Chapter 3 The Current State of the F amily and Consumer Sciences Profession
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The American Association of Family and
Consumer Sciences
The American Association of Family and
Consumer Sciences (AAFCS), organized by
Ellen Swallow Richards and others in 1909, is
still a strong voice for families today. AAFCS
is the only professional association that brings
together family and consumer sciences profes-
sionals and students across practice areas and
content specializations. Members include early
childhood, secondary, university, and exten-
sion educators; administrators and managers;
human services professionals; researchers; com-
munity volunteers; business people; and consul-
tants. The AAFCS mission is
To provide leadership and support
for professionals whose work assists
individuals, families, and communities in
making informed decisions about their
well-being, relationships, and resources
to achieve quality of life (AAFCS, 2012a).
Today, the AAFCS endeavors to improve
the quality of life for individuals, families, and
communities by providing educational pro-
grams and resources and by influencing public
policy. The AAFCS continues to react and adapt
to the needs of individuals within the context
of society as it has throughout its history. There
are also state affiliates of the AAFCS. Each state
affiliate has its own officers and meetings or
conferences. The AAFCS is the professional
organization that represents all areas of family
and consumer sciences in the United States.
International Federation for Home
Economics
The International Federation for Home
Economics (IFHE) was founded in 1908
in Switzerland as an International Non-
Governmental Organization (INGO) in consul-
tative status with the United Nations and with the
Council of Europe. There is a national coordinating
body in each participating country, including the
United States. The purpose of IFHE is to facilitate
and increase opportunities in family and consumer
sciences throughout the world. The mission of
the IFHE is “to provide an international forum
for home economists to develop and express the
home economics concerns for individuals, fami-
lies, and households at the United Nations and
among other international non-governmental
organizations whose interests parallel those of
home economics. The ultimate goal of the IFHE
is the improvement of the quality of everyday life
for individuals, families, and households through
the management of their resources” (International
Federation for Home Economics, n.d., “Mission”).
The Association for Career and Technical
Education
The Association for Career and Technical
Education (ACTE) was founded in 1926 and is
currently the largest national education asso-
ciation dedicated to preparing youth and adults
for successful careers. Part of the organization’s
strength is in its numbers. It has over 28,000
members (Association for Career and Technical
Education, 2006). Another strength is its diver-
sity. Career and technical educators, administra-
tors, researchers, and counselors from secondary
through adult levels participate. Career and
technical education includes employment prep-
aration skills as well as specific trade skills. The
organization plays a key role in assuring growth
and funding of educational programs at the
local, state, and federal level. An important part
of this task is communicating with legislators
and government leaders about the programs
and offerings in career and technical education.
When a concern related to technical or career
education is at issue, ACTE becomes involved.
Members are also kept up to date through news
briefs and conferences.
Family and consumer sciences secondary
and post-secondary educators are well rep-
resented within the organization and consti-
tute one of the largest and strongest divisions
within ACTE. It is an active division that serves
its members well. For example, the family and
consumer sciences division of ACTE keeps edu-
cators abreast of current issues and legislation
affecting the profession.