By Nina Roof
Assistant Vice President – Family and Consumer Sciences
Cooperative Extension Service

Nina Roofe, head of FCS efforts in Arkansas, writes about the 90th anniversary of the National Extension Association of Family and Consumer Sciences in a guest column.

At a time when the world suffered deeply from the Great Depression and the lingering effects of a pandemic that may have killed up to 50 million people, a group dedicated to supporting families was born: The National Extension Association of Family and Consumer Sciences.

The year was 1934. The Spanish Flu still burned in recent memory. Bread and soup lines extended for blocks as the Depression shut down jobs and the Dust Bowl shut down agriculture. Daily life marked by economic hardship, resiliency, and creativity for survival spurred the establishment of an organization dedicated to supporting educators and professionals in family and consumer sciences whose work improves the quality of life for individuals and families.NEAFCS is not just a group of professionals but a support system for educators and professionals in family and consumer sciences — a field that touches so many aspects of an individual’s or family’s lives. Its establishment was not just about fostering collaboration, professional development, and advocacy but about significantly enhancing the quality of life for individuals and families. NEAFCS's education in food science, nutrition, financial management, family relationships, and health and wellness has left a lasting impact.NEAFCS's members, who typically work within the land-grant university system, are not just researchers. They are community advocates, providing practical, research-based resources and programs that directly address the needs of their communities. NEAFCS's role in facilitating networking opportunities, conferences, and workshops is not just about promoting professional growth but about sharing best practices that can make a real difference in the lives of individuals and families.

Unemployed men queued outside a depression soup kitchen opened in Chicago by Al Capone, 02-1931 (Image courtesy National Archives at College Park, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons)

Over the last 90 years, the field of Family and Consumer Sciences has significantly contributed to families in Arkansas through:

Education and Skill Development: FCS programs provide education on essential life skills such as budgeting, nutrition, cooking, and child development, helping families make informed decisions. Cooperative Extension work in Arkansas started in 1905 with Farmers’ Institutes and Farmers’ Cooperative Demonstration Work. In 1908, 4-H club work started, and in 1911, home demonstration work began. Over the last 90 years, this work has expanded from canning and sewing clubs to an evidence-based, comprehensive family and consumer sciences education and skills-based training program. The first home demonstration work in my home in Faulkner County, Arkansas, was done by boys and girls in tomato, poultry, and pig clubs. Then, in 1912, Blanche Wilson became the first Home Demonstration Agent in Faulkner County.
Families, Mental Health and Technology: Programs emphasize the importance of strong family relationships and communication, providing resources that support parenting, conflict resolution, and family dynamics. An essential part of this work is in the mental health arena. We still have a long way to go, but over the last 90 years, we have witnessed increased awareness and decreased stigma associated with mental health diagnoses. Equipping Arkansans to recognize signs of anxiety, stress, depression, and red flags for suicide and how to respond appropriately can de-escalate stressful situations and save lives. Digital citizenship and internet safety were not needed 90 years ago. Unfortunately, today, these are essential components of a comprehensive FCS Extension education program designed to protect citizens of all ages.
Financial Management: FCS offers guidance on financial literacy, helping families learn about budgeting, saving, and investing, contributing to better financial stability. Education on consumer rights and responsibilities has helped families navigate the marketplace and make informed choices about products and services. Lessons learned during the Great Depression equipped Extension professionals to arm families of today to make wise financial decisions. Their work moves individuals and families from living paycheck to paycheck to saving, investing for the future, managing resources, and pulling families out of the cycle of poverty.
Food Science and Nutrition: Initiatives focus on promoting healthy eating, addressing obesity and chronic diseases, meal planning, and addressing malnutrition and nutrient deficiencies due to economic challenges and a lack of farming knowledge. Ninety years ago, our nation had an issue of malnutrition and nutrient deficiencies due to economic difficulties and a lack of farming knowledge. Through gardening and food preservation education, low-income support, and education, families can grow their groceries and contribute to their families' health and wellness.
Health Management and Wellness: Initiatives focus on promoting healthy lifestyle choices, addressing obesity through environmental changes, embracing aging, and incorporating movement for all ages. Impacts of these community-based education programs include Arkansans incorporating physical activity into their daily lives, managing their health care, talking to their doctor, and making wise medication decisions. Policy, systems, and environmental change strategies have come a long way in 90 years to make health care more accessible. A recent example is the Delta Rides program in Phillips County, providing free rides for residents to go to their doctor's office, pharmacy, and other vital health-related destinations.
Community Engagement: FCS involves families in community service and engagement projects, fostering community and connectedness among residents. Whether this is in the local schools, community centers, churches, grocery stores, pharmacies, expo centers, or senior centers, an FCS professional can meet residents where they live, laugh, learn, and love to provide the information they need to improve their lives. The venues may have changed over the past 90 years, but the delivery of evidence-based information has never changed. These programs provide valuable life skills, leadership training, and opportunities for personal development, benefiting families by empowering future generations or providing an opportunity to give back to their community. Volunteer programs part of the Arkansas Cooperative Extension Service include:

Arkansas 4-H, 1908
Arkansas Homemakers’ Council, 1912
Arkansas Master Gardener Program, 1988

I joined NEAFCS when I started working for the Arkansas Cooperative Extension Service in 2023. This organization provides valuable resources including leadership development, networking, scholarships, and educational opportunities are geared specifically toward those upholding the missions of land grant universities. All of this supports me and my faculty, program associates, program technicians, and county agents to be successful in our careers. In turn, this allows us to serve the individuals, families, and communities of Arkansas to improve their lives.