iberoamericano del Bowen Center - IIBC (Iberoamericano Institute at the Bowen Center), with the intention of disseminating and developing the theory in Spanish speaking countries.

The specific goals of the IIBC are to:

• Continue and further develop the Spanish Study Group started in 2016.

• Establish a group of instructors and supervisors well versed in the theory to teach and offer coaching in Spanish.

• Compile, create, and translate materials about theory to create a library in Spanish.

• Develop and promote research about the application of Bowen theory in Spanish speaking countries and communities, studying specifically the application of theory into this specific sociopolitical context.

• Create learning programs in Spanish, similar to those available in English.