NEWS
Melanie Horn Mallers on Family Studies
Melanie Horn Mallers, Cal State Fullerton, weighs in on the important role fathers play in a child's life and development, play being the operative word.
Melanie tackles another tough topic, divorce and its effect on children. The research is decidedly mixed but it can be a time for healthy transitions.
Melanie handles a difficult subject, Child Abuse. By creating a dialogue, recognizing the elements of attribution theory and training parents, there's hope in halting the vicious cycle.
Successful Beginnings
Lisa Ledeboer, Mt. San Antonio College offers some timely exercises to start the new semester. No matter the discipline, here are a variety of activities to engage your students.
A Walk in Their Shoes
Melanie Horn Mallers, Cal State Fullerton, delivers a well researched look at "Building Empathy." She melds real life with the research with her own life...think 3 year olds and super heroes.
Interconnections: Systems Theory
Melanie Horn Mallers, Cal State Fullerton, explores an aspect of Family Systems Theory. How are siblings of a child diagnosed with autism affected by the dynamic within the family setting?
A Scientific Formula for Happiness?
"The Fountain of Youth" - a myth, but what about the Keys to Happiness? Marlene Jameson, Los Angeles Times, explores the research on this often elusive emotion. The series includes an overview, one family's story and a list of some practical steps everyone can apply to their own lives. So come on...get happy!!!
Caring From a Distance
Jonathan Peterson, Los Angeles Times, looks at the increasing number that care for aging parents from a distance. He shows the industry response to this growing trend and supplies some helpful resources and links.
CURRICULUM
Family Studies curriculum is designed to provide an occupational program of study for community college students planning their careers. Courses within the curriculum provide course work to work with individuals across the age span and provide part of the undergraduate requirements necessary for students wishing to transfer to a four-year institution.
For more information on Family Studies Curriculum, please see the Family Studies Chapter of the recently updated FCS Program Plan 2009 or follow this link to the complete Program Plan 2009, featuring an Introduction, a chapter on Articulation and a Directory of Professional and Trade Organizations.
2009 Program Showcase
Here's our latest FCS project, a PowerPoint (or pfd) and videos (double-click on video to enlarge) from Shasta College focusing on their Family Studies Program, Student Club and Advisory Board. A special thank you to Carol Rupe and her colleagues for their outstanding efforts and for sharing their ideas.
2009 Consumer Handbook
Syndicated columnist, Lew Sichelman, highlights the newly available and free 30th Edition of the Consumer Action Handbook, a great resource for all disciplines.