FACS Program Overview - PDF

Our mission:
Family and Consumer Sciences Education (FACS) helps prepare students for family life, work life, and careers in family and consumer sciences by providing opportunities to develop the knowledge, skills, attitudes, and behaviors needed through character development, creative and critical thinking, interpersonal communication, practical knowledge, and vocational preparation.

FAMILY AND CONSUMER SCIENCES EDUCATION PATHWAYS
The Utah FACS Pathways are based on national skills standards and the national cluster pathways for FACS. By taking FACS courses, all students in each of the CTE career clusters learn core knowledge and skills that prepare them for independent living and the workforce, which increases personal and community well-being.

Family and Consumer Sciences Education empowers individuals and families throughout their life to manage the challenges of living and working in a diverse, global society. The challenges individuals face throughout their lives include balancing personal, home, family and work lives; acquiring marketable skills to be successful in life management, employment, and career development; promoting optimal nutrition and wellness; and managing resources to meet the material needs of individuals and families.

In today’s society there are more two-career families than ever before and the number of personal bankruptcies has risen 400 percent in the past 25 years. Family and Consumer Sciences can give individuals the practical knowledge, critical and creative thinking skills to address problems in diverse family, community, and work environments.

Below are the eight Pathways in Family & Consumer Sciences Education:

Child Development

Consumer Economics Services

Family and Human Services

Fashion Design, Manufacturing and Merchandising

Food Science, Dietetics and Nutrition

Food Service and Culinary Arts

Hospitality Services

Interior Design

Our vision is to empower students and families to manage the challenges of living and working in a diverse, global society. Our unique focus is on families, work, and their interrelationships.

STUDENT LEADERSHIP ORGANIZATION
Family, Career and Community Leaders of America (FCCLA) is the student leadership organization for FACS education. FCCLA provides students with opportunities to attain knowledge, skills, and leadership characteristics necessary to succeed in life as well as promoting personal growth and leadership development. Focusing on the multiple roles of family member, wage earner, and community leader, members develop skills for life.

• Nationally there are over 220,000 members.
• Utah has over 2,600 members.
  www.utahfccla.org

Involvement in FCCLA offers members the opportunity to expand their leadership potential and develop skills for life planning, goal setting, problem solving, decision making, and interpersonal communication necessary in the home and workplace.

NATIONAL RECOGNITION
There are numerous FCCLA programs that encourage students to strive to improve their school and community. One such program is “STOP the Violence” (Students Taking On Prevention) which is taking on violence in America’s schools by empowering students to create projects that address specific needs in their school. STOP provides students with the tools necessary to solve their own problems. STOP teaches students how to recognize warning signs of violence and what to do in a variety of situations, as well as practical skills to recognize, intervene, and stop violence. The campaign is taught, created, run, and evaluated by students.

In 2008, Ogden High School and student Shaylene Parry were selected as the Utah State Financial Fitness National Program winner. They also were selected as the National Runner up for the Financial Fitness National Program. Shaylene is also the state liaison for American Saves and the FCCLA Save National Program.

CAREER PREPARATION/ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
Family and Consumer Sciences courses provide students with skills needed to balance life and careers.

In 2008-2009, 26,174 students were awarded a CTE Skill Certificate in Family and Consumer Sciences, indicating a high level of performance.

STATE AND LOCAL PARTNERSHIPS

Art Institute of Salt Lake City
Governor’s Commission on Marriage and Families
Utah Dairy Council
Utah Nutrition Council
Utah Restaurant Association

Updated January 22, 2010