Health and Human Services Professional Development

WHAT IS HUMAN DEVELOPMENT AND FAMILY STUDIES? Students who study human development and family studies (HDFS) gain an understanding of how individuals and families develop across the life span and how individuals and families are shaped by the environment and culture. HDFS students learn how to optimize individual well-being, strengthen family relationships, and become leaders in community, education, and work settings that focus on issues which include, but are not limited to: Teen pregnancy Sexuality education Child and elder abuse Grandparents raising grandchildren Balancing work and family Drug and alcohol abuse Media literacy Divorce Romantic relationships Parenting Family diversity Children with special needs WHAT CAN YOU DO WITH A HUMAN DEVELOPMENT AND FAMILY STUDIES DEGREE? Jobs one can get if they focus on HDFS include, but are not limited to: Family caseworker Addictions counselor Intimate partner violence case manager Rehabilitation counselor Child care worker Ch...

Family Matters: How Family Meal Patterns Create LifeLong Habits by   Mikki Sherwood   on   September 15, 2014 ********************Melissa Crone, guest author As we grow out of adolescence many of the eating habits that were instilled in our childhood impact the choices we make as adults. These choices can define the quality of our lives.  For example, we have all heard of the health benefits of eating breakfast. Did you eat breakfast every day as a child? If you did, you are more likely to continue that trend even when you are responsible for waking yourself up, preparing the food, and cleaning up the mess. On the other hand, if most of your childhood meals were on the go, you are likely to repeat the pattern as an adult, grabbing food with little thought to the nutritional value. What does this mean? It means you are likely fall into patterns of eating behavior that match what you saw in your childhood home. If you did not eat meals as a family, sit and ...