LSU AgCenter
Jefferson Parish & St. Charles Parish Family and Consumer Sciences
(FCS) Advisory Council Meeting
Wednesday, July 11, 2007, 10:00 am
Jefferson Urban Center
Minutes

Present: Alexis O’Dwyer Navarro, FCS Extension Agent (Jefferson Parish), Deniese Zeringue, FCS Extension Agent (St. Charles Parish), Elizabeth Gambel, MS, FCS Extension Agent, (South Central/Crescent Region), Dr. Stephen Mullen, (South Central /Crescent Region Director), Vicki Jeansonne, Parenting Educator (Jefferson), Terry Boudreaux, Administrative Coordinator, (Jefferson), Ann Koen, (West Bank Office of Family Support), Ramona Stamper-Fitzmorris (Louisiana Department of Education), Don Dessauer (Rummel High School), Greg Alexander (Human Resources Jefferson Parish), Jim Davis (East Bank Regional Library), Don Palmisano (resident), Kathryn Wilson (East Bank Office of Family Support), Leah Palmisano (resident), Neva Shillington (Smart Bodies, Woodmere), Sydna Barocco (Smart Bodies, Audubon).

Alexis Navarro opened the meeting by welcoming everyone and asking everyone to introduce themselves and name the organization or program to which they belong.

The members were asked to select one word that they could share with someone about the meaning of family.

A power point presentation was introduced by Deniese Zeringue describing the role of the LSU AgCenter Research and Extension Center (e.g. why we exist, how we are organized, the administrative structure, as well as, the LSU System Organizational Structure.)

Deniese talked about the need for funding and described the source of funding for the LSU AgCenter Extension Service. She emphasized that 76% of funding comes from the state and that 21% comes from federal funding. Only 3% comes from local government and that the goal was to increase local funding to a minimum of 10% per parish over the next 2 years.

Deniese continued her commentary by pointing out that the extension service conducts educational programs in 3 major areas (e.g. Agriculture & Natural Resources (ANR), Family and Consumer Science, and Youth). Extension takes the resources of the university to the people of Louisiana for improved quality of life.

Alexis continued the power point presentation by describing the importance of Louisiana Cooperative Extension Service Advisory Leadership and the role that leadership plays in legitimizing programs that will meet the needs of its constituents. She emphasized the primary function of the advisory leadership council is to obtain stakeholder input, to develop leadership potential in members, and to create public awareness of the value of extension and its program. Alexis pointed out that the responsibilities of an advisory leader are to represent their peers in the community, identify the needs & issues of concern and to provide program direction. Alexis also explained to the members that they were chosen for their expertise and that they were ambassadors representing our organization to other areas of our parish.

Alexis introduced the FCS Initiatives, Health and Nutrition, Family Development and Family Resource Management. Health and Nutrition Program such as the Food and Nutrition Program (FNP), Portions, Serving Food Safely and the Smart Choices Program were just a few described.

Alexis briefly described a few of the Family Development Programs such as the Child Care Provider Training Program and Parents Preparing for Success Program which are currently being offered by the LSU AgCenter. Parenting Educator, Vicki Jeansonne described some of the topics covered in the parenting program (e.g. child proofing homes, accident prevention, child tax credit, baby development, how to budget money). Vicki emphasized the importance of these programs and expressed a great need for these programs. Alexis pointed out that the “Children in the Middle Program” is another excellent program which helps adults refrain from using children as the go-between in divorce cases.

Alexis also presented the statistical impact Family Development Programming has had in Jefferson Parish from 2006-2007. There were approximately 2,524 participants for the 114 Child Care Provider Training Classes that were taught. For the Parents Preparing for Success Program there were 144 referrals of which 28 individuals completed the 6 week series. Volunteer groups such as the Jefferson Volunteers for Family and Community have greatly helped in the areas of Family Development, Literacy, and Environment. Through grant funding, programs such as Smart Bodies will be taught in 10 schools throughout the parish in 2007/2008.

Beth Gambel discussed the Senior Programs that are offered by the LSU AgCenter for the elderly and their caregivers (e.g. Company’s Coming, Grandparents Raising Grandchildren, Grandmother’s Yellow Pie Plate, and Nutrition for Seniors). Beth emphasized that we must understand the increasing needs of the elderly and caregivers and make them aware that programs are available to them.

Deniese presented a number of Family Resource Management Programs offered by the LSU AgCenter. Programs such as Saving and Investing for Life Program (SAIL), Feed the Pig, Jump Start- Financial Smarts for Students, and Welcome to the Real World. Deniese described the SAIL program as being one of a series of free financial education programs that can help school system employees improve their financial wellbeing.

The ALC members were asked for their input by identifying the needs that would be most helpful in improving the lives of the people in the parish. The members were asked to vote on the programs that would best serve the parish.

Results of the voting are as follows:

Family Development Programming:
· Parents Preparing for Success 10
· Children in the Middle 4
· Child Care Training Provider 1

Senior Programming:
· Grandparents Raising Grandchildren 7
· Company’s Coming 2
· Grandmother’s Yellow Pie Plate 2
· Nutrition for Seniors 1

Family Resource Management Programming:
· Welcome to the Real World 8
· Saving and Investing for Life (SAIL) 7
· Jump Start-Financial Smarts for Students 4
· Feed the Pig 2

Alexis, Beth, Deniese and Dr. Mullen thanked everyone for participating and for their feedback. Dr. Mullen maintained that the LSU AgCenter’s goal is to improve the lives of people through education and again emphasized the need for feedback in helping us accomplish our goals.

The LSU AgCenter is getting the word out to the community of the existence of the LSU AgCenter and programs that are available to the public.

Meeting Adjourned.