Headlines Reveal Critical Headlines Reveal Critical Life IssuesLife Issues

What’s Being Done About What’s Being Done About Them?Them?

Obesity EpidemicObesity Epidemic

• 50% of U.S. adults are overweight50% of U.S. adults are overweight

• 15% of children and adolescents are 15% of children and adolescents are overweight alsooverweight also

• Approximately 2/3 of deaths each Approximately 2/3 of deaths each year are diet-relatedyear are diet-related

Consumer Debt/Financial Consumer Debt/Financial CrisesCrises• More than 40% of American families More than 40% of American families

spend more than they earnspend more than they earn

• Credit card debt is at an all-time highCredit card debt is at an all-time high

• Personal bankruptcy filings have Personal bankruptcy filings have increased by more than 200% during increased by more than 200% during the past decade.the past decade.

• Millions of adults face financial Millions of adults face financial hardships during retirementhardships during retirement

Lack of School Lack of School Readiness/Academic Readiness/Academic AchievementAchievement• Many children come to school Many children come to school

unprepared to learnunprepared to learn

• Parenting practices are linked to Parenting practices are linked to brain and other forms of human brain and other forms of human developmentdevelopment

• Family involvement in education Family involvement in education predicts academic achievementpredicts academic achievement

School School Dropouts/UnemploymentDropouts/Unemployment

• High school dropouts earn one-half High school dropouts earn one-half the annual income as a high school the annual income as a high school graduategraduate

• Many growing career areas have a Many growing career areas have a shortage of workers due to lack of shortage of workers due to lack of skilled employeesskilled employees

Family and Consumer Sciences Family and Consumer Sciences Education Provides Solutions!Education Provides Solutions!

• National Standards have been National Standards have been established for educational programs established for educational programs in these and other important areasin these and other important areas

• Curricula and courses exist to address Curricula and courses exist to address these problems proactively in middle these problems proactively in middle and high schools throughout the U.S.and high schools throughout the U.S.

• FCCLA student organization extends FCCLA student organization extends learning and provides leadership learning and provides leadership opportunities for studentsopportunities for students

Sample CoursesSample Courses

• Nutrition and WellnessNutrition and Wellness• Family Financial Family Financial

Management/Consumer EconomicsManagement/Consumer Economics• ParentingParenting• Child DevelopmentChild Development• Family RelationshipsFamily Relationships• Food ServicesFood Services• Child Care ServicesChild Care Services

Sample FCCLA ProgramsSample FCCLA Programs

• Financial FitnessFinancial Fitness

• Student Body (nutrition)Student Body (nutrition)

• Families FirstFamilies First

• Power of OnePower of One

• Stop the ViolenceStop the Violence

• Career ConnectionCareer Connection

• Leaders at WorkLeaders at Work

Family and Consumer Family and Consumer Sciences EducationSciences Education

Making a Difference Today for Making a Difference Today for a Better Tomorrowa Better Tomorrow

Developed byDeveloped by

The National Coalition for The National Coalition for Family and Consumer Family and Consumer Sciences EducationSciences Education

SourcesSources

• Whitney & Rolfes (2005). Understanding Whitney & Rolfes (2005). Understanding Nutrition.Nutrition.

• National Center for Health Statistics National Center for Health Statistics (2004). Health in the United States.(2004). Health in the United States.

• Keown (2004). Personal Finance.Keown (2004). Personal Finance.• Rhode Island KidsCount (2005). The Rhode Island KidsCount (2005). The

National School Readiness Indicators National School Readiness Indicators Initiative.Initiative.

• U.S. Bureau of Labor Statustics (2003). U.S. Bureau of Labor Statustics (2003). Occupational Outlook Handbook.Occupational Outlook Handbook.