Our Mission
To enhance the lives of individuals and families, strengthen communities and shape the future of Louisiana through research-based educational outreach.
Our Vision
Working for a healthy Louisiana – physically, socially, emotionally and financially.
Nutrition and Health
The goal of the Nutrition and Health focus area of Family and Consumer Sciences is to improve the health and nutrition of people in Louisiana. We do this by providing various health and nutrition programs to the citizens of the state. We participate in national programs that address children, pregnant women, families and the elderly. Programs offered include
- Family Nutrition Program (FNP)
Teaches basic nutrition, food safety, meal management, thrifty shopping techniques and food resource management to food stamp recipients.
This national, award-winning program is a series of classes that focus on teaching individuals best practices related to nutrition and physical activity that will result in a healthier lifestyle.
: Diabetes Education Awareness Recommendations
Addresses the increasing numbers of individuals with diabetes and provides the basics of diabetes awareness.
Focuses on preparing dishes that will fit into a healthy meal plan for individuals with diabetes.
- Help Yourself…Help A Friend: Diabetes Program for Youth
Teaches children with diabetes and those around them (friends, family, teachers, 4-H agents) the signs and symptoms of the disease and how to recognize when the child or teen needs help.
- Food Safety and Preservation
The LSU AgCenter provides various publications and classes about food safety for home, schools and the national award-winning Serving Food Safely for groups such as food banks, missions, etc. A unique handwashing program for children is also available which uses the “Glitterbug Germ Light” to teach basic handwashing skills. Numerous publications on food preservation are also available either from the local Extension office or online at our Web site: www.lsuagcenter.com under publications.
- Kellogg Delta H.O.P.E. and BCBS Smart Bodies
This is an innovative program of nutrition and physical activities that is integrated into core curriculum academics to prevent children from becoming overweight or obese. Schools with grades K – 5 partner with the LSU AgCenter to bring the program to their school.
The schools receive Take 10 and OrganWise Guys curriculum materials and the Louisiana Body Walk exhibit. Funding for these programs comes from either the W.K.Kellogg Foundation or Blue Cross Blue Shield Foundation of Louisiana.
- General Nutrition and Health
The FCS agent is available to provide a variety of programs to groups in the area of general nutrition and health upon request.
Family Resource Management
- Debt Reduction/Credit Management - With the use and misuse of credit so widespread, the LSU AgCenter offers several programs to help consumers get a handle on this problem and help them better understand credit. Some available programs include:
Credit Scoring
Downsizing Debt
Getting out of Debt
PowerPay
- Family Financial Management- The LSU AgCenter offers a variety of programs designed to teach basic money management skills, including:
All My Money
Making Every Dollar Count
Money & You
Money Matters
- Financial Security in Later Life
A national initiative developed to help consumers assess their preparedness for later life financial security and create a plan of action to meet their personal needs and goals. The topics include:
Take the Road to Financial Security in Later Life
Critical Conversations about Long Term Care
Legally Secure Your Financial Future
Louisiana Saves
Financial Catch-up for Baby Boomers
Savings Strategies for Those Who Never Save
Retirement Decision-making Issues
- Youth Financial Literacy
Several curricula are available to educate youth about financial literacy:
Cash Kids
High School Financial Planning Program
Money on the Bookshelf
Welcome to the Real World
- Housing
These programs address issues concerning the home:
Healthy Indoor Air
Mold: A Growing Issue
Your Path to Home Ownership
LA House – Building Your Louisiana House
Family Development
Research indicates that the first three years of a child’s life are the most important in terms of brain development and success in later life. High-quality child care and successful parenting contribute to a child who is successful in school. Adequately trained child-care educators and effectively prepared parents contribute to increased worker productivity. Programs offered in this area include:
- Parenting
Classes teach the basic parenting skills needed to raise a child who is emotionally, socially, physically well. Programs include Parents Preparing for Success, PATHWAYS – Parenting Adolescents, Children In the Middle Divorce Education and general parenting classes.
- Child Care Provider Training
Classes for childcare providers and childcare centers are offered quarterly to assist with keeping licenses up to date.
Many believe that providing character education for all our children at home, in school and in our communities can help our nation. In keeping with this growing recognition that character education is critically needed for our young children and youth, character education is provided by way of the Character Counts program for school children and Character Critters program for preschool and kindergarten children.
FCS Staff:
Terri Crawford, Extension Agent, Nutrition
LSU AgCenter
tcrawford@agcenter.lsu.edu
Kim Evans, Extension Agent, Family Development
LSU AgCenter
kevans@agcenter.lsu.edu
Melissa Cater, Extension Agent, Family Resource Management
LSU AgCenter
mcarter@agcenter.lsu.edu