Colorado Association of Family and Consumer Sciences Strategic Plan

The goal of CAFCS is to be recognized as the primary resource of family and consumer science expertise bringing people together to improve the lives of individuals, families and communities. To accomplish this goal, there are four areas of focus.
  • Public Awareness: FCS programs are recognized and valued as an unbiased integrated source of education and outreach.
  • Public Policy/Advocacy: CAFCS is recognized as the primary advocate for the FCS Body of Knowledge.
  • Professional Development: CAFCS will provide opportunities for professional development and opportunities to mentor new professionals.
  • Funding: CAFCS operates with a balanced budget and with adequate human and fiscal resources to accomplish its goals.
 

Vision

The Colorado Association of Family and Consumer Sciences is recognized as the comprehensive and integrative source of knowledge and the primary voice focusing on family, individual and community well being in Colorado.

 

Mission

The mission of the Colorado Association of Family and Consumer Sciences is to effect the optimal well-being of families and individuals by :
 
  • Empowering members to act on continuing and emerging concerns.
  • Focusing the expertise of members on critical issues.
  • Assuming leadership among organizations with mutual purposes.
 

Core Values

The Colorado Association of Family and Consumer Sciences hold these values:
 
  • Believes in the family as the fundamental unit of society.
  • Embraces diversity and values all people.
  • Is dedicated to life-long learning and diverse scholarship.
  • Committed to continuing development and mentoring of (new) professionals.
  • Exemplifies integrity and ethical behavior.
  • Seeks new ideas and open to change.
  • Promotes an integrative and comprehensive approach to the Body of Knowledge.
 

CAFCS Goals for 2009-2010

Outcomes (goals) that will be addressed based on AAFCS Strategic Plan for 2008-2013

 
Strategic Outcome 1: Knowledge and Skills are Applied for the Public Good
• Members and customers are recognized for generating and applying research-based knowledge and skills gained through AAFCS to implement programming that addresses public issues and prevents, reduces, or eliminates persistent personal and societal problems.

1. Members will participate in the AAFCS H1N1 initiative, using materials and online resources provided by AAFCS and local agencies.
 
Strategic Outcome 2: AAFCS is Key to Success for Professionals in FCS
• Members, customers and partners view engagement in AAFCS initiatives, networking and ongoing professional development and research opportunities as key to their professional success.

1. Members will be encouraged to publicize their work with initiatives, particularly H1N1, as well as other personal achievements, through their local media, the CAFCS quarterly newsletter, and the AAFCS web site.
2. Members will use their fields of expertise to present workshops at the state conference.
3. Members will be recognized with the state awards at the annual conference.
 
Strategic Outcome 3: AAFCS Credentials are Highly Valued
• AAFCS accreditation, certification, and testing programs are recognized as valuable to individuals, educational institutions, and industries that prepare and employ preprofessionals and professionals engaged in the work of improving quality of life.

1. Colorado State University will continue to participate in the Pre-PAC program.
2. Efforts will be made to introduce AAFCS/CAFCS to college students and new professionals, in an effort to encourage membership and certification
 

Strategic Outcome 4: AAFCS Collaboration Effectively Leverages Resources
• AFFCS allies collaborate to leverage organizational resources and achieve mutually desirable goals.
1. Colorado and Wyoming affiliates will continue to work collaboratively in an effort to strengthen both affiliates

 
Actions/Strategies/Activities to be used to achieve the AAFCS Mission*, Strategic Focus**, and Strategic Outcomes:
 
*Mission:
To provide leadership and support for professionals whose work assists individuals, families, and communities in making informed decisions about their well being, relationships and resources to achieve optimal quality of life.
**Strategic Focus:
AAFCS provides its members and customers high quality research-based professional development distinguished by its integrative and holistic approach.
 
a) Specific outcome(s)
• Communities in Colorado will become better educated about H1N1 through information and materials provided by FCS professionals.
• Members will submit articles to the quarterly newsletter sharing their programs and successes.
• There will be a rise in the number of new members and the retention of current members
• Colorado and Wyoming will have at least one combined meeting/conference during the year.
 
b) Strategic action(s)
• Members will use the materials available through AAFCS, as well as locally, to educate the public about H1N1.
• Members will be asked to present workshops at the annual conference
• A quarterly newsletter will be published. The newsletter will contain updates from AAFCS, stories about members’ programs and successes, and updates on conferences and other professional development opportunities.
• Colorado will have a liaison member on the Wyoming board and Wyoming will appoint a member to serve as a member of the Colorado board.
 
c) Target audience(s)
• New professionals and CSU FACS students
• Potential members in both Colorado and Wyoming
• Community members and schools (H1N1)
• Current members
• Colorado State University (Pre-PAC)
 
d) Timeline
• Immediately – newsletters, H1N1 initiative; membership renewals; board meetings with representative from the Wyoming affiliate; Pre-PAC
• Winter 2009-2010 – Plan state conference, with input from Wyoming; recommend members for state and AAFCS awards; begin process of filling board positions that will be vacated in June 2010
• Spring 2010 – Annual Conference
• June 2010 – Election and installation of new board members
 
e) Person(s) responsible
• Outcome #1 – Linda Valentine; extension professionals; teachers
• Outcome #2 – Judy Clock, Lorna Nelson, Linda Valentine; affiliate members
• Outcome #3 – Carole Makela, Dawn Mallette, Judy Clock; Linda Valentine; membership chairperson
• Outcome #4 – Linda Valentine, Virginia Vincenti, Cindy Burris; members from the Wyoming and Colorado affiliates
 
f) Evaluation plan
• Outcome #1 – Reports given throughout the year through the newsletter; recognition at annual conference
• Outcome #2 – Members provide many of the workshop sessions at annual conference; increase in the number of member articles submitted for the newsletter
• Outcome #3 – Increase in new memberships (students and new professionals); CSU continues to participate in Pre-PAC
• Outcome #4 – A joint conference with Colorado and Wyoming occurs; Colorado members attend at least one event in Wyoming
Due April 30, 2010

For Final Report, included modifications to plan, achieved outcomes, recommendations for work the following year, etc.

 

CAFCS Goals for 2008-2009

The Colorado Association of Family and Consumer Sciences are focusing on three goals for the current year.
 
  • Goal Area 1: Celebrate the Past-- Identify and honor the major accomplishments of AHEA?AAFCS, within the committee's area of focus, which have created a rich 100-year history. 1. Honor the work of the past through shared information in quarterly newsletters and in the annual meeting of the Colorado affiliate.
  • Goal Area 2: Launch the Future-- Create a positive framework for launching AAFCS into its next century for the committee's area of focus. 2. Encourage members to enter their information into the Second Century of Helping project. 3. Encourage members to maintain or develop involvement in AAFCS communities of their choice.
  • Goal Area 3: Address Sustainablility-- Take up critical sustainability issues in the field of family and consumer sciences. 4. Continue to work on membership and leadership development within the affiliate. 5. Strategies/Activities to be used to achieve the mission statement of AAFCS-- focused on supporting professionals:

a) Targeted Professionals: Broaden mailing list for annual meeting to include others whose work relates to the theme and content of the program. Encourage those with 5 or fewer years of membership to join the Affiliate Board or to engage in committee work. Continue to support and learn from affiliate embers who are active AAFCS offices and committee work. Move annual meeting to later in w009 to ease the winter travel challenge and to allow better student representation.

b) Timeline: Planning in fall with a sprig meeting; 4 quarterly newsletters.

c) Person(s) responsible: CAFCS Board and Officers.

d) Expected outcomes(s): More than 20% of members attend annual meeting. A minimum of two members with 10 or fewer years of membership serve on the Board. Membership increases beyond the 75 listed on the AAFCS role in August 2008.

e) Evaluation plans: (how you will measure your accomplishments). Evaluation of annual meeting, feedback from Board meetings, a June membershp download.

f) For Final Report: will include achieved outcomes and modifications to plan, recommendations for work the following year, available after April 30, 2009.

 

About American Association of Family and Consumer Sciences

 
Founded in 1909, the American Association of Family & Consumer Sciences (AAFCS) is the only national not-for-profit 501 (c)(3) organization dedicated to bringing people together to improve the lives of individuals, families, and communities. AAFCS’ 8,000 members are elementary, secondary, and post-secondary educators, researchers, and administrators; Cooperative Extension educators; and other professionals in business and industry, not-for-profit organizations, and government. Many of AAFCS’ members are secondary school educators and advisors for Family, Career, and Community Leaders of America (FCCLA), a nonprofit national career and technical student organization for young men and women in family and consumer sciences education in public and private school through grade 12. Family and consumer sciences professionals develop, integrate, and provide practical knowledge about research-based life skills—financial literacy; dietetics and nutrition; child care and parenting; conflict resolution; consumer education; housing and environment; and apparel and textiles. With national headquarters based in Alexandria, VA, AAFCS has 51 state affiliates located across the United States and Puerto Rico.
 

About Colorado Association of Family and Consumer Sciences

 
CAFCS goes back to 1928 when the Colorado Home Economics Association , an affiliate of the American Home Economics Association, was organized. The name was officially changed to the American Association of Family and Consumer Sciences in 1994 to better represent the breadth and scope of the profession and to better communicate this to the public. CAFCS is the only organization in Colorado representing family and consumer sciences professionals across practice areas and content specializations.