Welcome:
The Chair, Beverly Howell (Mississippi), called the meeting to order and welcomed everyone. She thanked Tom Rogers for making arrangements for the meeting. Tom also welcomed the group and offered his assistance to the group.
Members present:
Alabama Evelyn T. Crayton
Arkansas Irene K. Lee
Lynn Russell
Florida Nayda Torres
Georgia Tom Rogers
Kentucky Bonnie Tanner
Mary J. Fant
Louisiana Ellen Murphy
North Carolina Thelma Feaster (recorder)
Sandra A Zaslow
Oklahoma Lynda Harriman
Tennessee Shirley Hastings
Thelma Sanders-Hunter
Texas Sharon Robinson (for Kathy Volanty)
Virginia Brian Calhoun
Conference Call Minutes:
Thelma Feaster distributed conference call minutes for January 9, 2004 and April 2, 2004 for review. Minutes from the January 9, 2004 conference call were approved as corrected. Minutes from the April 2, 2004 conference call were approved as written.
FCS Competencies and Modules Development:
Ellen Murphy shared information regarding the four FCS competency areas. She reported that the FCS competency areas on the CECP web site lack consistency in format and neither do they coincide with the recommended CECP format for competencies. Although the CECP format was provided after the FCS competencies were posted, it was agreed that consistency in format is needed. Kathy Volanty will be asked to work with the Competency Committees Chairs to make the necessary adjustments in each competency area to coincide with the CECP format.
Ellen Murphy provided a comprehensive update on the FCS CECP module development. Following an extensive discussion of the development of the modules and a review of the proposed membership for the four module development teams, a chair was identified and new members were added to each. Ellen will incorporate the additions and disseminate the revised list for the module development teams. The chair for each of the module development teams are as follows:
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Irene K. Lee, Arkansas Bobbie Clarke, Tennessee Sue Badenhop, Kentucky Sharon Robinson, Texas (Tentative) |
The Competency Committee Chairs and the Module Development Team Chairs will be invited to participate in the FCS Program Leaders meeting at the Southern Region Program Leadership Committee Meeting in Biloxi, MS – August 29 – September 1, 2004. Ellen and Kathy will communicate (conference call or email) with the chairs of the Competency Committee and Module Development Teams to extend the invitation and to provide additional information about the joint meeting. A FCS assistant director/state program leader will serve as advisor to the Module Development Teams.
Module Development Review Process:
A Family and Consumer Sciences Module Development Review Team will be appointed. The members of the team will include – one non-Extension or Academic faculty, one FCS Agent, one subject matter specialist (from another region), one industry expert (outside partner) and one dean or department head. The review team will outline the review process and give guidance to the module development teams in implementing the established review process. Features of the review process may include blind review, review of content, and review rating check list. The reviewers will have one month to review modules.
Smith-Lever Special Needs Funds:
Bonnie Tanner presented information regarding notification from Colien Hefferan, CSREERS Administrator, of availability of Smith- Lever Special Needs Funds. Funds in the amount of $476,815 are available in FY 2004 under the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2004, Public Law No. 108-199, for the Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service (CSREES) Smith-Lever Special Needs Program. Bonnie suggested writing and submitting a proposal to assist in the support of the FCS Module Development Teams. In response to Bonnie’s suggestion, a team of leaders (Shirley Hasting, Irene K. Lee, Bonnie Tanner and Ellen Murphy, Chair) agreed to develop and submit a proposal for $60,000 to seek seed money to support the module development teams. The proposal is due May 21, 2004.
Food Stamp Nutrition Education Program Update and Discussion:
Obtaining funding in a timely manner continues to be a challenge. Regional Food Stamp Offices across the United States appear to have different guidelines for assessing and awarding funds for Extension proposals. To address this issue, a Food Stamp Nutrition Education Ad Hoc Policy Review Team has been appointed and is working on recommendations for 2006 FSNP proposals. Dr. Irene K. Lee is a member of this team. Southern Extension Directors will meet with Charlie Simmons from the Atlanta Regional Food Stamp Office on June 23, 2004 to discuss the funding and other issues and concerns that FCS programs leaders face with regards to the Food Stamp Nutrition Education Program. FCS program leaders are encouraged to read the GOA Nutrition Education Report in USDA.
National ECOP (BoHS) EFNEP Task Force:
Linda Harriman brought to the attention of the group the need for names of EFNEP coordinators to replace Deborah Reed from Texas who has served on the National EFNEP Task Force. Suggested names include Pam Sigler, Kentucky; Gail Hanular, Georgia; and Evelyn Crayton, Alabama.
Critical Issues
State and Federal Funding Versus Grants and Contracts Committee – Seek funds for high priority areas such as health and wellness, obesity, and debt management. Identify a list of potential funding partners - foundations, financial industry, corporations, etc. The committee chair, Nyda Torres will prepare and submit a report.
Joint Meeting of Critical Issues Committees: (Report provided by Lynn Russell)
Ø Adequate Funding and Staffing for FCS Programs
Ø FCS Position Within Extension and the University
Members present:
Thelma Feaster, Brian Calhoun, S. Robinson (for Kathy Volanty), Ellen Murphy, Shirley Hastings, Thelma Hunter, Evelyn Crayton, Mary Fant, Sandy Zaslow, Lynn Russell and Tom Rodgers
Members of the Adequate Funding and Staffing for FCS Programs committee and the FCS Position Within Extension and the University committee met jointly to review the focus and purpose of each group and determine if common goals and objectives existed.
Tom Rodgers provided a status report on the work of his committee and Lynn Russell shared two sets of meeting notes from previous meetings of the Adequate Funding and Staffing Committee. Because the efforts of the two groups were similar, the committees merged.
Tom Rodgers reviewed two reports that provided some historical data regarding Extension’s position within the University and staffing patterns. Copies of these documents will be mailed to all committee members for future reference.
Members then discussed the need to develop a questionnaire for the purpose of collecting current information on FCS faculty, staffing patterns and related issues. Items for the questionnaire were suggested. Lynn Russell will prepare an initial draft and circulate it among the committee members for feedback and revisions. The questionnaire will be e-mailed to all FCS program leaders in the Southern Region prior to our meeting in August.
During the meeting in August the questionnaire will be reviewed for clarity and a final version will be developed and distributed. Responses will be summarized and used to complete a final report.
Program Leadership Network Obesity Task Force
This is one of the two task forces established within the Program Leadership Committee to address issues of concern in the Southern Region. Just for your information a conference call was set up for Friday, March 26 to begin the dialogue to address critical issues of obesity. The task force will identify current programming efforts in place in the Southern Region; identify state contacts that could work together to address this issue; explore opportunities for multi-state and multi-disciplinary programs in Extension; seek funding that might be a source to use to address this issue; and make necessary recommendations. Since the first scheduled conference was unsuccessful, the task force chair (Thelma Sanders-Hunter) scheduled another conference call for May 21, 2004.
State Updates
Alabama (Crayton) Evelyn is one of the three new state program directors at Auburn University. She has been in her position as Assistant Director, Family and Community Programs for six months. Pleased to have the opportunity to meet with the group to dialogue and engage in discussions on items of concern Extension and Family and Consumer Sciences. Extension is restructuring. FCS is planning 40-year celebration of EFNEP. All FCS state program leaders during this time period will be invited guests. This event is scheduled for August 12, 2004.
Arkansas (I. Lee) Extension is engaged in spinning off programs and reallocating funds for addressing more critical needs of clients. They are beginning a Fatherhood Initiative for minority males and a Grandparents/Grand Children Initiative that will be partnered with minority faith-based organizations. The University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff will be conducting a Merit Review of on-going programs. “Teens on the Go”, a newsletter series for public school students in grades 7 – 12, is entering its 26th year.
Arkansas (L. Russell) Lynn shared information on (1) 21st Century Families Conference, (2) Family and Communication Connections – Building Assets, 2004 and (3) Year of the Family - Rural Family Profile of Arkansas, 2004.
Georgia (T. Rogers) The state cut 7 Extension agent positions – two were 4-H and five were Agriculture. FCS has 42 agent positions for 159 counties. Extension has had great success in securing grants and contracts to support staff. Enrollment in the College continues to grow, currently there are 1400 students. He announced the State of Georgia Families Conference. Tom will retire October 1, 2004. Jorge Atiles will be his successor. The Dean of Agriculture is also retiring.
Kentucky (B. Tanner) Extension’s funding appears to be stable, expected to receive a small raise this year. Extension is restructuring. School of Family and Environmental Sciences is in three departments/divisions. Kentucky is a pilot state for the Beehives Computer Data Set project. Family and Consumer Sciences is working on a new brochure. She provided an overview of the Get Moving Kentucky Health Initiative. Bonnie and two FCS specialists will retire. Position announcements for these positions will be out soon. Kentucky will host the Preister Health Conference April 12 – 16, 2005.
Kentucky (M. Fant) Kentucky State University has a new president – Dr. Mary Sias. Expect that there will be some restructuring but don’t know how Extension will be affected. University is working with legislators to get State Match. Extension is hosting a Research and Extension apprenticeship for high school students in June.
Louisiana (E. Murphy) Extension is reorganizing. Chancellor has appointed a Task Force to look at strategies to prioritize Extension’s programs. Dollars will be redirected to support the priority programs. FCS has submitted proposal to Blue Cross to seek funding for the Body Walk Initiative. Had an excellent FCS Conference which was a partnership and collaboration with the Agents Association and School of Human Ecology. Continuing Education Credit Units were offered for the sessions. She provided an overview and update on the Jump Start Coalition.
Mississippi (B. Howell) Currently there is no state budget. Two new FCS specialists – Family Education and Policy and Family Resource Management – have been hired. FCS will keep its area positions. Two Agromedicine staff persons have been hired. Nutrition, Health, and Interior Design have been moved from the School of Human Sciences. Nutrition and Health will be merging with the Department of Food Science and Technology, while Interior Design will be forming a new college with the School of Architecture and Department of Art.
North Carolina (S. Zaslow) Sandy shared information on the Master of Science in Family Life and Parenting Education which is jointly administered through the Department of Family and Consumer Sciences at North Carolina State University and the Department of Human Development and Family Studies at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. She highlighted the recently updated Extension FCS web site at NCSU.
North Carolina (T. Feaster) Thelma shared a copy of the Solutions for North Carolina which is a multimedia documentation of program impacts and success stories of the Cooperative Extension efforts at North Carolina A & T State. This publication has been distributed throughout the Extension system, North Carolina stakeholders (i.e. UNC Board of Governors, University Chancellors and Officials, University Board of Trustees, Legislators, Strategic Planning Council, State Advisory Council) governmental agencies and private and non-private organizations.
Oklahoma (L. Harriman) The University request to Legislators restore funding for Extension looks hopeful. 4-H and FCS have received additional funding. Linda distributed two FCS public relations items: a brochure, Home and Community Education, and a newsletter, Ambassador Fund Development.
Tennessee (S. Hastings) University of Tennessee’s received increase in funding. Name will change from Agriculture Extension to U T Extension effective July 1, 2004. Extension is restructuring. Tennessee is hosting the National Extension Association of Family and Consumer Sciences Annual Meeting October 3 – 7, 2004. FCS State Program Leaders will during this meeting. Anna Mae Kobbe from CSREES will meet with the leaders on Wednesday, October 6th.
Tennessee (T. Sanders-Hunter) Tennessee State University Cooperative is working with Morgan State University and Meharry Medical College in Nashville to conduct a Multi-site Nutrition Program-Based Applied Obesity Research Project. The project is sponsored by USDA. The targeted audiences are public housing residents. Collaboration will be with Departments of Family and Consumer Sciences at four 1890 universities: Maryland, Georgia, Tennessee, and Mississippi. Florida will be included later. The Food Stamp Nutrition Education Program funding at Tennessee State University was not cut. The program had a state review in April, 2004. This program operates in three major urban areas in Tennessee – Davidson, Hamilton and Shelby counties. Since February, Tennessee State University, has actively participated in a monthly audio conference training focusing on “Children with Incarcerated Parents”. Cooperative Extension has been working collaboratively with the University of Tennessee Extension Service. Plans are underway to have a seminar September 28, 2004 for relatives caring for dependent children. Tennessee State University Cooperative Extension will work with other academics and research to embark upon a service-learning program utilizing 20 college students per year.
Virginia (B. Calhoun) Brian has been serving in the interim position of Assistant Director of Community Initiative for three months. Virginia has interviewed three candidates for Extension Director. Announcement of the Director is expected this week.
Southern Region FCS Program Leaders Meetings
Following the discussion of the need to have more face-to-face meetings to work on priority issues related to Family and Consumer Science across the Southern Region, Bonnie Tanner moved that the FCS program leaders make an effort to two times a year (Fall and Spring). The motion was seconded by Irene K. Lee. The motion was approved.
Conference Call
The next conference call is scheduled for July 9, 2004 at 9:00 Central time. Call in number is 662-325-8448.