Family and consumer sciences overview

Family and Consumer Sciences

The American Association of Family and Consumer Sciences (AAFCS) was established in 1909 as the American Home Economics Association. Since that time, AAFCS has been committed to optimizing the well-being of families and individuals by empowering members to act on continuing and emerging concerns; focusing the expertise of members for action on critical issues; and assuming leadership among organizations with mutual purposes. (AAFCS, 2005).

Family studies and services fit within the Family and Consumer Sciences profession in the sense that it enhances the quality of life for individuals, families, and communities through education, research, creative endeavors, and public service. The inspiration came from the belief that a supportive, challenging learning environment is a foundation for the personal, intellectual and professional development in Family and Consumer Sciences. This area encompasses the study of relationships among people and their personal environments, focusing on the impact of physical, biological, and social environments on human behavior and development. Thus, one gets prepared to become an informed citizen and professional through the study of its programs.

The mission of Family and Consumer Sciences is that of preparing students to culturally offer solutions to problems that individuals go through including families and communities, this engagement can be done through giving food, clothing, shelter, and creating good family relationships. The quality of life for individuals and families within the global community seeks to be improved through education and supported by research and service. Areas such as interaction of family, environments surrounding residence, human growth and development, foods and nutrition, management of human and resource material, and consumer studies are the main focus on this. Family and Consumer Sciences prepares students to improve the global society through its life span perspective and with an applied integrative focus on individual and family development, nutrition and health, consumer studies, merchandising, apparel and textile design and hospitality management

The Code of Ethics of AAFCS and NCFR

The American Association of Family and Consumer Sciences (AAFCS) was constituted over a century ago as the American Home Economics Association. Since its inception, AAFCS has always devoted itself to optimizing the welfares of families and individuals. This is done by enduing members to act on emerging concerns. AAFCS also focus the expertise of members for action on important issues. It also assumes leadership among organizations with common purposes. AAFCS is also involved with a number of activities. Some of them include advocating the Code of Ethics, producing a professional journal, certification of academic programs, and extending professional certification chances to those already practicing in the field.

It is AAFCS that conducts a credentialing program for family and consumer sciences professionals. The Certified in Family and Consumer Sciences (CFCS) professional authentication involves three components. The first component involves a specified prerequisite, then a standards-based examination system, and finally a continuing professional growth. The Council for Certification (CFC) is an independent unit within the AAFCS association.

The Code of Ethics of the American Association of Family are the principles intended to help members of the association individually and collectively in maintaining a distinguished level of ethical conduct. They are also the guidelines by which a member determines the correctitude of conduct in relationships with the clients, colleagues, members of allied professions and with various populaces.

A member of the family and consumer sciences profession and of AAFCS is required by the code of ethics to maintain the highest responsible standard of professional performance. At all times, a member should uphold confidentiality and act with intelligence, dedication, and ebullience. A member is required to fulfill the obligation in order to continually advance and extend personal professional qualification. Sharing the professional competence with colleagues and clients is also a requirement meant to enlarge and carry on development of the profession.

The code of ethics requires members to support the objectives of the American Association of Family and Consumer Sciences. Members should also take part in its development through informed, active participation in its programs. Extending public cognizance and understanding of the profession is also a duty of the members as required by the profession. As a focus for professional efforts, the code of ethics requires members to maintain a dedication of enhancing individual and family potential.

Since its inception in 1938, National Council on Family Relations (NCFR) has linked multi-disciplinary family professionals by providing journals, conferences, state affiliate councils, and special interest sections. NCFR is non-profit organization, nonpartisan and fully funded by members. From all family fields and disciplines researchers, educators, practitioners, and policymakers are able to share knowledge and information about families.

NCFR professional code of ethics provides guidelines when professionals find challenging and difficult ethical dilemmas. They also serve notice to the public, and profession. They help to identify the principles and values that will guide decision making under difficult circumstances. The ethical principles are basically standards of conduct in which Family Life Educators consider in ethical and professional decision making.