Family and Consumer Sciences Committee
August 25-27, 2003 - Little Rock, AR
August 25, 2001

Meeting Participants:

Alabama

 Rebecca Dollmen, Auburn University

Arkansas

 Irene K. Lee and Jacquelyn McCray, University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff
Lynn R. Russell, University of Arkansas

Florida

 Mabel "Dianna" Edlow, Florida A&M University     
Nayda Ivette Torres, University of Florida

Georgia

 Tom Rodgers, University of Georgia

Kentucky

 Joanne Bankston and Mary J. Fant, Kentucky State University
Bonnie Tanner, University of Kentucky

Louisiana

 Kasundra Cyrus, Southern University AgCenter
Ellen Murphy, Louisiana State University AgCenter

Mississippi

 Mildred Holland, Alcorn State University
Beverly Howell, Mississippi State University

North Carolina

 Sandra A. Zaslow, North Carolina State University

Oklahoma

 Lynda Harriman, Oklahoma State University
Dorothy Wilson, Langston University

Puerto Rico

 Yolanda Munoz Guevara, Puerto Rico University - Mayaguez Campus

South Carolina

 Nancy M. Porter, Clemson University

Tennessee

 Charles Norman for Shirley Hastings, University of Tennessee
Thelma Sanders-Hunter, Tennessee State University

Texas

 Carolyn J. Nobles, Prairie View A&M University
Kathy Volanty, Texas Cooperative Extension, Texas A&M University

Virginia

 Eleanor D. Schlenker, Virginia Tech

 Advisors

 Gina E. Eubanks, Southern University AgCenter
Margaret Hale, Texas Cooperative Extension, Texas A&M University
Linda Williams-Willis, Prairie View A&M University

 

Chair Mildred Holland called the meeting to order at 10:10 a.m.  Participants introduced themselves.  Bonnie Tanner moved, Mary Fant seconded, to dispense with the reading of the minutes of the August 25-28, 2002, meeting.  Motion passed.  Tom Rodgers moved, Ellen Murphy seconded, that the minutes of the August 25-28, 2002, meeting be approved as amended.  Motion passed.


Association of Southern Region Extension Directors (ASRED) Update

Margaret Hale, Advisor to the Southern Region Family and Consumer Sciences (FCS) Program Leaders Committee, provided the following update:

  • Gina Eubanks, Southern University AgCenter, will assume the role of 1890 Advisor to the Family and Consumer Sciences Program Leaders Committee.

  • The Directors are looking at the possibility of sharing Specialists within the region (some states are already doing this) and they want Program Leader Committees to look at ways that this could most effectively be done.

  • Items on the agenda for the Directors' meeting are: the sharing of joint calendars across the region to avoid duplication of efforts in activities such as in-service training, the use of technology by Program Leaders Committees (teleconferences, videoconferences, etc.), fee-based programs to generate revenue to off-set the cost of programs, intellectual property issues, penalty mail, assessments, SERAs, and the further expansion and direction of the Cooperative Extension Curriculum Project (CECP) and e-Extension.

  • CSREES is very interested in the e-Extension effort initiated by the Southern Region and has targeted money for the effort.  A business plan has been developed for e-Extension through a private firm.  The Southern Region Directors would like the Extension Committee on Organization and Policy (ECOP) to take over the responsibility for e-Extension.

  • Anna Mae Kobbe and Helen Chipman requested to be on the agenda of the Directors' meeting to discuss the status and efficiency of the Food Stamp Nutrition Education Program (FSNEP).  The Directors redirected the request to the FCS Program Committee for inclusion on the agenda.  Four Directors plan to participate in the session: McGilberry, Mississippi; Foster, Oklahoma; Turner, Kentucky; and Garcia, Virgin Islands.  Issues to be addressed include duplicate reporting, barriers to the program, and the coordination of FSNEP at the federal level.

  • CSREES decided to no longer manage the job bank and asked the Journal of Extension (JOE) to assume that role.  Charles Norman reported that JOE is considering options for the task.  Extension Human Resources Officers have been surveyed.

Annual Work Plan for 2003-2004

Chair Holland reported that she developed the past year's work plan and that accountability should be included in the 2003-2004 annual plan.  Nayda Torres stated that all states should have representation on the CECP module teams to insure buy-in.  She also stated that FCS competencies should be reviewed and a decision should be made about what to adopt as a region.  Ellen Murphy stated that the work plan should have substance and address critical issues in FCS.  She also emphasized the need for a public relations campaign for FCS.  Lynn Russell suggested that the work plan be limited to a few, manageable items.  Bonnie Tanner expressed the need to get FCS Specialists together for a face-to-face regional meeting to work on these common projects.


FCS Competencies Update

Kathy Volanty reported that the chairs of the four FCS competency groups had been great to work with on the competency project.  She reviewed the reports of each of the four groups: Food and Nutrition, Health, Family Resource Management, and Child Development/Family Relations.  Bonnie Tanner stated that the reports should be in a standardized format and suggested that the Health and Child Development/Family Relations committees revise their reports to the same format as the Food and Nutrition and Family Resource Management reports.

Nancy Porter suggested that the competency reports be sent to all appropriate specialists within the region for review, identification of resources already available to address the competencies, and identification of gaps where resources need to be developed.  She also suggested that incentives for people who develop high-quality programs should be considered.  Kathy Volanty agreed that a comprehensive review of what educational resources are already available in the region should be conducted.  She also suggested that FCS be more proactive than reviewing competencies and modules only on a five-year basis.  Lynn Russell reminded the group to follow the process identified in the CECP Guidebook.

Kathy Volanty expressed an interest in continuing to work with the competency teams and requested that Program Leaders reinforce the participation of specialists in the work of the teams.  She also recommended that membership on the teams remain in place and circulated a sign-up sheet for additional members to be added.


Association of Extension Administrators (AEA) Update

Linda Williams-Willis, Advisor to the Southern Region FCS Program Leaders Committee, provided the following update:

  • AEA held a national conference, "1890 Extension: Engagement for the 21st Century," in Atlanta the last week in June.  Over five hundred staff personnel participated in the conference.
  • AEA has eight program teams, with two related to FCS topics: Strengthening Families and Nutrition, Food Safety, and Wellness.
  • A conference call was held with Nancy Bull, Connecticut, to try to strengthen the 1890 institutions' involvement in the Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program (EFNEP).  ECOP has lobbied on the hill on behalf of the EFNEP program.
  • Karen Konzelman asked for input from the 1890 institutions concerning their participation in the Food Stamp Nutrition Education program.  The 1890 institutions have much capacity to deliver the FSNE program, but match is difficult for their institutions.  Before her retirement, Jane Coulter allocated $10,000 for a study to address the issue.  Jacquelyn McCray, University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff, is the principle author of the study.

Tom Rodgers expressed concern about the efforts of ECOP on behalf of EFNEP because the program was cut from the President's budget.  He feels that the breakdown was between the federal level and the states, as the states were not prompted to make contact with congressional representatives.  Lynda Harriman stated that the Board on Human Sciences is very supportive of an increase in the federal EFNEP budget and worked hard to carry it forward.  Kathy Volanty added that an EFNEP media tour is being planned.


FCS Modules Update

Ellen Murphy explained that the Cooperative Extension Curriculum Project (CECP) is a multi-state curriculum project for the Southern Region.  The initial intent of the project was to develop a curriculum web database for training Extension personnel.  Each Program Leaders Committee was asked to prepare and have on-line a minimum of two learning modules for CECP prior to the 2003 PLC meetings.  FCS completed six modules: Parenting, Eat Smart, Nutrition and Diabetes, Food Guide Pyramid, Consumer Credit, and What's the Matter with Mold?

Ellen Murphy demonstrated how to use the CECP and explained that CECP modules can be developed "from scratch" or converted from existing modules already on-line.  She put forth the following items for consideration: (1) competencies should be put in a consistent format, (2) a determination should be made as to what comprises a module, (3) module development teams should be formed, (4) an FCS representative to the CECP Steering Committee should be selected, (5) a peer review process for content and format should be determined, and (6) specialists should meet annually and be responsible for competency and module development.

The CECP can be accessed at the following address: http://cecp-online.org.  You must first register as a student to view courses.  To work on a CECP module, one must be a CECP Campus Administrator.  To become a Campus Administrator, Program Leaders should complete the steps identified at http://cecp-online.org/admin.

Margaret Hale encouraged Program Leaders to share the work that is being done on CECP and e-Extension at the FCS National Program Leaders Meeting during the Galaxy II Conference in Salt Lake City in September.


State Updates

Arkansas - Lynn Russell, University of Arkansas (written report)

  • A souvenir bag and an invitation to participate in the 21st Century Families Conference, April 20-22, 2004, in Little Rock was given to Program Leaders.
  • In 2003, 46 counties participated in the Food Stamp Nutrition Education Program with 54 counties planning to participate in 2004.
  • A healthy relationships program, "Family and Community Connections," is being conducted in three Arkansas counties.  Funded through a grant from CSREES, the program is part of the Children, Youth, and Families at Risk (CYFAR) initiative.
  • Funded through a grant from the Department of Human Services, "The Best Care" childcare provider training was delivered in 96 sessions reaching 1,807 childcare providers at 43 sites.  "Best Care Connected," a web-based training, reached an additional 301 participants.
  • "Eating and Moving for Life," funded by the Minority Health Commission, is a dietary intervention program aimed at reducing the risk of hypertension, diabetes, and other nutrition related chronic diseases among African American and Hispanic citizens in three counties.
  • "Guiding Children Successfully" is a child development television series sponsored by Extension Service in partnership with the Arkansas Educational Television Network.  Copies of the 60-minute educational programs were made available to county offices and will be used to train childcare providers in 2003-2004.
  • Funded through a grant from the Arkansas Comprehensive Tobacco Program, the "BodyWalk" is a walk-through exhibit designed to teach kindergarten through 4th grade students how to make healthy lifestyle choices.  The objectives of the program are to teach good nutrition, increase physical activity, and reduce the incidence of substance abuse.

Arkansas - Irene K. Lee, University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff

  • Over 30,000 educational contacts were made to food stamp recipients with the FF NEWS program.
  • "Teens on the Go" is a teen pregnancy newsletter program for single parents and child care providers.
  • The "Young Scholars Program" is an after school program targeted to parents and young children.  The program is a leadership development curriculum taught through math and science concepts.

Florida - Nayda Torres, University of Florida (written report)

  • In-service training in the area of fatherhood was conducted in the Spring 2003 using distance education.  Another training on marriage is scheduled later this month.
  • New publications in the area of Child Development (First Two Years) are now available through EDIS at http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu.
  • "Aging in the 21st Century," a multi-disciplinary, distance education training, was held earlier this year.  Community collaborators participated in the series of educational programs.
  • Distance web-based trainings were conducted in the area of nutrition and food safety.  County faculty rated this in-service format as excellent.
  • Twenty counties conduct the Serve-Safe food safety certification for food managers program.
  • "Nutrition Essentials," a ten-lesson nutrition curriculum for EFNEP and FNP was developed on compact disk (fnp.ifas.ufl.edu/nutessls.html).  The curriculum can be purchased from the IFAS Bookstore at http://ics.ifas.ufl.edu.  The publication number is SP326 and the cost if $25.
  • An English and Spanish newsletter, "Nutrition in Action," is produced monthly and is available through the website http://fnpifas.ufl.edu.
  • A celebration of EFNEP's 35th birthday will be held in October 2003.
  • A new money management program, as a replacement to the Women's Financial Information Program, will be available in January 2004.
  • State residents are requesting educational programs in the area of indoor air quality.
  • A collaborative effort with the School of Journalism is developing television spots on family topics.
  • As a result of a program planning effort, the following areas emerged for 2004-2007: Nutrition (childhood obesity, adult obesity), Financial Management (bankruptcy, economic development, basic financial planning), Housing (indoor air quality and other environmental issues), Food Safety, and Aging.

Florida - Dianna Edlow, Florida A&M University

  • Most work is being done with paraprofessionals; however, as paraprofessionals retire, they are not being replaced.  They will eventually be replaced with professional staff.
  • Joint training sessions have been held with Fort Valley State University.
  • Programs are focused on the areas of: Nutrition, Diet, and Health and Family Resource Management.
  • Currently writing the first Food Stamp Nutrition Education grant proposal.  The project targets commodity food recipients and housing project residents.
  • HAACP Training, food safety training for producers, has been held this past year.
  • A cookbook for commodity food recipients is being developed.  The cookbook features fat, easy, low-cost, nutritious recipes.
  • An energy conservation newsletter is being produced.
  • The first-time homeowners programs focuses on maintenance and landscaping.
  • An emphasis program focuses on credit and college students.
  • A web site and television station are being developed.

North Carolina - Sandy Zaslow, North Carolina State University

  • Indirect money has funded an FCS Department Annual Report as well as in-service training for FCS agents.
  • A long-range planning report has been completed and is available on their website.
  • A consumer-oriented web magazine, with over 100,000 hits in the past three months, is available at www.family-infor.info.
  • In a joint effort with the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, a Master's program in the area of family has been developed.
  • A forum for those who work with families, focusing on children's health issues, will be held in October.
  • FCS is working with the North Carolina Academy of Family Physicians on fast food information for offices.
  • A new emphasis focuses on "workable wellness" for agents to carry into the workplace.
  • A new Family Resource Management Specialist, Celvia Stovall, has been hired.
  • Due to budget constraints, 33% of field faculty positions have been lost.

Georgia - Tom Rodgers, University of Georgia

  • Georgia Cooperative Extension Service continues to lose FACS Agents.  In 2000, there were 60 agents; there are now 44.  Currently, there are more FACS Agents positions funded under grants and contracts than with state dollars.
  • FCS has received FINE money (generated through fines on industry) from Firestone and Ford Motor Company.
  • FCS runs the Governor's Seat Belt Safety Program.
  • Goldkist Poultry Company has funded a Spanish-speaking staff member for the FCS program.
  • The department works with the Department of Human Resources in providing the Serve Safe Program.
  • Tom Rodgers and Dean Sharon Nichols developed an FCS briefing document.  It is available on the Georgia web site.

Kentucky - Bonnie Tanner, University of Kentucky

  • The College of Human Environmental Sciences is now a School in the College of Agriculture.
  • FCS Agents, along with several partnering groups, developed a cookbook titled, "Kentucky Pride."  The book was endorsed as the official cookbook of the Kentucky State Fair.  Proceeds of the cookbook will be used for advanced training and professional development of agents.
  • A health education program with the College of Public Health is in its second year.  In addition, a program has been initiated with the College of Social Work.
  • All county faculty staff personnel have been trained in the area of cancer prevention and healthy lifestyles.
  • "Heart and Soul" is a six-week cardiovascular program provided by FCS.
  • EFNEP county proposals leveraged over $1 million in county funds.
  • Currently, the University of Kentucky has 150 FCS Agents serving 120 counties.
  • Food Stamp Nutrition Education grant proposals were submitted for five regions in the state.  Preliminary information indicates that FCS may have received four of the five grants.
  • The "Women in Agriculture" program continues to grow.
  • FCS is participating in the "America Saves" program as well as in a home food-processing program.
  • The homemakers' organization is going great and has restructured its state council.

Kentucky - Joanne Bankston, Kentucky State University

  • FCS provided programming for the Child Care Tax Credit and Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) campaigns and the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program for limited and moderate-income families.
  • A program for adult consumers, "Money Smart," was implemented.  The program features ten training modules.
  • In partnership with the University of Kentucky, Kentucky State University developed a "Holiday Survival Guide."  It is available on the web.
  • KSU will participate in the "Financial Security in Later Life" videoconference on December 11.
  • Other program thrusts include the Kentucky Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) and Students and Credit.

Kentucky - Mary Fant, Kentucky State University

  • Kentucky State University is no longer involved in the Food Stamp Nutrition Education Program although the university was a partner for five years.  They received a copy of the Request for Proposals only two days before the deadline.
  • The Family Development and Management program utilizes paraprofessionals in providing comprehensive services to limited resource audiences.

Louisiana - Kasundra Cyrus, Southern University AgCenter

  • The Southern University FCS program is located in 25 parishes with 15 FCS professionals and paraprofessionals.
  • Health Education programs are provided with a contract from the Southern University School of Nursing.
  • A quarterly health newsletter is published with a circulation of 5,000 copies.
  • "Sisters Together" is a nutrition and wellness program.
  • Childcare training has been provided to over 7,000 facilities.
  • Parenting classes are taught on a monthly basis.
  • FCS participates in the FF NEWS consortium.
  • Emphasis programs include: building family strengths, child abuse, family stress, food safety, Organwise Guys, and childhood obesity.

Louisiana - Ellen Murphy, Louisiana State University AgCenter (written report)

  • Three priority areas have been identified for the FCS program: Nutrition and Health, Family and Child Development, and Family Resource Management.
  • Extension is moving to multi-parish specialty area agents.  Area agents are required to hold a master's degree and complete 15 additional hours of academic credit.  Upon completion of the academic hours, agents will receive a $1,500 stipend.  They will receive an additional $1,000 stipend when they are assigned to a specialty position.
  • State faculty personnel are now on tenure track.  Currently, the FCS state staff included five nutrition specialists, three family development specialists, and four family resource management specialists.
  • Currently, in the FCS program area, 60 field faculty personnel serve 64 parishes.  This includes approximately 30 nutrition agents, 20 family development agents, and 10 family resource management agents.
  • Effective July 1, Extension FCS merged with the School of Human Ecology.  Ellen Murphy is now Associate Director of the School of Human Ecology and Family and Consumer Sciences State Program Leader.
  • A major thrust of the FCS program is childhood obesity.
  • In response to recent legislation, Extension is training high school teachers in youth financial literacy.  Teachers receive a stipend from industry partners for participating in the program.  To further the work in youth financial literacy, Extension is a member of the Jumpstart Coalition.
  • Two major programs in the Family and Child Development program area are parenting and childcare provider training.  In addition, Extension has submitted a "New Moms" grant proposal in partnership with Southern University to provide parenting skills to low-income parents with children less than one year of age.
  • Construction will begin this fall on LaHouse and be completed in about one year.  The facility will be a training facility for disaster education, termite education, and sustainable housing.
  • Extension is collaborating with Pennington Biomedical Center.

Additional Items The meeting recessed at 5:30 p.m.
August 26, 2003

Chair Mildred Holland reconvened the meeting at 8:00 a.m.  The Chair introduced guests from the federal level: Anna Mae Kobbe, Acting Deputy Administrator, Families, 4-H, and Nutrition, and Helen Chipman, National Coordinator, FSNEP, CSREES/USDA.  Also joining the group were Extension Directors McGilberry, Mississippi; Fowler, Alabama; Norman, Tennessee; and Arrington, Florida.


Perspectives on the Food Stamp Nutrition Education Program (FSNEP)

Anna Mae Kobbe indicated that CSREES is supporting the Food Stamp Nutrition Education Program in the following three ways: (1) with ECOP, is providing for Helen Chipman's salary to coordinate the FSNEP on the national level (Helen Chipman is located at South Dakota State University); (2) providing funding to Mississippi State University to develop the first FSNEP national final evaluation report; and (3) providing funding to the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff to conduct a study of 1890 institutions' participation in the FSNEP.

Helen Chipman explained the partnership environment of the FSNEP: Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) Headquarters, FNS Regional Offices, state governments, and universities/Extension Service.  FNS allocates $200 million to the FSNEP annually.  While the main focus of the food stamp program by FNS is quality control (minimizing fraud), Extension's main focus is education.  Interpretation and guidelines of the FSNEP varies among regions.  In addition, FNS regions are different from Extension regions so a lack of consistency exists among programs within a region.

Helen Chipman reported that the number one issue of the FSNEP, according to Extension Deans and Directors, is strengthening communication.  She indicated that Extension's Washington D.C. presence (i.e. National FSNEP Coordinator) is helping.

In regard to FY04 Plans, Helen Chipman stated that the plans are being scrutinized carefully this year.  Not all will be approved.  If a state has not heard about their plan, they should find out why and what revisions they need to make.  Helen Chipman encouraged states to explore "partial funding" if their plans are not approved so that the state program will not be totally shut down.

Time and effort reporting came to a head this spring and, according to Helen Chipman, some programs were going to be shut down because Extension did not see reporting requirements in the same manner as FNS.  One of the biggest problems is reporting hours versus percentages of time.  Reporting hours creates hardships for universities; however, some states have made the process work.

Helen Chipman recognized three Southern Region representatives who serve on the FNSEP National Development Team: Kathy Volanty, Texas; Gina Eubanks, Louisiana; and Deborah Little, Mississippi.  Kathy Volanty added that the Program Development Team is a sounding board for Helen Chipman and Anna Mae Kobbe concerning the FSNEP.  The team is a diverse, rotating committee and represents all Extension regions and Extension FCS personnel in various roles.

In response to a request from NASULGC, Helen Chipman is providing quarterly reports of the FSNEP to Deans and Directors, as well as updates for state coordinators and FCS Leaders.  The updates are posted on the FSNE National Web Site at http://www.csrees-fsnep.org.  Helen Chipman also plans to make site visits annually to two regions.

Beverly Howell reported that Mississippi State University is compiling the first national report reflecting the Extension land-grant involvement in the FSNEP.  Previously, states reported individually to FNS and the data was not aggregated on a national basis.  A database, which can be a tool for reporting by states in the future, is being constructed.  The report will be completed by October 1, 2003.  Printed copies of the report will be distributed to 1890 and 1862 institutions.


Update on CSREES Family and Consumer Sciences Programs

Anna Mae Kobbe reported the following:


Joint Program Meeting with 4-H Program Leaders Committee

Charles Cox, Chair of the 4-H Program Leaders Committee, led a discussion concerning two potential common areas for FCS and 4-H to address: childhood obesity and after school programming.  Following discussion, the group decided to send a recommendation to the Program Leaders Network (PLN) to form a task force representing the four program areas (FCS, 4-H, ANR, and CRD) to address childhood obesity.  Carolyn Nobles, Charles Cox, and Kathy Volanty will draft the recommendation.  The group also agreed to send a message to the J.C. Penney Company (who provides funding for after school programs) that the Southern Region is serious about the after school issue and is working on it collectively.


Critical Issues in Extension Affecting Family and Consumer Sciences Programs

Tom Rodgers led a discussion concerning critical issues in Extension affecting Family and Consumer Sciences programs.  The following issues were identified:

  1. Networking and collaboration
  2. State and federal funding versus grants and contracts
  3. FSNEP reporting and accountability
  4. Increase in federal EFNEP funding
  5. University departure from the land-grant concept
  6. FCS position within Extension and the university
  7. FCS field staffing at less than one per county
  8. Recognition by state government
  9. Difficulty for academic promotion and tenure
  10. Break-up of FCS departments
  11. Dollar driven programming only toward food and nutrition
  12. Adequate staffing for FCS state specialists
  13. Accountability to too many entities (university, FSNEP, federal, state, granting agencies)
  14. Outreach versus Extension
  15. Advocacy for child and family issues

After polling participants, the following issues were identified as being the most critical:

    1. State and federal funding versus grants and contracts (14 votes)
    2. Adequate staffing for FCS state specialists (7 votes)
    3. FCS position within Extension and the university (6 votes)
    4. FCS field staffing at less than one per county (6 votes)

The group decided to combine issues two and four and to expand the definition of the issues.  The following were identified as FCS Critical Issues:

  1. State and federal funding versus grants and contracts.
  • Extension has the philosophy of program design based on needs of the stakeholders.
  • Grants and contracts determine program design in the request for proposals.
  • Loss of infrastructure to allow flexibility.
  1. Adequate funding and staffing for FCS program.
  • Most states are currently operating with less than one agent per county.
  • Many states do not have state FCS specialists to cover critical issues.
  • Enough resources to maintain a FCS program.
  1. FCS position within Extension and the university.
  • The name of the FCS program has changed and is different among the states.
  • Lack of understanding of the mission and capacity of FCS.

The following committees were appointed to develop plans to address the critical issues:

  1. State and federal funding versus grants and contracts.

    Nayda Torres, Chair
    Bonnie Tanner
    Lynda Harriman
    Ellen Murphy
    Irene K. Lee

  2. Adequate funding and staffing for FCS program.

    Lynn Russell, Chair
    Eleanor Schlenker
    Nancy Porter
    Joanne Bankston

  3. FCS position within Extension and the university.

    Tom Rodgers, Chair
    Eleanor Schlenker
    Thelma Hunter
    Mary Fant
    Ellen Murphy

Each committee will make a status report on the October 10, 2003, FCS Program Leaders conference call.

Program Leaders Committee (PLC) Update

Thelma Hunter-Sanders, FCS Program Leaders Committee Representative, provided the following information:


State Updates

Puerto Rico - Yolanda Munoz Guevara, Puerto Rico University - Mayaguez Campus (written report)

  • FCS emphasis areas include: Nutrition, Diet, and Health; Families and Child Development; Consumer Education; Housing, Energy, and Environment; Clothing and Textiles; and Leadership Development.  FCS has seven specialists with plans to add a Gerontology Specialist and Consumer Education Specialist in the coming year.
  • The EFNEP program employs 37 Program Aides, 5 Home Economists, a Nutrition Specialist, a Nutrition Evaluation Specialist, and a State Coordinator.  Enrollment in the program is 2,079 families and 2,205 youth.
  • In the area of food safety, 1,621 individuals completed consumer education programs, 13,172 persons participated in conferences and workshops, and 2,565 attended exhibits, markets, and fairs.  Home Economists participated in 273 radio and television programs and wrote 110 press articles in local newspapers.
  • Extension worked in partnership with the Puerto Rico Department of Health, Food Establishment Hygiene Program to offer the Food Safety Certification Course to persons in charge of food establishments.  During the past year, 14 Home Economists and two Food Specialists graduated 1,807 participants in 56 courses.  Extension also offers numerous trainings in HACCP and other commercial food safety programs.  In addition, the Food and Nutrition Specialist coordinates the Food Safety Education Partnership, a collaboration of eight agencies.
  • In collaboration with the Environmental Protection Agency, Department of Health, Puerto Rico Lung Association, and Extension, a five-lesson project for youth, "Youth, Protect the Air You Breathe," was developed to address indoor air quality.
  • To improve youth skills in personal hygiene, "Enhancing Your Personal Appearance," was developed.  The nine-lesson project was co-sponsored by the Johnson and Johnson Co.  Approximately 915 youth and 72 volunteer leaders were trained, with 728 children reporting that they changed their practices related to personal hygiene.

Virginia - Eleanor Schlenker, Virginia Tech

  • After experiencing four different names for FCS field staff in the past two and one-half years, agents are now referred to as Food, Nutrition, and Health Agents or Family and Community Sciences Agents.
  • FCS field staff is currently 39 agents, down from 62.
  • A total of 8.5 FCS specialists are now on staff, with 4.5 being at Virginia Tech and 4 at Virginia State.
  • A major program emphasis is agritourism.

Texas - Carolyn Nobles, Prairie View A&M University

  • "Project Hope" is a two-year grant from the Texas Higher Education Board.  Targeting the faith-based community, the project addresses obesity and hypertension.  The American Hearth Association provides training for the program.
  • Extension is collaborating with Texas Southern University in a tobacco prevention program.
  • A collaborative project with Prairie View A&M University College of Nursing and Drama Department addresses HIV/AIDS.
  • Extension is collaborating with the College of Architecture to redesign a campus facility.
  • The University has a new President.

Texas - Kathy Volanty, Texas Cooperative Extension (written report)

  • FCS currently has one Food and Nutrition position vacancy.  Because of a Texas Legislative budget shortfall, FCS lost four specialist positions, with over 40 county positions lost statewide.  On September 1, 2003, Extension will undergo a new reorganization plan that divides the state into four regions.
  • The "Do Well, Be Well with Diabetes" banner program will be implemented in over 100 counties by the end of the year.  Results of the program have been excellent and hemoglobin A1c levels will be tested at one program site this fall.  A "Cooking Well with Diabetes" cooking school will be piloted in the early spring and implemented in fall 2004.
  • The "Better Living for Texans" (BLT) Food Stamp Nutrition Education program has received approval for the FY04 program year.  The BLT program is currently being conducted in 228 Texas counties, after undergoing a major restructuring last year.  Current waivers include WIC, Head Start, 50% free lunch schools, summer food service sites, and families receiving commodity foods.
  • The Food Protection Management Program ("Food Safety - It's Our Business") has experienced a landmark year with the change in Texas law now requiring at least one employee of each food service establishment to pass a food safety test.  Utilizing materials developed last year, agents trained over 3,000 food service employees between September 2002 and March 2003.  Currently, there are 40 Master FPM Trainers and 40 Certified Trainers.
  • Extension is currently working on an integrated obesity framework that will provide agents with resources and curricula to conduct healthy nutrition programs for obese and overweight audiences.  A social marketing campaign is planned, as well as a comprehensive toolkit for agents.
  • Extension's Military Program supports military forces at Ft. Hood and Ft. Bliss.  Extension agents on military bases conduct programs in Family Advocacy, Child Passenger Safety, Substance Abuse, Mobilization and Deployment, Relocation Assistance, Exceptional Family Members, Employment Readiness, Financial Readiness, Information and Referral, Volunteer Development, and 4-H and Youth Development.  Fifty-five Extension employees serve the two installations.

Oklahoma - Lynda Harriman, Oklahoma State University

  • Extension has experienced an 8.9% budget cut.
  • An early retirement incentive program was provided to Extension employees.
  • Due to budget constraints, FCS lost 20 of 77 FCS agents and two FCS specialist positions.
  • Over one-half of FCS agents are trained in the marriage initiative program "PREP" (Prevention, Relationships, Education Program).  The research-based program, which originated in Denver, Colorado, is available to other states.  Personnel from Denver will provide training.
  • Through a TANF grant, court-ordered parenting education classes are being offered in counties.
  • Other emphasis programs include a homebuyer education program for first time homeowners and a healthy families program.

Tennessee - Thelma Sanders-Hunter, Tennessee State University (written report)

  • Extension submitted a proposal to the Tennessee Department of Human Services to have autonomy in the FSNEP.  In December 2001, notification was received that funding for the project had been approved.  The renewal application was submitted, requesting three additional program assistant positions for Davidson, Shelby, and Hamilton counties.  Currently, TSU has 47 established sites in Nashville, Davidson County.  Participants in the program are public housing residents, local YMCAs, residents of halfway houses, assisted living facilities, homeless shelters, faith-based organizations, and the local sheriff's office.
  • Pre-release male inmates were initial participants in the FSNEP because of reported incidences of risk factor diseases that are prevalent among minority populations.  The participants were given instruction pertaining to the importance of reading food labels and observing unit pricing and safe food handling practices.  At the request of the sheriff's office, female inmates have been included in the training.  To date, more than 2,000 contacts have been made to 1,994 participants.
  • TSU FSNEP is a member of the 1890 Land-Grant FF NEWS consortium and has been actively involved in meetings of the group.
  • Parenting classes for male inmates reach 14 participants in each six-week course.  Results of the program indicate that the fathers become more expressive with regard to combating negative feelings pertaining to co-parenting, disciplining, and familial responsibilities.  They speak more openly with their children about school, peer pressure, and the importance of being respectful and obedient to caregivers.  Some participants indicate that they would now allow their children to visit them in jail to teach their children the value of not making similar mistakes.
  • TSU continues to provide training and disseminate information pertaining to grandparents who parent grandchildren.  County agents and other community interest groups receive resource information on how to better parent dependent children.  Several training session are planned.
  • The National Extension Leadership Development (NELD) Program hosted Class VIII, October 2001 to June 2003.  This class participated in an international experience in Hong Kong and Beijing, China.  Team members included representatives from the University of Tennessee at Martin, North Carolina State University (retiree), Tennessee State University (one faculty member and four Extension personnel), and a private consulting firm in Washington, D.C.  Class IX will begin October 19, 2003.
  • Ten counties were targeted for training community leaders on "Conducting an Effective Meeting."  In addition, leadership training was provided for parks and recreation employees in four Tennessee counties.

South Carolina - Nancy Porter, Clemson University (written report)

  • Extension continues to experience severe financial constraints.  An early retirement incentive program left 17 FCS FTEs to cover 46 counties.  A rumored mid-year budget cut could mean that additional positions are lost or a short-term furlough program is implemented.
  • The creation of a new Department of Family and Community Studies by a merger of selected faculty from the Department of Family and Youth Development and the Institute on Families and Neighborhood Life has been postponed due to the budget situation.  However, the Department of Family and Youth Development was dissolved on June 30.  A Center on Family Well-Being was created.
  • The Center on Family Well-Being will model the land-grant university mission by coordinating, delivering, and evaluating family and consumer sciences programming as a true integration of research, teaching, and public service.  The Center will be the home for the State Leader of Family and Consumer Sciences.
  • Dr. Katherine Cason, formerly of Penn State University, has joined the Extension staff as State EFNEP Coordinator.
  • Clemson Cooperative Extension will host a "Strengthening Families, Youth, and Communities Across the Lifespan" national conference, February 22-25, 2004, in Myrtle Beach.

The meeting recessed at 4:45 p.m.

August 27, 2003

Chair Mildred Holland reconvened the meeting at 8:40 a.m.

State Updates

Mississippi - Beverly Howell, Mississippi State University (written report)

  • Childhood obesity is a major area of emphasis in FCS.  A Kellogg funded pilot project addressing nutrition and physical activity in four schools in the Mississippi Delta was completed this spring.  The project has been refunded to include Arkansas and Louisiana and extended to four years.  In Mississippi, the program will expand into 65 schools over the project term.
  • The Office of Nutrition Education (ONE) includes the Family Nutrition Program (FNP) and the Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program (EFNEP).  Both programs have moved into school systems this past year, with EFNEP in third grade and FNP in other grades.  Most Program Assistants work full-time and have split FNP/EFNEP assignments.  During the last year, two new positions were added to the FNP state staff: Budget Manager and Technology Administrator.
  • The Rural Health Program continues to work with community health coalitions, Master Health Volunteers, and Rural Medical Scholars.  In the last year a Community Health Coordinator has joined the project.
  • The Nurturing Homes Initiative (NHI) project, in its third year of funding, continues to grow and expand across the state.  The program teaches family home childcare providers how to be more effective at what they do.
  • A CDC grant funded an Agromedicine Program that will be focused in the Delta region of the state.  The search process is underway for an Epidemiologist, an Agromedicine Specialist, and an Agromedicine Area Agent.  In addition, funding was received to conduct an Environmental and Occupational Health and Safety Summit in Spring 2004.

Mississippi - Mildred Holland, Alcorn State University

  • The ASU Cooperative Extension Program is located in 23 counties.
  • Nutrition is the major focus area of the FCS program.  The department will be expanded to accommodate the growing program.  Registered Dieticians are being hired to strengthen the program.
  • Town Hall Meetings will be held in various locations to determine educational needs of the clientele.
  • A three-week summer camp, reaching 100 children, was held.  Educational programs of the event focused on character education and career training.
  • In cooperation with area coaches, a health education program that encourages individuals to walk for fitness is being sponsored by ACEP.
  • ASU FCS will be a new partner with the FF NEWS consortium.


Program Leaders Committee (PLC) Report

Kathy Volanty and Thelma Sanders-Hunter provided the following report from the PLC:


CECP Steering Committee Report

Ellen Murphy, FCS Representative to the CECP Steering Committee provided the following report:


Additional Items

The meeting adjourned at 10:10 a.m.

Summary of Action Items

State and federal funding versus grants and contracts:

Nayda Torres, Chair
Bonnie Tanner
Lynda Harriman
Ellen Murphy
Irene K. Lee

Adequate funding and staffing for FCS program:

Lynn Russell, Chair
Eleanor Schlenker
Nancy Porter
Joanne Bankston

FCS position within Extension and the university:

Tom Rodgers, Chair
Eleanor Schlenker
Thelma Hunter
Mary Fant
Ellen Murphy