Recipient Organization
NATIONAL EXTENSION ASSOCIATION OF FAMILY AND CONSUMER SCIENCES, INC.
325 JOHN KNOX RD
TALLAHASSEE,FL 32303
Performing Department
(N/A)
Non Technical Summary
The National Extension Association of Family & Consumer Sciences (NEAFCS) educates and recognizes Extension professionals who impact the quality of life for individuals, families, and communities. The majority (73.5%) of NEAFCS Affiliate members focus on the USDA-NIFA-AFRI-FAS-RFA priority area of food safety, nutrition, and health (FSNH), specifically diet, nutrition, and the prevention of chronic diseases (DNPC). The 2023 Annual Session location is in Providence, RI, from September 11-14, and provides a unique opportunity for Family & Consumer Sciences (FCS) Extension professionals with a focus on DNPC to explore "oceans of opportunities." The conference will enhance FSNH-DNPC activities to build science-based knowledge and skills for attendees (n~500) to better engage their communities across the US. To achieve this, we will support the delivery of FSNH-DNPC science-based knowledge and informal educational activities to FCS professionals. Onsite audio/video support for roughly 65 peer-reviewed presentations, two pre-conferences and several in-depth sessions. Additional conference support will allow for bus travel and speaker honorariums for the pre-conference topic of food preservation, and in-depth sessions on FSNH-DNPC, and a wellness framework. The NEAFCS Executive Director, conference planner, and conference liaisons from the Universities of Delaware and Maryland Extensions will implement and manage all activities. Evaluations will be administered to assess FCS knowledge, behavior, and intent to apply their new skills within their community from relevant oral, poster, pre-conferences, and in-depths sessions. FCS engagement in one or more conference offerings will improve their knowledge, skillset, and networking to make FSNH-DNPC education more effective among their respective clientele.
Animal Health Component
(N/A)
Research Effort Categories
Basic
(N/A)
Applied
(N/A)
Developmental
(N/A)
Goals / Objectives
The overall goal is to host a conference that will enhance food safety, nutrition, and health tracks in diet, nutrition, and the prevention of chronic disease activities to build science-based knowledge and skills for attendees (n~500) to better engage their communities across the United States.Objective 1 (Instructional materials & equipment): Support the delivery of FSNH-DNPC science-based knowledge and informal educational programs for a national audience of FCS professionals. Audio/visual support will allow two tracts, for a total of about 85 peer-reviewed oral and poster presentations.Objective 2 (In-service training): Develop human capital in FSNH-DNPC, through pre-conference and in-depth sessions, with bus rental and speaker honorariums.
Project Methods
Proposed evaluation plan. The core team has worked with select stakeholders (e.g. NEAFCS national board, Program Leaders) to identify the milestones and timeline to ensure conference deliverables are met to meet the overall goal and objectives. In addition, the core team has worked closely to develop an evaluation plan that will be implemented.Evaluation development and implementation. The core team will review past conference evaluations to establish the survey items for the upcoming conference. Questions may need to be rewritten, or Likert and/or multiple choice responses updated as needed. A short 5-10 retrospective survey will be developed to measure increases in 1) knowledge related to FSNH, 2) overall session enjoyment, 3) ability to apply new knowledge to their current work, 4) interest to learn more about the FSHN topic, and 4) demographics (e.g. what state are you from and how long have you been working as an FCS Agent). One to two volunteers will be identified before each pre-conference and in-depth session to provide session attendees to scan a QR code (preferably) or take a hard copy and complete it at the end of the session or while on the bus returning back to the RI Convention Center.A similar process will be used to evaluate the value of the oral and poster presentations on FSHN-DNPC topics and the value of having audio/video support provided through the conference grant. The 5-10 Likert scale questions will be provided at the end of the five-dayconference. Conference attendees will be given a hyperlink to complete the survey, and a reminder email will be sent to maximize participation.