Washington County
Family and Consumer Science
Our Purpose, Strength, Vision, and Program
Our Purpose
Strengthen the family unit. This is a critical step in
addressing problems facing families today. Focusing educational efforts
on family members, child care providers and other adult role models
fosters a supportive network within the community. Programs targeting
those at highest risk are the challenge of educators as we help families
move into the 21st century.
Our Strength
Involve people in program planning. This is a key factor in
delivering programs that make a difference. Providing opportunities for
continuous input is essential to the success of programs. The
development of programs that are effectively balanced between felt
needs, emerging problems and new knowledge makes a difference.
Our Vision
Enhance Individual, family and community well-being. This is
being done through an education process that employs research-based
knowledge for decision-making. The information and research is generated
through the cooperation of Washington County, University of Arkansas,
and United States Department of Agriculture.
Our Program
Strengthen Family Relationships
Create effective families that contribute to positive, individual
development, a quality work place and work force, caring communities and a
healthy nation. Strong families nurture members across the life span. Family
life programs empower individuals and families to apply practices that result in
increased capacity and enhanced well-being.
The Focus of family life programs is to:
Help clientele increase parenting skills related to caring for oneself,
understanding children, motivating, nurturing and guiding them and serving as
advocates. Help clientele improve skills in resolving conflicts and making
effective decisions. Help clientele deal with physical, social and
psychological challenges
Improve Economic Stability
To help families function at their highest level, financial management
programs teach skills in critical thinking and decision-making. Individuals and
families positively affect public policy, social issues and their own lifestyle.
The Focus of financial management programs is to:
Improve consumer skills in evaluating information, resolving conflicts and
making effective decisions. Make lifestyle choices consistent with
resources to minimize the abuse of consumer credit. Explore opportunities
to assist individuals and families with job security and income-generating
alternatives
Adopt Lifestyle Practices that Promote Health and Wellness
Extension education seeks to change attitudes and behaviors by increased
understanding of the relationship between lifestyle and overall health.
Extension health and wellness educational programs help people gain knowledge to
access and compile information, evaluate alternatives and select appropriate
courses of action.
The focus of health and wellness programs is to:
Help clientele identify and reduce risk factors that lead to premature death.
Enable people to change personal behavior and self-care practices.
Encourage a wider array of health-related alternatives, i.e. exercise, healthy
diets and positive mental health practices. Improve the ability of all
members of the food system to make informed, responsible decisions related to
food safety. Teach community member the skills to address health care
concerns. Educate individuals and communities on hunger and food security
issues and how to create coalitions with consumer advocacy groups
Develop Supportive Home and Community Environments
Extension housing programs address the need for safe, suitable and affordable
housing for low and moderate income households in rural and urban areas. Rural
housing quality has improved over the last two decades in Arkansas, but
substandard housing is still a problem faced by more than one-fourth of all
rural residents. Housing costs in rural areas have risen for both owners and
renters, while incomes have declined.
The focus of housing programs is to:
Strengthen the abilities of individuals and families to acquire and maintain
a safe, suitable, satisfying and affordable living environment. Improve
consumer skills in making sound housing decisions relative to their needs,
interests, skills and resources. Address housing issues that affect the
health of the family, including indoor air quality, hazardous materials in the
house and the use and disposal of hazardous products
Program Impact
Strengthening Family Relationships
7,220 parents reported increased knowledge of child development principles.
4,157 parents of newborns received information pertinent to the child's
development. 2,160 adults learned skills and techniques for the enhancement of
their own and their children's self-esteem. 1,369 parents reported using a newly
learned skill related to stress management, goal setting or decision-making.
1,313 families said they now use new communication techniques learned from
Extension programs. 6,970 children participated in the "On My Own at Home"
series, a program to help children manage more effectively. 6,874 children said
they are using new Extension-taught techniques to build their personal
self-esteem. 27,925 youth developed decision-making and refusal skills for
effectively managing peer pressure.
Program Impact
Improving Economic Stability
30,856 learned resource management information through newsletters and 1,008
learned by correspondence courses. 1,000 individuals enrolled in Extension
Estate Planning Workshops this past year.
-24% planned to communicate with family members about the distribution of
their estate
-52% planned to update their wills
-50% planned to develop a net worth statement
-46% planned to prepare a living trust
150 individuals participated in a consumer fraud day to reduce fraudulent
practices targeting the elderly. 1,500 students in 33 schools were introduced to
financial planning through the High School Financial Planning Program.
-77.5% wrote personal money management goals
-82.4% of the students made a written spending plan
-35.3% of the students established a savings plan
-176 participated in home-based business education workshops
-5 established a business with an average income of $3,000
-4 jobs were retained or saved
-11 new jobs were created
Purpose:
To provide individuals and families the necessary skills to continue growth
and development throughout the life cycle.
To provide programming which targets persons at all stages of individual
development from the earliest years to the later years.
Goals:
To empower individuals, families, youth and communities to improve the
quality of life.
To enhance economic opportunity and quality of life for citizens and
communities.
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