Family and Consumer Sciences Program Highlights

Individuals and families today deal with many issues related to raising children, eating right and spending smart in order to live well. The Family and Consumer Sciences (FCS) programming of the LSU AgCenter Cooperative Extension Service focuses on these three issues in providing educational programs for the residents of Jefferson parish.

Family and Child Development

Recognizing the need to educate at-risk families, 45 classes have been taught in Jefferson Parish this past year under the Parents Preparing for Success Program. Fifty-one adults attended at least one class, learning skills and attitudes necessary for positive parenting and healthy child development.

LSU AgCenter Family Development educators have conducted three separate Child Development Associate (CDA) class series where 65 child care providers have each completed 123 hours of classroom instruction. Twenty of the participants are Jefferson Parish Head Start teachers. Fifty-two Child Care Provider classes were taught to 1,013 participants on social-emotional development, literacy, communication, brain development and nutrition of young children.

Nutrition and Health

The Smart Choices Lessons for Teens at Grace King High School is part of the Expanded Food and Nutrition Education (EFNEP) in Jefferson Parish. Fifty-eight students are participating in the Salubrious Student’s Life Is A Gumbo ten-lesson series. Each lesson includes a food demonstration with a hands-on recipe or food tasting to encourage the consumption of new foods.

At three Jefferson Parish elementary schools, Smart Bodies are building Smart Gardens. Volunteers were recruited to build Square Foot Gardens and students actively participated in the planting, maintenance and harvesting of their vegetable and herb gardens. 20,786 students were reached, increasing physical activity and encouraging the consumption of new and healthy foods.

Adulthood and Aging

Louisiana ranks in the top 10 nationwide in obesity, type 2 diabetes and heart disease among the elderly. Informative fact sheets have been developed and distributed to eight Jefferson parish senior centers as well as home-bound seniors and placed in the boxes received by families at a local food distribution center. Topics include Bone Up on Osteoporosis; Eating Right when Money’s Tight; Proper Dental Care and Too Hot for Your Health.

Teaching Methods:

• Class series
• Child Care Provider Training
• Demonstrations
• Workshops
• Health Fairs
• Newsletters
• Publications
• Fact Sheets
• Webpages
• Social Media

Parish Facts:
Population - 432,552
Persons under 18 years old - 23%
Persons 65 years old and over - 13.7%
Median household income - $47,065
Persons below poverty - 12.9%

Data from the US Census Bureau
Web site: http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/index.html

11% of live births were to teen mothers.
82% of mothers received adequate prenatal care.

Data from 2009 Department of Health & Hospitals Report
Website: www.dhh.louisiana.gov/offices/reports.asp?ID=275

Program Outcomes:

Family and Child Development

• Adults participating in the Parents Preparing for Success Program were made aware of appropriate practices and techniques to encourage positive child development emotionally, physically and socially; how to provide a safe home environment and learned consumer skills to cut expenses and reduce debt.
• Results of pre and post tests administered to child care provider training participants showed that 99% gained knowledge and 74% made at least one positive behavioral change.
• Students studying for the Child Development Associate Credential gained knowledge, made positive behavioral changes and observed positive changes with staff at their centers.

Nutrition and Health

• Students who participated in the Smart Bodies and Smart Gardens programs were twice as willing to taste fruits and vegetables at school and increased physical activity twice as much as students who did not participate in the program.

Adulthood and Aging

• Six local senior centers now have daily exercise activities for their participants, and one center has incorporated a walking program in their weekly schedule.
• 43 out of 50 caregivers reported learning how to prepare food so seniors with difficulty chewing can eat nutritiously.
• All 40 participants at one center reported they inventoried their food cabinets and threw away outdated foods.

Jefferson Volunteers for Family and Community

108 Volunteers have...

• Provided scholarships to five students attending Louisiana universities.
• Distributed “Raise-a-Reader” packets to area hospitals to more than 2,000 new mothers to encourage reading and literacy to their newborn babies.
• Provided monetary donations to two elementary schools through the adopt-a-school program to provide needed supplies and materials for the students and faculty.