Health and Human Services Professional Development

Human Service Professionals Author: Mikki Sherwood I teach a course for graduate students that is called “Current Issues and Trends in Family & Consumer Sciences.”  At the beginning of each semester I teach about the history of FCS. I have sections about the scientific roots of FCS, the  early leaders  of the discipline, and how FCS has evolved in more than 100 years.  I also cover the basic philosophy of FCS, explain the importance of the integrative nature of the discipline, and describe  Bronfenbrenner’s Systems Theory  in detail. My students all ask me why I think they need to have this information. I tell them to consider the fact that at some point they will be in the job market, in competition with many other people. They will need to be able to explain their unique attributes to a potential employer. One of the unique attributes of someone that studied FCS is that he or she has the ability to look at various aspects of the functioning of...

WHAT IS ENTREPRENEURSHIP? Many FCS professionals may choose follow the path of an entrepreneur. Becoming an entrepreneur is exciting, yet challenging, because one has to make the decision to forgo the safety of a steady paycheck, and risk everything they have. They may study business planning, principles of assessment, market analysis and many other topics related to the business aspects of FCS. Anyone within any FCS major or area of focus may decide to create their own venture using principles of entrepreneurship. At Career Skillet, we provide articles written by successful entrepreneurs from various industries. Some issues about which entrepreneurs may want to learn include, but are not limited to: • Creating a business plan • The importance of branding and consistency • Marketing • Quests for start-up funding • Forming a corporation, LLC, or nonprofit • Business counseling ADDITIONAL RESOURCES FOR ENTREPRENEURSHIP: For more information on entrepreneurship, see: SCORE ...

WHAT IS CONSUMER STUDIES? FCS students who focus on consumer studies gain knowledge and an understanding of how consumer decision-making, customer relations, family finance, and economics influence household well-being and individual and family rights and responsibilities. Students gain practical solutions for helping individuals and families who are influenced by consumer issues. Some of the issues that students may research in consumer studies include, but are not limited to: Banking Identity theft Consumer confidence Shopping behaviors Consumer decision-making Credit card debt Gas prices Insurance WHAT CAN YOU DO WITH A CONSUMER STUDIES DEGREE? Jobs that one can get as an FCS consumer studies major include, but are not limited to: Account supervisor Marketing associate Stock broker Property manager Community relations specialist Family financial educator Health claims processor Bank manager Benefits coordinator Collections worker Insurance claims representative Credit counselo...

WHAT IS ENTREPRENEURSHIP? Many FCS professionals may choose follow the path of an entrepreneur. Becoming an entrepreneur is exciting, yet challenging, because one has to make the decision to forgo the safety of a steady paycheck, and risk everything they have. They may study business planning, principles of assessment, market analysis and many other topics related to the business aspects of FCS. Anyone within any FCS major or area of focus may decide to create their own venture using principles of entrepreneurship. At Career Skillet, we provide articles written by successful entrepreneurs from various industries. Some issues about which entrepreneurs may want to learn include, but are not limited to: • Creating a business plan • The importance of branding and consistency • Marketing • Quests for start-up funding • Forming a corporation, LLC, or nonprofit • Business counseling ADDITIONAL RESOURCES FOR ENTREPRENEURSHIP: For more information on entrepreneurship, see: SCORE Fi...

Welcome to the Beta site of Careerskillet.org by   Jason   on   April 4, 2013   in   Uncategorized PREPARING FOR THE FUTURE Our goal is to enable students and young adults to be prepared for the rest of their lives. We want you to understand that social life and professional skills work together, transforming you into a valuable resource for potential employers. SO, WHO ARE WE? From students to faculty in the Family and Consumer Science discipline, CareerSkillet is comprised of many contributors. Providing a thorough collection of articles, infographics, images and more. We want to both inspire and engage the bright minds of the future. *Originally posted on the Career Skillet website (Permission granted by Jill Bowers).

     WHAT IS FOOD SCIENCE, NUTRTION, AND DIETETICS? FCS students who major in food science, nutrition, or dietetics gain an understanding of health problems, food choices, dietary management, nutrition strategies, and food science as they influence individuals, families, and communities. FCS food science, nutrition, and dietetics programs provide students with practical knowledge on the management of food, how to use food science, or prevent food-related health problems so that they can apply it when working with individuals and families in hospitals, government agencies, or other industry settings. Issues that food science, nutrition, and dietetics students may research include, but are not limited to: Child or adult obesity Diet crazes Portion sizes Fast food Food safety concerns Eating disorders School lunches WHAT CAN YOU DO WITH A DEGREE IN FOOD SCIENCE, NUTRTION, AND DIETETICS? Jobs that one can get as an FCS food sciences, nutrition, and dietetics maj...

Books about FCS: “Stir it Up: Home Economics in American Culture” by   Mikki Sherwood   on   July 10, 2013   The term “Home Economics” often makes us think of housewives in the 1950s. However, family and consumer sciences (FCS) got its start in the Home Economics Movement. We have a rich and detailed history made up of fascinating men and women that came from the sciences. Dr. Megan J. Elias is an Associate Professor of History at Queensborough Community College, a College of The City University of New York (CUNY). She traces the foundation of the discipline in a manner that is entertaining and easy to read. For a comprehensive look at the forces shaping what FCS has become, I recommend Dr. Elias’ book! *Originally posted on the Career Skillet website (Permission granted by Jill Bowers).

Avoiding Burnout: Human Services Program Administration Professionals by   Mikki Sherwood   on   August 16, 2013   It is personally rewarding to work in a human development and family studies (HDFS) career. It is also challenging in many ways as professionals in the area of FCS and HDFS face unique challenges. For instance, often those that work in HDFS are at the mercy of government funding, leading to a feeling of insecurity related to employment possibilities. In addition, we tend to make less money than those working in other areas of family and consumer sciences (for example, consumer studies or entrepreneurs). Those of us that work in the helping profession also face a daunting array of regulations regarding proper documentation of expenses and activities (in other words, A LOT of paperwork). Finally, we can feel as if we are spinning our wheels if we do not see change occurring in those with whom we work. When we don’t perceive improvement in the qualit...

American Association of Family & Consumer Sciences Annual Conference and Expo: See You There! by   Mikki Sherwood   on   August 16, 2013   Start your planning NOW! AAFCS has a conference and expo each year in late June. In 2014 the conference will be held in St. Louis, MO. The annual conference provides a great opportunity for students and new professionals to meet others and hone their professional skills. Check out   http://www.aafcs.org/meetings/14/index.html   for information about the conference and start saving your pennies. Maybe I will see you there! *Originally posted on the Career Skillet website (Permission granted by Jill Bowers).

Among the Employed by   Jill Bowers   on   October 24, 2013   According to a study at   Georgetown University’s Center for Education and the Workforce (via  Yahoo! Education ) , graduates of the following discipline areas were   least likely to be unemployed: Nursing   (unemployment rate: 4.8%),   Elementary education   (unemployment rate: 5%),   Physical fitness and parks and recreation   (unemployment rate: 5.2%),   Chemistry   (unemployment rate: 5.8%),   Finance   (unemployment rate: 5.9%),   Mathematics   (unemployment rate: 5.9%),   Hospitality management   (unemployment rate: 6%),   Drama, theatre, and arts   (unemployment rate: 6.4%),   Family and consumer sciences   (unemployment rate: 6.4%), and   Marketing and marketing research   (unemployment rate: 6.9%). Rationale for higher employment rates in certain fields could be linked to natio...

Ellen Swallow Richards by   Jill Bowers   on   October 24, 2013   Ellen Swallow Richards…one of the founders of family and consumer sciences as we know it today. https://youtu.be/7cHvu6sEUH *Originally posted on the Career Skillet website (Permission granted by Jill Bowers).