The conference call was convened by Dr. Jean Baldwin, Chair.

Dr. Jean Baldwin called the meeting of the SR FCS Program Leaders to order, followed by the roll call and introductions. Previous minutes were approved.

Dr. Mary McPhail Gray, Deputy Administrator, CSREES, updated the group on new staffing; portfolio reviews; Food Stamp Nutrition programs; EFNEP federal funding; draft of Food and Society paper for NASULGC; and performance indicators, impact and the Logic Model; military partnerships; and eXtension and communities of practice.

Discussion about base funding and the 1890s & 1862s collaboration followed her presentation. The group also discussed with Mary the opportunities for new grant and sub-contract activity with NIH, NRI and other competitive funders.

Dr. Lorenzo Lyons, Executive Administrator, Association of Extension Administrators, 1890s Institutions, provided an update of accomplishments of 1890s institutions. He discussed strategic planning; aggregating data; three FCS goals related to food supply, family capacity and social and economic well-being; system capacity enhancements for 1890s institutions; EFNEP budget; and issues related to formula funding re: Hatch Act.

Dr. Margaret Hale, administrative advisor, provided an update on ASRED projects focusing on accountability. She congratulated FCS for CECP and the modules developed. She stressed the need to coordinate module development of 1890s and 1862s with eXtension for possible funding in the future. She discussed the development of national impact indicators and the importance of using these to obtain valid economic impact data. A national committee was appointed by the Directors to look at economic data indicators, and should get input form the Program Leaders in each state. She encouraged PLs to become more involved with the Board on Human Sciences.

The rotation system for the SRFCS PL group was discussed. Rotations were established for the 1862s and 1890s institutions, and a handout was given to show the rotation schedule. It was determined that the past chair should be the PLC member. The FCS Program Committee for 2005 - 2006 is: Dr. Sandra A. Zaslow (NC), Committee chair; Dr. Thelma Sanders Hunter (TN), Vice-Chair; and, Dr. Jean Baldwin (NC), PLC Representative. Dr. Jorge Atiles will serve as CECP representative.

Dr. Lynn Russell reported on the staffing and funding survey, and provided a summary handout. 10 states responded, difficult to interpret responses. The survey looked at how resources are allocated, who controls the allocation, funding for and number of agents & paraprofessionals, and, contracts and grants.

The group was asked to review the handout and correct any errors and return to Lynn by December 1, 2004.

Dr. Ellen Murphy made a report on the CECP module development. A 2004 fly-in meeting in Atlanta involved specialists from across the region and 4 core competencies were compiled on a web site. Housing has been added as a fifth competency. Modules would be developed to fulfill mandates of the core competencies. The nutrition module is complete and other modules are in various stages of development. Once developed, the modules will go through a blind, peer-review process. The link with eXtension was discussed. When the next RFP for eXtension goes out, proposals should be made for unfinished modules. There is a CECP web site that program leaders can access.

Dr. Jorge Atiles discussed housing competencies and provided a handout. Children's environmental health will be included, as well as disaster readiness, universal design, indoor air quality, and energy, water and waste management. Only one housing degree is offered within the Southern Region, and Jorge recommended that we impress on the Directors the need for housing specialists. Program Leaders from Georgia (Atiles) and Tennessee (Sanders Hunter) will work on a white paper to share at the next SRPL meeting.

A joint meeting was held with 4-H. Lisa McKinley, USDA/CSREES EPA liaison for Region 4, discussed children's environmental health issues. Funding was received for partnerships at the 1890s and 1862s institutions to build state capacity. Additional funding for the next two years will support additional resources in this area, and the program will be expanded to Latino audiences. Additional funding has supported lead compliance work in the region. CDC and HUD are interested in future collaborations with extension.

Dr. Mary McPhail Gray commended the partnerships from children's environmental health, and focused programs using the logic model and impacts. She encouraged 4-H and FCS to work together on healthy lifestyles and obesity prevention. Discussion about how to proceed followed. Suggestions included developing common indicators for success, and integrating FCS and Youth programs through CECP.

A committee was formed to develop a recommendation that 4-H and FCS go forward formally to work on these issues. The committee was comprised of Nayda Torres, Bo Ryles, Carolyn Dunn, Marilyn Norman, Barbara Stone and Carolyn Nobles. Bo Ryles agreed to chair the committee. The committee reported back to the group, recommending that states form workgroups to assess what is happening in the state, and to continue the regional taskforce on obesity. Each state should submit updated state plans by January 2006. Common regional indicators will be developed. The committee also recommended that the Directors be asked to support the state obesity liaisons and regional conferences. Dr. Ron Brown said that the directors would not support new assessments, and that we should look at other partnerships for funding sources.

Dr. Ron Brown discussed eXtension and the budget request for $5,000,000 in the President's budget. CSREES is institutionalizing extension, and the southern region needs to participate in proposal submission, especially in communities of practice. Dr. Brown also described other collaboration and funding opportunities with DOE, especially at the state level.

Dr. Brown talked about economic impact assessment and that standard protocol and indicators need to be developed. He described the changing portfolio of extension programs and funding. ECOP priorities are for EFNEP, extension, and strengthening the capacity of the 1890s and 1994s institutions.

Terry Meisenback discussed eXtension, and suggested that a community of practice related to obesity should come from the southern region. FAQs for the web site were a major topic of further discussion.

Dr. Paul Warner discussed strategic indicators of program success. He indicated that we must be accountable for formula allocations, or we may be pushed into competitive grants for a future funding mode. He recommended t hat FCS needs longitudinal data, and we can extrapolate to show overall impact. EFNEP is a model program to look at.

The annual plan of work update was given. FCS accomplished all its goals.

The next plan will focus on obesity programming and partnering with 4-H. Dr. Nayda Torres will continue to lead this effort. Dr. Jorge Atiles will provide leadership for increased CECP awareness and use. Dr. Lynn Russell will revise and compile the FCS staffing and funding survey. A joint action item on obesity, from FCS and 4-H will be submitted before October 1, 2005.

State program reports were given.

Meeting adjourned.