Computer technology has become important in Family and Consumer Science (FCS) because it offers improved communication with capabilities such as the Internet that allows for a "more productive workplace" (Jones, 2003, p. 38). Kittross and Gordon (2003) alerted users that as computer technology evolves, there is a need for colleges and universities…

Individuals are bombarded every day with data on obesity and its health consequences, with information on weight loss treatments and their successes and failures, and with tips on how to reduce caloric intake and increase physical activity. Obesity has become a global epidemic, termed globesity (World Health Organization, 2003), and seen by many…

Family and consumer sciences (FCS) professionals often are called upon to work with groups that are seeking to create healthier communities. This article offers an expanded perspective on what it means to include a family focus in these discussions and it answers the question, How does a family perspective lead to different solutions for creating…

This article serves as a review of current literature on the topic of leadership. Leadership is a dynamic process of relationship building between individuals and groups. Leadership theory can guide practice, and integrating theory with thoughtful practice has always been critical to family and consumer sciences (FCS) professionals in working…

University faculty and community agencies collaborated to design and implement Healthy Weigh/El camino saludable, a family-focused obesity prevention and intervention program in a low-income, urban community at high risk for obesity and related chronic disease. Hispanic and African American families participated in 12 weekly sessions. Offered in…

Proper cooling of foods is known to reduce spoilage and help prevent food-borne illnesses. Nonetheless, little is known about consumers' awareness of guidelines regarding appropriate refrigeration of food or their actual refrigeration practices. Focus groups of consumers of common ethnic backgrounds were designed to evaluate food safety knowledge…

This article describes the nutrition component of a Home and Career Skills curriculum at Hommocks Middle School (Larchmont, NY) that includes the Breakfast Cafe Webquest, which encourages 7th graders to increase the amounts of fruits and vegetables in their diets as well as reduce serving sizes. Using this Webquest, students "help the Breakfast…

It is important to understand the ethical values of college students because they will be the leaders of the future. As part of an undergraduate honors project, a survey was developed that consisted of eight cases depicting ethical dilemmas in the classroom. Each case included a choice of four actions ranging from most ethical to least ethical.…

The American Association of Family and Consumer Sciences (AAFCS) Code of Ethics guides members on ethical practice in specific areas, however, becoming ethical does not happen at the moment a major is declared or on graduation day. Ethical values are formed in childhood by the examples provided by parents, teachers, and other significant adults.…

Being a Family and Consumer Sciences (FCS) professional in today's multiple environments is a challenge, mainly because the environments are always changing. The familial, social, economic, political, cultural, legal, ecological, and technological environments are continually in flux. The feature that is shaping all of these environs--both from…

Much has been written about theories of leadership, leadership qualities, and the development of leadership. In this article, the author focuses on the work of Kevin Cashman, who proposed the following "Five Touchstones" that are crucial to authentic leadership: (1) Know Yourself Authentically; (2) Listen Authentically; (3) Express Authentically;…

This brief article begins by listing the contributions of the Family and Consumer Sciences (FCS) profession during the 20th century: (a) healthier population and longer life expectancy; (b) safer, more effective work patterns and use of time; (c) credible information for functional consumer and family decisions; (d) use of new technologies and…

With rapidly increasing public use of the Internet and advances in Web technologies, family and consumer sciences researchers have the opportunity to conduct Internet-based research. However, online research raises critical ethical issues concerning human subjects that have an impact on research practices. This article provides a review of the…

Counterfeiting is a serious problem facing several industries, including the medical, agricultural, and apparel industries (Bloch, Bush, & Campbell, 1993). The authors investigated whether ethical viewpoints affect perceptions of the morality of particular shopping behaviors, attitudes toward counterfeit products, and intentions to purchase such…

Food safety is a significant issue in the United States and yet minimal research has been done on the inclusion of food safety in secondary school curricula. This study examined the feasibility of including food safety in Iowa FCS middle and secondary classes. Teachers reported food safety was important; only a few believed students were…