Blogs

Engaging in the AAFCS Leadership Academy

By AAFCS Team posted 4 days ago
“E ngaging in the AAFCS Leadership Academy is a powerful growth opportunity which has triggered major impacts on the professional trajectories of participants. ” Barbara Stewart, AAFCS President (2024-2025) The American Association of Family and Consumer Sciences (AAFCS) , Community for Building Leadership Capacity, will soon launch its 2025 Leadership Academy and has issued a call for applicants to participate in the program . Interested FCS professionals are encouraged to apply soon and join a going list of leaders who got their start using the leadership skills and training they received ...

AAFCS Supports Development of Overview of Family and Consumer Sciences Publication

By AAFCS Team posted 10 days ago
The American Association of Family and Consumer Sciences ( AAFCS ) announces its support for the recent publication of “Family and Consumer Sciences: Overview of a 100-year-old industry sector.” The document was published by the Alliance for Family and Consumer Sciences ( FCS ) on September 24, 2024, and serves as a critical resource in understanding the unique industry sector, career pathway, and interdisciplinary field of study of Family and Consumer Sciences. The Alliance includes twenty (20) entities representing academia, industry, professional associations, and honor societies which was founded in 2006 by the AAFCS to unify diverse organizations ...

Task Force for Program Advancement Seeks Feedback from Higher Education Units

By Ms. Toni Wiese posted 30 days ago
The AAFCS Task Force for Program Advancement (TFPA), an ad hoc committee of the AAFCS Board, is requesting participation from higher education units in an important survey that aims to assess and strengthen Family & Consumer Sciences (FCS) units within colleges and universities. As you know, the sustainability and impact of our FCS units are more critical than ever, given the evolving educational landscape and societal challenges we face today. Please share this request with your colleagues and administrators in FCS units in higher education institutions. The linked paper survey has been carefully designed to help facilitate robust discussions ...

AAFCS Announces 2024 National Awards, Scholarship, Fellowships, and Grant Recipients

By AAFCS Team posted 06-26-2024
AAFCS Announces 2024 National Awards, Scholarship, Fellowships, and Grant Recipients During the 2024 AAFCS Annual Conference, the following recipients were recognized for their excellence in FCS! National Leader Award AAFCS is proud to announce Donna Graham and Jacqueline Holland, CFCS-HDFS as the recipients of the 2024 Leader award. The Leader award was established to identify and honor family and consumer sciences professionals who have made significant contributions to the field through their involvement with AAFCS. Donna and Jacqueline are vital to the success of our association and AAFCS is proud to honor them. National New Achiever Award ...

Establishing a FCS Career Cluster - The draft is out

By AAFCS Team posted 06-21-2024
Take Action Today Family and Consumer Sciences Left Out of the Draft Advance CTE National Career Cluster Framework. Supporters, Advance CTE recently published their draft Framework, and they have again left FCS off of the draft National Career Cluster Framework . Their rationale for the decision is specious at best and their comments on the value of Family and Consumer Sciences as a career path for students demonstrate that they have not done their homework as they still do not understand our profession, our careers, and our industry. We as professionals, supporters, and collaborators in ...

Announcing Partnership to Develop Recommended Changes to FCS CIP Codes

By AAFCS Team posted 06-18-2024
Colleagues, AAFCS and LEAD FCS Education are collaborating on a joint initiative to review and revise CIP Code 19 (Family and Consumer Sciences/Human Sciences) and recommend inclusion on the STEM-related list. The joint initiative will include an ad-hoc review committee and a content advisory committee. Please take a few moments to complete the survey by Friday, June 28 to express your interest to participate in this important work which includes: The Ad-Hoc Review Committee tasked to review, revise, and recommend changes to CIP Code 19. The Initiative Content Advisory Committee to provide subject-matter expertise and feedback regarding proposed ...

FEEDBACK SOUGHT: Family and Consumer Sciences Body of Knowledge (BOK)

By AAFCS Team posted 04-24-2024
The Retooling the Family and Consumer Sciences Body of Knowledge Task Force , established in the Fall of 2023, is seeking feedback regarding the FCS-BOK. It has been over 20 years since the FCS-BOK was first introduced. Like any framework, retooling is essential so that it remains relevant and of value for the future. Your feedback will help the Task Force assess what is working, identify the current relevance of the FCS-BOK, articulate modifications that enhance understanding, and suggest resources that advance understanding. Click on the appropriate link below to complete a brief survey to share your feedback! Undergraduate Student Survey ...

AAFCS Feature in Partner Jump$tart Weekly Publication

By AAFCS Team posted 04-23-2024
A conversation with the American Association of Family and Consumer Sciences (AAFCS) team So tell us, what’s new? The AAFCS has recently redesigned its advocacy program and launched a new advocacy website to provide a toolkit with information and resources to keep individuals informed on recent legislation and regulation related to Family and Consumer Sciences content areas, including personal and family finance. The AAFCS is working with legislators, regulators, industry, and others to bring visibility to emerging challenges that impact the financial well-being of individuals, families, and communities around the U.S. The Advocacy ...

AAFCS and iCEV Partner to Help Learners Prepare for Industry-Recognized Credentials

By AAFCS Team posted 04-17-2024
American Association of Family & Consumer Sciences (AAFCS) and iCEV Partner to Help Learners Prepare for Industry-Recognized Credentials New iCEV certification alignments—multimedia lessons featuring slide decks, video instruction, and hands-on activities and projects—focus on the domains evaluated within the AAFCS credentials. The American Association of Family & Consumer Sciences (AAFCS) and iCEV, a leading producer of Career & Technical Education (CTE) curriculum, industry certification preparation and testing, and data management, have partnered to help learners prepare for industry-recognized AAFCS credentials. Through this ...

Thinking About Change by Deb Andres

By AAFCS Team posted 04-12-2024
A few decades ago, when I was teaching high school Family & Consumer Sciences, our school staff were engaged in a book-study of Spencer Johnson’s (now renowned) book “Who Moved My Cheese.” Little did I know the wisdom of that book would have such a long-lasting impact on my personal and professional life. Sometimes I have been complacent to change. I took my time in adapting to what is going to change, whether I want it to or not (much like Haw in the book). A few times, though much less commonly, I dug my heels in and refused to allow change because I was too scared of the unknown (like Hem in the book). Other times I have been more like Sniff, who could ...

Funding Opportunity: AAFCS Community of Extension Grant ($5,000)

By AAFCS Team posted 03-27-2024
The application period is now OPEN for the Community of Extension Grant ($5,000) which provides funding for innovation programs designed to enhance the well-being of families. Applications/proposals must address how the project contributes to increasing public knowledge of family and consumer sciences and its value to society and expanding the body of knowledge related to family and consumer sciences. Individuals and teams who are eligible to apply for the Community of Extension Grant include: § Individuals or teams employed by Extension with family and consumer sciences program responsibilities. § Individuals or teams retired ...

Announcing the 2024 Board of Director Officers

By AAFCS Team posted 03-21-2024
The American Association of Family and Consumer Sciences (AAFCS) formally announces the forthcoming appointment of its Board of Directors Officers for the 2024 to 2025 term. The swearing-in ceremony is scheduled to occur during the 2024 AAFCS Annual Conference, set to take place in early June in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Dr. Barbara Stewart, CFCS will be stepping into the position of Board President. Alongside her, Dr. Cara Winston Simmons, CFCS will fulfill the responsibilities of the Board President Elect. Furthermore, Menia L. Chester, CFCS, CNWE will take on the vital role of Board Treasurer. We are pleased to announce the appointment of our ...

AAFCS provided our recommendation to Advance CTE

By AAFCS Team posted 03-15-2024
On March 14th, the AAFCS provided our recommendation to Advance CTE to establish Family and Consumer Sciences (FCS) as an independent Career Cluster within the framework provided by Advance CTE. As highlighted in our letter, “Many industries are suffering from a skilled worker gap that can be addressed by implementation of an FCS career cluster. These include the well-known and documented teacher shortages, milling, and baker shortages, and hospitality labor shortages. In the baking field alone, the industry is expected to have approximately 53,000 unfilled jobs by 2030. A high school graduate of an FCS career pathway can immediately join the workforce ...

Feature Friday: Individuals that Impact

By AAFCS Team posted 02-16-2024
AAFCS celebrates Black History Month with this week's Feature Friday recognizing two exceptional FCS Professionals who are making an impact! Julia R. Miller-Arline Julia R. Miller-Arline is an educator, administrator, mentor, researcher, author, and advocate for equal rights in education. Her interests in education were inspired by significant members of her family whose professional careers were in elementary and secondary education. Dr. Miller-Arline’s career in education began as a home economics teacher in junior high school, and then progressed to high school teacher, to higher education, to full professor, to dean and dean emeritus, at Michigan ...

Announcing the 2024 to 2027 AAFCS Board of Directors

By AAFCS Team posted 02-06-2024
American Association of Family & Consumer Sciences (AAFCS) is pleased to announce the 2024-2027 Board of Directors to be sworn in during the Annual Conference. ALEXANDRIA, VA, UNITED STATES, February 6, 2024 - The American Association of Family and Consumer Sciences ( AAFCS ) is pleased to announce the 2024 to 2027 Board of Directors who will be sworn in during the 2024 AAFCS Annual Conference scheduled for early June in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Dr. Barbara Stewart, CFCS; Dr. Cara Winston Simmons, CFCS; and Menia L. Chester, CFCS, CNWE have been selected to join the AAFCS Board. “One of the most widely respected international strategy ...

Nominations Sought for Development/Review Panels for the AAFCS Professional Certification Exams

By AAFCS Team posted 02-01-2024
Nominations Sought for Development/Review Panels for the AAFCS Professional Certification Exams - Deadline: February 28, 2024 AAFCS is launching a review and refresh of three of its professional certification exams: Family and Consumer Sciences Composite; Human Development and Family Studies (HDFS); and Hospitality, Nutrition, and Food Science (HNFS). AAFCS invites you to submit nominations of individuals from across the US to serve on the Development/Review Panels. Individuals may also self-nominate if they have an interest in serving on the panels. The Development/Review Panels are comprised of 12-15 subject-matter ...

IAFCS Award Nominations Now Open!

By Mr. Landon Calderwood, CFCS-HDFS posted 01-17-2024
Do you know a current family and consumer sciences professional, student, researcher, or friend of the profession deserving recognition for their efforts? Nominate them for an IAFCS Award today! A full list of awards, descriptions, and nomination forms/applications can be found on the IAFCS Awards webpage . All award nominations must be submitted to Teresa Nennig, IAFCS Awards and Recognition Committee Chair, by February 1, 2024 at 11:59 pm.

AAFCS Announces Advocacy Pilot Program

By AAFCS Team posted 12-22-2023
The AAFCS is excited to announce our AAFCS Advocacy Pilot Program! The pilot program will include an AAFCS Affiliate grant which will be provided to participating Affiliates to support their work in conducting advocacy in their home states. Apply by February 15 Click Here to review the announcement! And click the links below to register for the upcoming townhall meetings: January 30, 2024; 5:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. EST – Townhall Registration Link: https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZEsde-rrTgvEtPOIOA_05f6wR3QFhV6qTkf February 15, 2024; 5:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. EST – Townhall Registration Link: https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZAqc-GtpjsqGNYrw1H6EIx7iPFzMtEdPeJy ...

AAFCS Launches Body of Knowledge Retooling Task Force

By AAFCS Team posted 10-12-2023
Alexandria, Virginia – During the 2023 American Association of Family and Consumer Sciences (AAFCS) Fall Leadership Workshop, Board President Debra Andres announced the launch of the AAFCS Task Force for Retooling the Body of Knowledge. The Family and Consumer Sciences (FCS) Body of Knowledge establishes the intellectual and philosophical foundation for the field. The Body of Knowledge provides the framework through which FCS professionals communicate, research, and practice. Through an understanding and application of the Body of Knowledge, FCS professionals enhance individual and family well-being, expand community vitality, and address societal trends ...

AAFCS is Hiring: Member, Vendor/Sponsor, and Partner Relations Associate

By AAFCS Team posted 09-26-2023
AAFCS is Hiring We are seeking to recruit a Member, Vendor/Sponsor, and Partner Relations Associate! The position description for the Member, Vendor/Sponsor, and Partner Relations Associate is here. This new position is vital to the success of AAFCS and its programs and will work closely with all departments to coordinate and implement our association sales strategy. The right candidate for this position is a professional, organized, customer service focused, and computer savvy individual dedicated to helping the AAFCS take our membership, partner, and vendor/sponsor numbers to the next level. This Individual ...