Why address financial literacy and security as a public issue?
The price tags for poor financial literacy are costly ones. Among the most devastating are excessive debt, no savings or emergency funds, poor credit ratings, vulnerability to predatory lending and other scams, personal bankruptcy, home foreclosure, car repossession, limited workplace benefits, and an inability to retire when desired, if at all.

With the financial fitness of individuals, families, and communities across the nation threatened, and options for responding unclear, the Public Policy Committee of the American Association of Family & Consumer Sciences (AAFCS) identified poor financial literacy and security as a compelling issue that is appropriate for public deliberation. Click on the image for more information.

Sizing Up America:
Public Policy Deliberation Guide

Why address obesity as a public issue?
Sixty-five percent of U. S. adults are either
overweight or obese (CDC). Being overweight means that a person has a body mass index of 25 or more, while a person who is obese has a body mass index of 30 or more.

With the health of individuals and the nation threatened and choices for response unclear, the American Association of Family & Consumer Sciences, in partnership with the Charles F. Kettering Foundation, identified obesity as a compelling issue that is appropriate for public deliberation. Click on the image for more information.

Family and Community Policy:
Strategies for Civic Engagement

Anyone can change the world. The first step is being informed. Family and Community Policy: Strategies for Civic Engagement offers a rich array of strategies for increasing citizen engagement in family and community policy. It is written for practitioners who are not satisfied with just thinking about and dissecting policy issues--it is for those who prefer action and results.

Novices and seasoned pros alike should find this book informative and inspiring. Click on the image to learn more.

The Office of Public Policy collects, analyzes, interprets, and distributes information about issues and concerns that affect family and consumer sciences programs. Because of the Association's headquarters proximity to Washington, D.C. and the national initiatives that occur at the Congressional level, the Office of Public Policy reviews information and data from the myriad resources available and keeps the Association's governing bodies and membership apprised through various publications, alerts, and this website.

Staff develop and monitor cooperative relationships with other groups or agencies that have a public policy focus and help to identify and organize the expertise of family and consumer sciences in order to ensure that the profession addresses major public policy questions and issues. The Office monitors legislative developments that affect the family and consumer sciences profession and its efforts to improve home and family life. Staff serve as a resource to the profession and to the affiliates by providing information, educational opportunities, and leadership development through public affairs internships.

Public Policy Priority - Financial Literacy
Public Policy Priority - Health and Wellness
Public Policy Priority - Child Care

Public Policy Resources

NEW! AAFCS Case Studies

AAFCS Public Policy Committee, Strategic Directions 2001- 2005

We The People: Renewing Commitment To Civic Engagement
by Bonnie Braun, Ph.D., CFCS, Sue Williams, Ph.D.

5-I Policy Analysis Organizing Tool

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