Family and Consumer Sciences

The mission of Family & Consumer Sciences agents is to promote economic, environmental, and social sustainability for families by providing education for living well in Florida, now and for the future.

The Family and Consumer Sciences educational programs link research, knowledge, and technology to the needs of individuals, families, and communities in the county. Dedicated to strengthening families through education, the belief is that the family:

• Is the most effective and efficient unit for building a competent society;
• Has a right to meet basic needs and to make choices about its future, and;
• Is interdependent within communities and their environments.
• The emphasis of the Family and Consumer Sciences program is to improve Manatee County's families by providing instruction to parents and child care providers to ensure that they have the knowledge necessary to provide for a caring, loving, and nurturing environment for their children. Other elements of this program include nutrition and food safety, money management, and providing adequate housing.

Online Stress Management Workshop Available

Diana Converse, Family & Consumer Sciences Agent in Hillsborough County, has developed a very informative online workshop on Stress Management.  Please click here to view this presentation.

The NEW Family & Consumer Sciences Blog

The Family & Consumer Sciences department is pleased to present: "Healthy, Weathy, & Wise: The Blog."

This online journal will be updated regularly with useful and timely educational information regarding Nutrition & Health, Food Safety & Quality, Parenting & Family Life, Housing & Home Environment, Disaster Preparedness, and much more.

Just like the monthly newsletter by the same name, the blog will be your source for the latest, up-to-date, researched-based educational information.

To read the blog, click here.

To subscribe to blog updates (RSS), click here.

Are YOU prepared?

It's that time again - HURRICANE SEASON is here.  To help you get ready, here are some very useful resources:

• The Disaster Handbook (UF/IFAS)
• Extension Disaster Education Network (EDEN)
• National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)
• Federal Emergency Management Administration (FEMA)
• Florida Department of Elder Affairs