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Introduction
Strengthening Family & Self is designed to help you grow and develop to your full potential.
Equally important, this text is designed to assist you in developing skills that contribute to a strong
and healthy family unit and success in your future career.
The focus of this text is people—especially you, but also your family, friends, acquaintances, and
others with whom you have contact. Each of these individuals is an important part of your life. The
text covers skills for relating to others, preparing for and adjusting to marriage, nurturing a family
unit, and managing personal resources and multiple roles.
Strengthening Family & Self can also help you develop lifelong skills for managing all areas of
your life. With help from the text, you can acquire the skills needed for adjusting to change, choosing
and building a successful career, and caring for personal and family needs. You will also learn how to
meet the housing, food, health, clothing, and transportation challenges of daily living.
About the Author
Leona Johnson, EdS, is presently the PK-12 Director of Curriculum and Instruction in her
district. She is leading the district in new initiatives, including reading across the curriculum K-12,
STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) initiatives, Formative and Summative
Assessments, Six Trait Writing, and differentiated instruction. Johnson has been active in school
improvement programs, performing school evaluations in area districts, and presenting workshops
on various topics. She is a participating member of several professional organizations and has
received recognition for her various academic and professional endeavors, including a Kohl Fellow
Scholarship and Award of Excellence for her contributions to education. Johnson previously taught
secondary family and consumer sciences in her district, and individual and family relations at the
University of Wisconsin-Stout. In addition, she has served as a research specialist for the University.