50
Unit 1 Foundations and Trends in Family and Consumer Sciences
levels, and improve the quality and consistency
of professional services rendered.
You are expected to exhibit ethical behavior
as you prepare for your profession. For example,
students demonstrate honesty by avoiding pla-
giarism and correctly giving credit to sources.
When you are placed in a field site for internship
or clinical experiences, you may have access to
confidential information, which should not be
shared. The Code of Ethics of the American
Association of Family and Consumer Sciences
(available at the organization’s website) applies
throughout the field, but there are also specific
codes in dietetics, early childhood education,
interior design, education, and other related
fields. Check the websites of professional orga-
nizations to find the applicable codes.
Leadership: Past,
Present, and Future
Leadership involves knowing what is hap-
pening in the world around you and responding
to make a difference. There are many definitions
of leadership. A simple one states that leadership
is the process of leading others toward an estab-
lished goal. Other definitions are more complex.
For example, Bennis’ (1989) definition of leadership
focuses on the personal capabilities of the leader.
He advises leaders to know themselves, to com-
municate a well-articulated vision of where they
want to go, and to build trust among followers
in the process.
Family and consumer sciences has moved
forward since its inception because of its past
leaders and practicing professionals. In Chapter 1,
you read about Ellen Swallow Richards and her
involvement in the formation of the family and
consumer sciences discipline, as well as stories
of other pioneers in the field. Family and con-
sumer sciences is a discipline that focuses on
people and families. It is also about their sto-
ries. The remainder of this book features stories
of contemporary leaders in the field, as well as
practicing family and consumer sciences pro-
fessionals. Stories connect people with each
other and with themselves and will help read-
ers become the future leaders of family and con-
sumer sciences.
Family and Consumer Sciences
Organizations: Providing
Opportunities for Leadership
One of the best ways to know what is hap-
pening in your field and to hear from leaders in
your interest area is to join a professional orga-
nization. Several “umbrella” organizations for
family and consumer sciences serve as good
sources of information. See Figure 3-3. Each of
these organizations is described in the follow-
ing paragraphs. Visit these organizations online
or read some of their publications.
Websites for Family and Consumer Sciences Organizations
American Association of Family and Consumer Sciences aafcs.org
Association for Career and Technical Education acteonline.org
International Federation for Home Economics ifhe.org
Kappa Omicron Nu kon.org
National Coalition for Black Development in Family and
Consumer Sciences
ncbdfcs.org
Phi Upsilon Omicron phiu.org
Figure 3-3 Access these websites for information about family and consumer sciences organizations.