Yancey Family & Consumer Sciences (FCS)

FCS Newsletter | July 2022

A QUICK INTRODUCTION

I'm Niki Maness, the new Family & Consumer Sciences Agent with Yancey Cooperative Extension. I've been involved with Extension for several years, but have been in this position for exactly one month. I look forward to offering workshops, classes, and volunteer opportunities for Yancey residents.

I'm sending this first newsletter out to the entire Yancey Cooperative Extension email list, so if you are not interested in receiving these emails, please click the unsubscribe link at the very bottom of this page. These will only come once a month, on the first weekday of the month. If you'd like to be added to the workshops and classes notification list, please visit: https://forms.gle/PNF4r8iVbz4hrEQp9.

WHAT IS FAMILY & CONSUMER SCIENCE?

Since obtaining this position, I've been asked this question over and over.

In the past, you might have heard your parents or grandparents refer to Family and Consumer Sciences (FCS) as “home ec, or home economics”. However, FCS is much more than what was taught in schools decades ago. This class of sciences goes beyond reading a recipe, changing a diaper, stitching a hem, and balancing a checkbook. Family and Consumer Sciences involves absolutely everyone – from newborns to senior citizens – and FCS skills are crucial in our current economy. More people are growing, harvesting, and canning or cooking their own foods, budgeting and prioritizing, and taking care of what they already own.

FIRST STEPS | NEEDS ASSESSMENT

Conducting a needs assessment helps identify where we can make the most significant impact on our community - those areas where the need is greatest and where we have research-based expertise.

As much as I'd love to jump in with programming, I want the county's needs to be the main priority. Although I have years of health data to reference and my personal opinions regarding the community needs, I thought it was best to survey residents to see how the responses looked with the current state of our economy. These informal responses are crucial to the needs assessment because they allow me to target program efforts to address the main issues revealed in the survey. When reviewing the open-ended questions on the needs assessment data, I received several recommendations beyond my control, but many were helpful. I feel confident in Extension's ability to provide education that will benefit the county.

It's not too late to give your thoughts. Click here to complete the county
Needs Assessment

Family & Consumer Sciences is a broad field, and determining the best ways to bridge gaps in the community is a big responsibility. This process could take several months, but in the meantime, I'll be posting helpful tips, information, and articles. The links below will take you to the most up-to-date information from Yancey Cooperative Extension and NC State University Extension Family & Consumer Sciences.

NC State University and N.C. A&T State University work in tandem, along with federal, state and local governments, to form a strategic partnership called N.C. Cooperative Extension.

This institution is an equal opportunity provider.