Author: jenkins.188@osu.edu

FCS Still Solving Perennial Problems Today

box of produce
kids drawing on wall
team taking a walking meeting

“We’re scientists, and so we study the whole life line of consumers. And that includes outside the house, in the environment, at work,” Karin Athanas, CEO of AAFCS said as posted on WOSU PBS. Family and Consumer Scientists (FCS) are professionals that work to solve life’s perennial problems. Let’s use the pictures above to define perennial problems. These are problems that constantly reoccur throughout the ages – access to healthy food, healthy living environments, and balancing work and family responsibilities. We are constantly experiencing and hearing about individuals having difficulty solving these perennial problems.

Why should society care about the work of these scientists? Because these perennial problems are shared in our local, state , national and international news everyday. Who is working on helping families and youth address and solve these perennial problems when preparing for workplace and family life in our K-12 schools? Let’s look at the numbers-

DATE PROFESSION NAME STUDENT ENROLLMENT
1850-1909 Domestic Science Historical non-fiction
1915-1959 Home Economics Increased 17% to 50%
1994 -2012 Family and Consumer Sciences Decreased 38% between 2006-2012
Today Health and Human Sciences, Human Ecology, Human Sciences Data not available due to declining value and nomenclature

What can you and I do about lack of FCS enrollment data today and the declining number of opportunities for students experience FCS perennial problems? Enrollment today is challenging to document due to the fact that data is collected via The Perkins Collaborative Resource Network. This network publishes state Career and Technical Education (CTE) enrollment numbers by career cluster. FCS is not recognized as a career cluster in the updated AdvanceCTE . However, FCS content is hidden within other career clusters such as education and training, human services and hospitality/tourism. Enrollment in these areas saw a high level of fluctuation at the secondary level from 2019 to 2023. Lack of consistent data misdirects institutions of higher education when they develop their course catalogs creating a shortage of highly qualified educators through the education system.

We know we have a shortage of highly qualified FCS professionals today. Take action now by clicking here to share your thoughts. Your actions support the FCS educators that write the Live Healthy Live Well Ohio State University Extension blog.

Written by:  Margaret Jenkins, OSU Extension Educator, Clermont County, jenkins.188@osu.edu

Reviewed by:  Beth Stefura, OSU Extension Educator, Mahoning County, stefura.2@osu.edu 

Is It Really a Modernized Career Cluster Framework or Not?

abstract diagram

Thinking of your career as a series of static jobs is a thing of the past. Learning your strengths, skills, and values creates a pathway that targets your unique and individual skills. There are several Career Clusters quizzes that help you identify your skills where you will find individuals who share a set of tasks, technical and transferable skills, work environments and common outcomes. Every industry has a Cluster to assist in finding a role that matches your specific Cluster in a role you will enjoy.

Advance CTE, an organization of state, career and technical education leaders that supports connecting learning to work, released Out Now: Draft National Career Clusters® Framework and National Validation Survey! This draft has a fatal flaw in the document that by not recognizing the work of the family as an industry in the United States. Shame on these leaders! As supporters of Strong Families, Strong Communities, how do we correct and inform this organization of this error and share the importance of families.

The OSU Extension Live Healthy Live Well team uses technology to engage individuals, families, and workplaces in health and wellness programming across the dimensions of wellness. The first dimension identified is Career Wellness relating to career clusters.

Individuals engage in work to gain personal satisfaction and enrichment, consistent with their values, goals and lifestyle. Career Wellness focuses on mankind decisions around a career path and finding meaningful ways to use their strengths to improve the community they engage. Let us work together to correct the fatal flaw in the modernized Career Cluster Framework.

Join me by clicking here to share your beliefs about the value of the work of the family in American society.

Written by:  Margaret Jenkins, OSU Extension Educator, Clermont County, jenkins.188@osu.edu

Reviewed by:  Beth Stefura, OSU Extension Educator, Mahoning County, stefura.2@osu.edu

References:

https://careertech.org/what-we-do/career-clusters/

https://swc.osu.edu/wellness-education-and-resources/ten-dimensions-of-wellness

https://www.aafcs.org/aafcs-advocacy/aafcs-public-policy/action-center

https://www.aafcs.org/aafcs-advocacy/aafcs-public-policy/action-center?vvsrc=%2fCampaigns%2f112035%2fRespond

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Sound Off for Inclusion of Families NOW

A new era of The National Career Clusters® Framework is lifting off, and your voice is needed to shape its future!  The National Career Clusters Framework serves as an organizing tool for Career Technical Education (CTE) programs, curriculum design and instruction. Designed to help learners discover their interests, passions, and empowers them to choose the educational pathway that can lead to success in high school, college and career. You have the opportunity to share your thoughts on the National Career Cluster® Framework now!

Click here to read the article that explains the image below titled, Rationale for Establishing a Family and Consumer Sciences Career Cluster

Rationale for Establishing a Family and Consumer Sciences Career Cluster

Now make time to sound off by completing The National Career Clusters® Framework National Implementation Survey by December 1, 2023. It is a 10-question multiple choice survey with 3 opportunities to enter your support statements for inclusion of Family and Consumer Sciences as a CTE Career Cluster in the future.

Including the study of families = increases work-life balance

Written by: Margaret Jenkins, Assistant Professor, Family and Consumer Sciences, OSU Extension Clermont County, jenkins.188@osu.edu

Reviewed by: Beth Stefura, Extension Educator, Family and Consumer Sciences, OSU Extension Mahoning County, Stefura.2@osu.edu

References:

  1. American Association of Family and Consumer Sciences https://www.aafcs.org/home
  2. Advance CTE
    https://careertech.org/what-we-do/career-clusters/
  3. Say Yes to FCS video
    https://youtu.be/Kya5u4KE72g?si=WhWXZzqxgG-sXUGV

Prioritizing the Work of the Family 2023 & Beyond

Work and family teaching resources from the 1970s: a "Safety in the Kitchen" guide

Photo shows work and family teaching resources from the 1970s. It always helps to “look backward to look forward”.

Earlier this summer I attended the American Association of Family and Consumer Sciences (FCS) 114th Annual Conference in Baltimore, Maryland.  The four-day conference is a national exhibition convened by FCS professionals to explore the field of study focused on the science and the art of living and working well in our complex world. WOW! What an important profession.

I attended a session at the conference titled “From Home Economics to Home Equity – How Education Can Help Close the Chore Gap’ presented by Elizabeth Kinney, Senior Director Communications, Proctor & Gamble (P&G).  Her presentation included consumer research conducted by P&G Home Care brands during the pandemic that resulted in an educational initiative titled Home Eq[uity].  Elizabeth also provided copies of the book titled Fair Play by Eve Rodsky to further support our understanding of the topic. 

Now for the real purpose of this posting. How do you and your family prioritize the work of your family now and into the future?  As I read the book, I shared my learning and thoughts with my coworkers. The discussion started amongst two of us and has spread throughout the office and beyond into our families. 

I realized that this experiential learning might benefit other individuals and families as we all are challenged by changing family dynamics as we live and work in our complex world.

Let’s launch our own Live Healthy Live Well campaign to explore the Work of the Family and specifically your family.  Follow these steps-

  • Identify the daily tasks that are required to meet your needs and wants.
  • Identify who is completing these tasks currently.
  • Reflect back on the task list and who is completing the tasks.
  • Record what you discovered and your feelings about what you learned.
  • Identify what needs changed and what should stay the same.
  • Plan for sharing with other adult family members.
  • Identify what you have learned about the Work of Your Family.

It is time to share back through the Live Healthy Live Well blog what you have discovered about your family and the work they do. I look forward to reporting back the results of our local Live Healthy Live Well campaign to – Prioritize the Work of the Family now and into the future.

Written by: Margaret Jenkins, Assistant Professor, Family and Consumer Sciences, OSU Extension Clermont County

Reviewed by: Beth Stefura, Extension Educator, Family and Consumer Sciences, OSU Extension Mahoning County

References:

  1. American Association of Family and Consumer Sciences https://www.aafcs.org/home
  2. Home Equity  https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230124005045/en/From-Home-Ec-to-Home-Eq-uity-PGs-Dawn-Swiffer-brands-partner-with-Hello-Sunshines-Fair-Play-to-Help-Close-the-Chore-Gap-with-New-Curriculum
  3. Fair Play https://www.google.com/books/edition/Fair_Play/cV6IDwAAQBAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&printsec=frontcover

Just Paying Bills!  Want More Accounting for Your Money!

Calculator and cash
Copyright Haven Life

I am reminded of the challenges families face as we pay our monthly costs for living today. During the first week of every month, I go through the process of paying for regular fixed monthly expenses. Fixed expenses have a specific due date with an amount set by signing a contractual agreement such as rent/mortgage, a student loan, internet, cellphone, or car payment.  Other types of regular expenses may have a variable amount due each month based on monthly purchases or usage rate such a credit cards and utilities.  We receive paper or electronic statements monthly to advise us of payments due. Other spending categories that are fixed with variable costs are food, gasoline, clothing, personal care, and health expenses.  Paying bills today seems to take more time and energy than before the pandemic. Director Chopra at the April 2023 Financial Literacy and Education Commission meeting stated the pandemic turbocharged a transition to banking and digital payments. These changes include:

  • An uptick in trading individual stocks and crypto assets
  • A marked increase in the number of banked individuals, as illustrated through a recent FDIC Ohio survey
  • A jump in consumer reliance on digital payments platforms.
  • The pandemic, Economic Impact Payments and social changes propel banks to increase Junk Fees
  • Further adoption and increased use of apps like Google Pay, Apple Pay, Venmo, and Cash App.

These banking transitions have increased risk and added additional time and effort to paying our bills.  We are constantly challenged to navigate the sea of emergent digital products and services being marketed to us. 

Revisit Ohio State University Extension’s Accounting for Your Money Hope Chest to “help people help themselves” as families work to achieve financial wellness during this time of rapid social and economic change. Managing and controlling our spending and saving is needed to build hope and manage emergent financial stress.

The purpose of the Hope Chest is for individuals and families to –

  • Prioritize spending by separating needs from wants
  • Identify realistic/SMARTER goals
  • Gather current financial saving and spending information
  • Locate emergency resources
  • Analyze their current budget
  • Develop a “sustainable” Accounting for Your Money calendar
  • Take control of spending resulting in increased saving for family goals.

Work through the steps of the Accounting for Your Money Hope Chest with your family members and/or co-spenders as you and your family adjust to changing basic needs and wants. Determine how to best spend your money during this period of rapid social and economic change. Your family will be empowered to meet the new challenges brought about by the change, reducing financial emergencies, and easing future financial stress.

Written by: Margaret Jenkins, Assistant Professor, Family and Consumer Sciences, OSU Extension Clermont County

Reviewed by: Beth Stefura, Extension Educator, Family and Consumer Sciences, OSU Extension Mahoning County

References:

  1. https://www.consumerfinance.gov/about-us/newsroom/prepared-remarks-director-rohit-chopra-april-2023-financial-literacy-education-commission/
  2. 2021 FDIC National Survey of Unbanked and Underbanked Households
  3. COVID-19 Drives Global Surge in use of Digital Payments (worldbank.org)
  4. How did the pandemic change the way we bank? (clevelandfed.org) and Trends in the Noninterest Income of Banks (clevelandfed.org)
  5. Comparing Overdraft Fees and Policies across Banks (CFPB Blog)

Game of LIFE = Behavioral Economics aka Emotions & Money  

The board game called LIFE was originally created in 1860 by Milton Bradley. The game simulates a person’s travels through their life, from early adulthood to retirement, with college if necessary, jobs, marriage/companionship, and possible children along the way.

As we all travel the journey of life, we all make decisions to fill our needs and wants. Filling our needs and wants requires MONEY, and each decision has costs associated with fulfillment. We call this the opportunity cost of a decision. Each time we make a decision to spend or save MONEY. We also make a decision to NOT spend or save for something else.

Americans live and work in a market economy that demonstrate the six characteristics in the image below:

  1. Private property
  2. Freedom of choice
  3. Motive of self-interest
  4. Competition
  5. System of markets and price
  6. Limited government
characteristics of a market economy

Healthy Finances refer to a state of financial well-being.  A team of researchers assembled by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) suggests financial well-being can be defined as a state of being where you: 

  1. Have control over day-to-day, month-to-month finances 
  1. Have the capacity to absorb a financial shock 
  1. Are on track to meet your financial goals 
  1. Have the financial freedom to make the choices that allow you to enjoy life.

Now is a good time to identify what your emotions are around money.

Use a notebook or journal to write about three money decisions you made within the past four weeks.  Next, go back and reread what you wrote and circle the words that describe the emotions you experienced in the decision-making process.   

Whatever the emotions, make space for them and acknowledge what they’re telling you. Make time to learn from them and decide which ones to let go as you move forward on life’s journey.

Author: Margaret Jenkins, Family and Consumer Sciences Educator, OSU Extension Clermont County

Reviewer: Mackenzie Mahon, 4-H and Family and Consumer Sciences Educator, OSU Extension Clermont County

References 

  1. Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (2014). Financial Literacy Annual Report. http://www.consumerfinance.gov/reports/financial-literacy-annual-report-2014/
  1.  Melnyk, B.M. & Neale, S. (2021). 9 dimensions of wellness: Evidence-based tactics for optimizing your health and well-being. The Ohio State University. https://wellness.osu.edu/sites/default/files/documents/2021/05/9%20Dimensions%20of%20Wellness%20Digital.pdf

Diabetes-Not Your Grandparent’s Disease

older adults driving

With lifestyles constantly changing we need new opportunities for managing our well-being. Lifestyle Education is an on-going need for all family members. Everyday we hear how our health and wellness is under “attack”. We question the information being presented by and through the worldwide economic markets. America prides itself and supports research-based educational institutions. American History supports this fact by our legislative branch of government passing the Morrill Act of 1862 in which land was set a side to establish “land-grant colleges and universities” ; and in 1914, passing the Smith-Lever Act that established the Cooperative Extension Service in Agriculture and Home Economics.

What does this mean to Americans today – 108 years later? The demand for Continuing Lifestyle Education is higher today then in 1914. The Ohio State University Family & Consumer Sciences Extension Educators have stepped up to address the demand by offering Virtual Dining with Diabetes, a Lifestyle Education opportunity.

Virtual cooking school
Virtual cooking school dates

Registration: go.osu.edu/dwdfallseries2022

Written by:  Margaret Jenkins, OSU Extension Assistant Professor, Clermont County jenkins.188@osu.edu

Reviewed by: Beth Stefura, OSU Extension Educator, Mahoning County. stefura.2@osu.edu

References:

Jones, Jo M. and Spiegel, Marilyn. Memories and Milestones of OSU Extension 1905-2013. Columbus, OH: The Ohio State University College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences, 2013.

Remley, Daniel and Leadership Team. National Extension Dining with Diabetes Working Group. Housed at Ohio State University Extension in College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences, https://fcs.osu.edu/programs/nutrition/dining-diabetes. 2022.

Boschetto, Lacee R. and Williams, Amber S. Enriching an FCS Teacher Education Program with a Non-Formal Educational Emphasis. Proc. of American Association Family & Consumer Sciences Annual Meeting, Orlando, 2022.