In a world undergoing rapid transformation, the field of Home Economics & Family Consumer Sciences finds itself at a critical juncture. This session explores the significance of strategic planning as a key catalyst for navigating the evolving landscape of family and consumer sciences. Through best practices and insightful case studies, participants will witness the tangible impact of strategic planning on organizations, partners, and clientele. Strategic planning is not merely a bureaucratic process; it is the cornerstone of innovation, adaptability, and long-term sustainability. Attendees will uncover how strategic planning can effectively bridge the wisdom of the past, grounded in home economics, with the demands of the modern era. It provides a roadmap for aligning program goals with the changing needs of students and society, ensuring the continued relevance of the profession. Join us to embark on a journey of strategic reflection, innovation, and planning as we collectively chart a course toward a future where Home Economics/Family & Consumer Sciences remains at the forefront of transformational education, empowering individuals and families to thrive in a changing world.

Bridging an active professional career and retirement is possible. Volunteering is one means to remain engaged. Numerous opportunities to volunteer exist and determining which to accept can be a challenge.

The Family and Consumer Sciences Body of Knowledge holistically examines reciprocal relationships in an individual’s environment that guides lifelong development including moving from an active career to retirement. Developing programs addressing individual, family, and community needs has been a hallmark of Home Economics. Integrating ecosystem and life course development supports the holistic and integrative nature of the profession.

This paper reviews the available literature and interprets the value of home economics expertise in the work of a volunteer, and analyzes benefits gained serving as a volunteer. This review suggests additional research and programming.

Volunteer engagement has been found to be a significant predictor of life satisfaction. Research finds that volunteering may protect the brain. Individuals who volunteer several times per week have the highest development of the processes that help one plan, focus attention, remember, and prioritize. Other benefits include increased self-confidence, happiness, being able to make a difference, and combating depression and mental health issues.

Communities value the knowledge and skills home economists contribute whether employed or retired.

Over the past three years, university recruiting practices have drastically transformed to follow pandemic guidelines. Students, parents, teachers, and other professionals who help facilitate the university decision-making process have had less access to in-person events (college fairs, campus visits, etc.) which create a direct connection between the university and potential students. Anecdotal evidence shows that a personal connection to the university is one of many factors in the final university decision-making process. In this presentation, members of the Texas Tech University College of Human Sciences Faculty and Staff will identify how they have worked together to grow the Family and Consumer Sciences Education Program. Emphasis will be placed on innovative recruitment practices as well as new degree programs available for students at a distance. The distance programs offered through Family and Consumer Sciences allow students to have a transformative educational experience while also considering their own need for community and familial support. The Say Yes to FCS Teaching Summer Camp and other recruitment strategies will also be addressed.

In the United States, Family and Consumer Sciences (FCS) has a strong history of providing relevant community-based FCS programming through Cooperative Extension. Comprehensive situational analyses provide a strong foundation to ensure that FCS programs are addressing critical issues facing communities. Situational analyses are similar to needs assessments in that situational analyses identify needs facing communities but they also include a focus on community assets and strengths. Situational analyses involve a variety of methods that actively engage community members throughout the process from developing tools to data collection to interpretation and dissemination. University of Tennessee Extension FCS has conducted situational analyses related to diverse issues impacting communities like obesity prevention, substance misuse, and economic issues facing families like debt and bankruptcy. UT Extension FCS has successfully used a variety of methods and tools that include asset mapping, Ripple Effects Mapping, surveys, focus groups, interviews and observations as well as methods for working with groups to help prioritize issues and programs. This presentation will review these methods using several case studies and will provide tools and examples to help participants identify best practices to help strengthen their programs through situational analyses.

For over a century, Extension Family and Consumer Sciences (FCS) Educators have served as trusted resources for individuals and families, reaching people where they live, work, learn, and play with research-based information and helping people solve problems and improve lives. That legacy continues as Extension FCS educators advance wellbeing through systems-level approaches and grassroots community engagement. This session will highlight how one university’s FCS Extension program in the United States uses a social determinants of health framework to guide its programmatic approach to advance individual, family, and community wellbeing. The utility of employing a social determinants of health lens to guide program development and implementation will be explored. Specific examples highlighting educational programs; policy, systems, and environmental approaches; and social marketing interventions will showcase how the cross-disciplinary and comprehensive nature of FCS helps to advance family well-being across multiple dimensions. Discussion points will include how the university’s current portfolio of Extension outreach efforts improve economic stability, healthcare access and quality, health-related behaviors, built environments, social and communal living, and educational quality. By harnessing the power of cross-disciplinary approaches, presenters will demonstrate how Extension FCS is well positioned to play a progressive role in shaping a future of sustainable, healthy living.