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 Education 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 lives 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 and continues to rise. 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 and careers through Family and Consumer Sciences. 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 in over 6,500 chapters.
• Like national FCCLA members on Facebook at http://tiny.cc/national_fccla_facebook.
• Follow national FCCLA members on Twitter at http://twitter.com/NationalFCCLA.
  www.fcclainc.org

• Utah has over 2,600 members in 91 chapters.
• Like Utah FCCLA members on Facebook at http://tiny.cc/utah_fccla_facebook.
  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. This year Utah FCCLA students will support the FCCLA National Outreach Campaign to raise funds for the Children’s Miracle Network. Every year 17 million children are treated at more than 170 Children’s Miracle Network hospitals across America. Through 2011, FCCLA students in chapters across Utah will organize events to raise funds that will be used to help support sick and injured children in local hospitals.

In 2010, Utah had 132 students participate in competitive events at the National FCCLA Convention in Chicago, IL. Of these students 112 were medalists, with 23 receiving a gold medal, 67 receiving a silver medal, and 22 receiving a bronze medal. Utah is represented nationally on the FCCLA STAR event task force.

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

Last year, 26,174 students were awarded a CTE Skill Certificate in Family and Consumer Sciences, indicating a high level of performance.

STATE AND LOCAL PARTNERSHIPS

National Restaurant Association
ProStart
Utah Dairy Council
Utah Jump$tart Coalition for Personal Financial Literacy
Utah Nutrition Council
Utah Restaurant Association

Updated May 27, 2011