“Attending the AAFCS national conference continues to be important as we learn to develop professionally and network with others. Some of my very best friends and peers have come through the connections and experiences gained from this organization.”

Jeff Plant, CPFFE
TAFCS President 2011-12

Attendees

Theme-Based Educational Sessions

Gain the knowledge, research, and tools you need to grow and accomplish more by participating in peer-reviewed educational sessions on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday.

*denotes sessions that are repeated in another block

BLOCK 1: Monday, June 25, 10:45am-11:45am
BLOCK 2: Monday, June 25, 12:15pm-1:15pm
BLOCK 3: Monday, June 25, 1:45pm-2:45pm
BLOCK 4: Monday, June 25, 3:00pm-4:00pm
BLOCK 5: Tuesday, June 26, 8:15am-9:15am
BLOCK 6: Tuesday, June 26, 9:30am-10:30am
BLOCK 7: Tuesday, June 26, 11:00am-12:00pm
BLOCK 8: Tuesday, June 26, 12:30pm-1:30pm
BLOCK 9: Tuesday, June 26, 1:45pm-2:45pm
BLOCK 10: Tuesday, June 26, 3:00pm-4:00pm
BLOCK 11: Wednesday, June 27, 10:45am-11:45am
BLOCK 12: Wednesday, June 27, 12:00pm-1:00pm

BLOCK 1: Monday, June 25, 10:45am-11:45am

Stop, Look, and Listen: Protecting Your Online Identity
Presented by Joanne Kinsey, CFCS
Protecting your online identify is essential in this digital age. A series of simple strategies appropriate for educators, parents, and students of all ages will be shared in an effort to increase personal safety while online. Leave this session empowered with the tools to create a personalized Internet protection strategy.

Taking Leadership in the Debate Over Education Reform: Empowering Teachers, Families, and Communities*
Presented by Peg Nicholson
FCS professionals face challenges not only from difficult economic conditions, but also from sweeping changes in the landscape of public education. Many of these changes have occurred largely without the participation of teachers, parents, and communities. Seize the unique opportunity to take a leadership role in the education reform debate!

What’s Your FCS Image? Developing Skills to Project Professionalism in Family and Consumer Sciences!*
Presented by Marilyn R. Swierk, CFCS
Through interactive, lively, and fun ways, develop important skills to make the public aware of the value of the FCS profession. Learn how to present the desired first and lasting personal, professional, and program image to clients, students, and the community.

Meeting the Literacy Challenge in the Family and Consumer Sciences Classroom*
Presented by Andrea B. Mosenson
With the adoption of the Common Core State Standards in ELA, FCS educators will be expected to incorporate literacy strategies into their courses. Without proper training in literacy instruction, how will FCS educators meet this challenge? Come learn a variety of literacy strategies to easily integrate into any FCS classroom.

Enhancing Opportunities for Leadership Through Internship Courses
Presented by Dawn Oler and April Tatro
Do you offer a teaching internship course? If so, join us and share; if not, come learn about ours! We will present our course format, curriculum ideas, technology in teaching (are you using PREZI?!?!?), leadership opportunities in the community, projects, and resources. See examples of student work and bring your questions for a Q & A session.

Social Studies and Family Social Science: Challenging Students to Think Globally
Presented by Kristin E. Larson and Yvonne Gentzler
How do you engage secondary students in a cross-curricular decisionmaking model? FCS and social studies students can learn how the decisions they make affect our global community and how all our decisions affect us as individuals. Find out about opportunities to integrate curriculum to strengthen your FCS program.

Friend Me! How Social Media Can Be Your Professional Connection*
Presented by Sharon Jeffcoat Bartley and Carol Turner
Social media can be your professional connection, but using it can be daunting for those with no experience. Learn why and how to use social media, explore selected technologies, and create a Facebook account to increase your professional contacts.

BLOCK 2: Monday, June 25, 12:15pm-1:15pm

What’s “hAPPening” in FCS?*
Presented by Sara Lohrmann, CFCS, Christina M. Erickson, Michelle A. Grassly, Susan P. Taylor, Kaitlin M. Romanchuk
During this interactive session, experience the iPad as a tool for teaching, learning, and collaborating with FCS professionals. You'll explore some of the best apps being used to enhance student engagement in FCS classrooms and explore productivity apps for busy FCS professionals. Come see what's "hAPPening" in FCS!

Chemicals in Personal Care Products: Know the Risks and Take Action
Presented by Melissa Abner
Learn the dangers of chemicals lurking in everyday products, such as shampoo, lotion, and toothpaste. The FDA currently has no power over what goes into these products. Education is the key to making good choices and taking leadership in supporting the Safe Cosmetics Act.

Designing Community Collaborations to Improve Preschoolers’ Nutrition Attitudes, Knowledge, and Health Behaviors
Presented by Nina Roofe, Melissa Shock, and Elson Bihm
Experience an innovative multidisciplinary approach to preschool nutrition education utilizing informal education pedagogy (e.g., puppets, song, mystery, and comedy). Discuss community coalition and interactive lesson material development, formative and summative outcome data, and needs assessment. Then participate in an interactive lesson targeting preschoolers.

Teaching Community Leadership Through a Sustainability Project for Regional Campuses
Presented by JoAnn Wilson
Regional campuses are often in remote and less populated areas of each state. In this adaptive re-use project, interior design students create business and residential interiors for these underrepresented communities. Students take a leadership role by creating a video presentation to educate community members about sustainable practices and products.

Parliamentary Procedure Basics
Presented by Kyley Brooks
Learning the basics of parliamentary procedure and how to incorporate them into any meeting.

New Teaching Methods to Help Individuals and Families Achieve Financial Literacy
Presented by Angela Radford Lewis, CFCS, Valerie L. Giddings, and Nina Lyon Bennett
Financial literacy is essential to ensure that individuals are prepared to manage money, credit, and debt; and become responsible workers, heads of households, investors, entrepreneurs, and citizens. Explore innovative age-appropriate and across-the-lifespan learning concepts, activities, and electronic resources that can be used to achieve financial literacy.

Celebrating Community College and University Partnerships in Rural Communities
Presented by Aryca J. Marron
Receive an overview of the partnership between Arizona Western College and University of Arizona, which offers a Family Studies Human Development (2+2) Bachelor of Science Degree program in Yuma, AZ. Learn about program start-up/recruitment, andragogy, and identification of stakeholders in rural communities.

BLOCK 3: Monday, June 25, 1:45pm-2:45pm

Smart Investing @ Your Library: FCS Leadership Takes the Fear Out of Investing
Presented by Barbara M. O’Neill, CFCS
Gain in-depth knowledge of the content and format of an investor education program developed in cooperation with a public library system that received a FINRA Investor Education Foundation Smart Investing @ Your Library investor education grant. Learn basic investment concepts and characteristics of frequently purchased investment products.

Developing an Online FCS Course: A Story of Collaboration
Presented by Julie Johnson and Sushma Jolly, with research by Richard Bischoff
Hear the story of how a course was developed by individuals from across campus (8 departments, 17 faculty plus extended education personnel) and funded from three different sources (Academic Affairs, Athletics, Extended Education). This online course has unique features and shows collaboration and leadership..

Families and Communities Interdisciplinary Seminars: Addressing Community Issues Through Collaboration
Presented by Pamela A. Schulze and Gary M. Rosen
The presenters will discuss their collaboration on the Families and Communities Interdisciplinary Seminar. This session will take on complex societal problems and challenge your understanding of how to combat them. You'll receive general topics to address using interdisciplinary collaborative discussion.

Incorporating Service Learning and Entrepreneurship Into Sewing Classes to Improve Learning Outcomes
Presented by Susan Reichelt, Barbara Woods, Melanie Powley, and Lindsay Montgomery
Apparel construction as a part of the FCS curriculum has been called into question in recent years. Learn about a new model of teaching the basics of sewing, which has been successfully implemented at two universities. The updated model includes a focus on service learning and entrepreneurship.

Passing the Baton: How Are We Socializing the Next Generation of FCS Leaders?
Presented by Denise G. Fisher, CFCS, CPFFE
What characterizes the female experience of socialization into leadership in FCS? Explore how new professionals are forging pathways to lead in family and consumer sciences, how they are navigating socialization into the profession, and the challenges they are struggling to overcome to become the next generation of leaders.

Using 24/7 Technology and Collaboration to Empower People
Presented by Patricia Brinkman and Melanie Hart
The website, http://5countysolutions.osu.edu, was created through collaboration to provide resources and help for individuals and families facing area unemployment. Discuss collaborating and evaluating the use of different technologies to address community needs. Then examine resources and information needed by clientele and how technology can assist in the outreach.

Students Running on Empty? Effects of Eating Breakfast on Students and Implications for FCS Educators and Professionals
Presented by Cynthia L. Waters, CFCS, and Dawn J. Behan
Formal research and teacher observation have demonstrated student behavior is affected by a student eating breakfast. This session addresses effects on academics, emotional performance, and behavior by students eating breakfast. Learn about specific nutrients and special diets related to student behavior. Discuss implications for FCS educators and professionals.

BLOCK 4: Monday, June 25, 3:00pm-4:00pm

The Art of Collaborative Leadership in Community and Educational Settings
Presented by Debra L. Manteghi
This presentation will cover various aspects of leadership that will promote family and community vitality utilizing ethics, etiquette, and engagement models. Gain a new sense of personal responsibility when returning back to your role, no matter what yourcapacity may be, in promoting family and community vitality.

"Sustainable Me!” – Helping Middle-School Students Sustain Wellness
Presented by Joanne Kinsey, CFCS
It's time students think about sustaining health, environment, personal relationships, and finances. A group of committed community collaborators joined forces to tackle the sustainability issue by involving students, teachers, and a variety of community health agencies. "Sustainable Me" encourages action to sustain wellness for students, grades 5-8.

Model for Leadership Change to Assure Sustainability of FCS Units in Higher Education
Presented by Sue Bailey, CFCS, Melinda Swafford, Jeff Plant, CPFFE, Lee Ann Jolley, Lizabeth Self Mullens, Melinda Anderson, Cathy Hix Cunningham, and Cara Sisk
One of the most critical times for an FCS unit in higher education is when a leadership change occurs. First and foremost, all unit members must be aware of the dynamics of higher education and strategically plan for the change of leadership long before a resignation or retirement is announced.

Community Connections Puts FCS in the Driver’s Seat!
Presented by Marilyn R. Swierk, CFCS
Connecting family and consumer sciences with community partners results in enriched and realistic learning situations, valuable resources, and enhanced public awareness. The benefits, steps to take, and ways to sustain these connections will enable you to apply these principles in your work and enhance family and consumer sciences visibility.

BLOCK 5: Tuesday, June 26, 8:15am-9:15am

Connecting the Delivery Method of FCS Courses in Higher Education With Student Achievements*
Presented by Paula J. Tripp, CFCS, Mary S. Olle, and Michelle M. Jones
What is the connection between student achievement and the course delivery format? We've compared the same FCS courses taught both on-campus and online and found interesting results to that question. With limited FCS publications reporting these findings, hear what these leaders have found!

Advocacy and Action: Empowering Future FCS Leaders*
Presented by Sarah E. Huisman
In this session, engage in discussion and a small group exercise to explore how advocacy and action is being used in an undergraduate FCS course to promote future FCS leaders. Examine specific course assignments to explore how leadership strategies can emerge in our future leaders.

RPM – Rev Up Your Engines for Collaborative Education in Residential Property Management
Presented by Carla Earhart, CFCS, Howard Campbell, and Alexandra Jackiw, with research by Sarah Rentschler
Residential property management (RPM) involves the day-to-day operation of a variety of housing options. Career opportunities are plentiful, including marketing, management, maintenance, and more! The most successful RPM educational programs include collaborations with property management professionals and industry-related organizations. RPM faculty, alumni, and industry professionals will share the recipe for success.

Creating Effective Partnerships to Promote Healthy Children, Youth, and Communities
Presented by Gene Roehlkepartain and Yvonne S. Gentzler
Find out how to partner with organizations such as Search Institute, a leading global innovator in discovering what children and adolescents need to become caring, healthy, and responsible adults. Drawing on extensive research, this organization brings hopeful solutions to pressing challenges in the lives of young people and their communities.

Strategies to Help You Stress Less on the Job and at Home
Presented by Joanne Kinsey, CFCS
Stress can have a negative impact on your health! Gather information about the effect of stress on the body and simple strategies that can help you effectively deal with stress on the job or in the home.

Meeting the Literacy Challenge in the FCS Classroom*
Presented by Andrea B. Mosenson
With the adoption of the Common Core State Standards in ELA, FCS educators will be expected to incorporate literacy strategies into their courses. Without proper training in literacy instruction, how will FCS educators meet this challenge? Come learn a variety of literacy strategies to easily integrate into any FCS classroom.

BLOCK 6: Tuesday, June 26, 9:30am-10:30am

Leadership: Using Capacity Building to Help Others Create Their Preferred Future
Presented by Dixie R. Crase, CFCS, Patricia Stevens, CFCS, Carol Anderson, , CFCS, Janett Gibbs, CFCS, Joyce Crouse, CFCS, Joyce Miles, CFCS, and Penny Ralston, CFCS
Equipped with FCS degrees, accomplished FCS professionals share how a model for capacity building can result in leaders taking action to help individuals, families, and communities face challenges and develop a preferred future.

Internships—Professional Connections to Careers, Communities, and Capital
Presented by Peggy Quinn
During this interactive presentation, gain a better understanding of the value of internships for connections to careers, business communities, and capital that support the academic and financial needs of educational institutions. Research, strategies, student testimonials, guidelines, models for internship coordination, and an idea exchange to develop "best practices" for internship connections will be shared.

Looking Back, Moving Forward: Using the AAFCS Legacy to Develop Future Leaders
Presented by Janine Duncan, Carol Pariani, Patricia Schrodowski, and Deborah Williams
Fostering FCS graduate student professional identity—interact with presenters as they examine how the FCS legacy currently affects student leadership development. Hear reflections on foundational course experiences, demonstrating the value an intellectual ecological approach has on shaping understandings of the profession and one's place within it.

Connecting Professionals to Consumers through eXtension—
A Multi-State Collaboration for a Diabetes Community of Practice
Presented by Carol W. Turner
Individuals seeking information on diabetes/pre-diabetes using the Internet are finding a mix of reliable and unreliable information. The eXtension Diabetes Community of Practice (CoP) will be a clearinghouse for reliable, practical information. Explore how you can utilize this resource in your programming and how you can contribute to the CoP.

Student Leadership Through Service: The Cinderella Dress Exchange
Presented by Billie L. Perrin and M. Lynn Alkire
The Cinderella Dress Exchange is a student-driven service-learning initiative designed to assist disadvantaged youth of Missouri. Developing leadership skills, community connections, and professional networking is a major focus of this project. Gain information on strategies, promotional ideas, and leadership activities for creating a similar memorable event.

Avoiding Crash and Burn: Strategies for Successfully Managing Your Professional and Personal Life
Presented by Angela Radford Lewis, CFCS, Julia Miller, and Jacqueline Holland, CFCS
Inspired by the book Juggling Elephants by Jones Loflin and Todd Musig, this interactive, race-themed session will help participants avoid crashing and burning both personally and professionally as they maneuver the race of life and provide effective leadership and capacity-building opportunities to individuals, families, and communities.

Leadership in Action: Connecting With Past and Present Professionals to Proactively Impact Leadership in FCS
Presented by Yvonne S. Gentzler, Lori Myers, CFCS, Denise G. Fisher, CFCS, CPFFE, Darby T. Sewell, and Mary Ann Campbell
Vital to moving the FCS profession forward is the empowerment of professionals to own the potential impact of their leadership decisions. Connect with selected FCS leaders by examining their contributions and strategies for navigating the challenges of assuming leadership roles. Discuss implications for co-creating change through professional practice.

BLOCK 7: Tuesday, June 26, 11:00am-12:00pm

A Matter of Balance: A Proactive Approach to Managing Falls
Presented by Carol S. Miller, CFCS and Carol E. Chandler
"A Matter of Balance" utilizes a lay leader approach to encourage healthy aging. This eight-session program helps participants learn to view falls and fear of falling as controllable, to change their environment to reduce fall risk factors, and to promote exercise to increase strength and balance.

International Clothing and Textiles Extension Programs: Leading the Way to a Greater Understanding of Culture and Sustainability
Presented by Lindsey Shirley and Joanne Roueche
Clothing and textiles Extension programs provide youth and adults the opportunity to explore a basic human need in relation to self-expression and cultural awareness, as well as the production, distribution, use, and disposal of clothing. Discover how Extension programming can lead the way in education about sustainability and culture through clothing.

Becoming a Facilitative Leader
Presented by Jacqueline M. Holland, CFCS
In today's society, effective leaders are in demand. The facilitative leader is one who is collaborative with others, strategic in his/her thinking, receptive, and flexible. Hear an overview of the Facilitative Leadership model and focus on specific practices that help shape such a leader.

The Leadership Wheel: A Journey in Self-Exploration for Human Sustainability
Presented by Nancy White and Yvonne S. Gentzler
Explore your leadership style, deepen appreciation for others, and learn to connect with colleagues to accomplish shared goals. The Leadership Wheel incorporates a human sustainability initiative heightening an appreciation for the wisdom gained through ancient cultures. Attend this innovative, meaningful, and authentic session! In order to gain insight into your own style, request assessment prior to session by emailing nwhite@workshopaz.com.

Students Leading Students as Health Advocates in Schools and Communities
Presented by Carla S. Honselman
Receive an introduction to the concept of students as leaders in health and wellness issues of concern to themselves and their peers. Review basic principles of peer education, and discuss programs available to students.

Innovative Programs to Connect Students and Professionals: Educating Families, Reducing Obesity, and Developing Facebook Business Pages*
Presented by Cindy C. Moseman, Nancy A. Morris, and Deborah A. Sullivan, CFCS
Learn about undergraduate FCS students' collaborations with families, communities, and businesses. Student projects include a county-wide school readiness initiative empowering families to "Talk, Read, and Play" with their children: "Crunch Out Obesity" program; market research analysis for firm that produces couture handbags; and social networking marketing project for an e-commerce firm.

BLOCK 8: Tuesday, June 26, 12:30pm-1:30pm

You Don’t Need a Title to Be a Leader
Presented by Susan M. Turgeson, CFCS
The strongest leaders in groups often don't have official titles at all. Leadership is shown through our everyday actions and the way we influence the lives of others. Hear examples that can help you develop your own leadership skills, as well as those of people around you.

Empowering Young Adults to Take Financial Leadership in Their Lives
Presented by Pam J. Bennett, CPFFE and Denise G. Fisher, CFCS, CPFFE
Financial management skills are essential for young adults who face a myriad of complex decisions in an uncertain economy. How can FCS professionals empower them to proactively meet those challenges? Innovative collaborations, programs, and strategies to assist young adults in taking control of their financial well-being will be highlighted.

Service-Learning and the Hybrid Classroom
Presented by Nicole A. Graves, CFCS-HDFS
Learn how a college instructor transformed the student learning experience by redesigning a face-to-face course with service-learning into a hybrid course based on the multi-modal model. Unique scheduling ideas, along with examples from freshman direct-service and senior project-based service-learning and the important connection to community needs, will be shared.

Family and Consumer Sciences: Enhancing Creativity, Connecting Professions, Bridging Disciplines
Presented by Pamela A. Schulze and Julie Whitmore
Discuss how interior design and family studies classes develop creativity and interdisciplinary thinking in students. Such skills are vital in today's world and allow our graduates to become leaders in their communities. Learn about specific examples of assignments and assessments. Your active participation is encouraged!

Designing Meetings With Purpose and Intent to Captivate and Engage Participants
Presented by Nancy White and Yvonne S. Gentzler
Most of us spend a great percentage of our time in meetings. Explore the critical elements to create effective meetings that optimize results and the experience meeting participants.

Team Leadership: Integral to the Success of a Museum Design Project
Presented by JoAnn Wilson
Due to theft and vandalism, senior design sales and marketing students developed a design solution for a controlled-access geology museum. Because of the scope of the project, teaming was necessary. Explore the nuances of team dynamics and leadership in a design studio.

BLOCK 9: Tuesday, June 26, 1:45pm-2:45pm

Leadership: Reflect, Recharge, and Radiate!
Presented by Sue Buck and Martha Nall
Participate in an Interactive discussion of theories and strategies that encourage people to excel as leaders in their professional positions, in AAFCS, in families and communities, as well as volunteer roles. Each participant will share ideas and strategies to enhance their leadership opportunities. Leadership is for everyone!

Transforming the Lives of Children and Families Through Community Collaboration
Presented by Martha Herndon, CFCS and Cathy Waggoner
Explore methods of collaboration used to create, operate, and evaluate a remarkable program. The Promethean Foundation helps limited-resource children reach their potential by providing high-quality child care. A common curriculum emphasizes excellence in school readiness and character development. Professionals collaborate to make a difference in their rural community.

FCS Curriculum: Taking the Lead in Reinforcing STEM Education*
Presented by Lindsey Shirley and Sandra Bradshaw
FCS professionals are leaders in preparing individuals to respond to important social issues. FCS curriculum reinforces science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) concepts needed for future careers. Find out how the FCS curriculum uses innovative, research-based teaching strategies and FCCLA integration to address the changing demands of society.

BLOCK 10: Tuesday, June 26, 3:00pm-4:00pm

Keepers of the Flame: Connecting Professionals Through In-Service Training
Presented by Kathy Croxall, Rea Gubler, CFCS, and Artis Grady, CFCS-HNFS
FCS professionals must help strengthen each other. In this session, examine the development and implementation of a long-standing annual in-service training for regional FCS teachers. The training involves multiple professionals: pre-service students, university faculty, and secondary teachers. Learn about conference organization and workshop topics.

Leading Through Successful Collaboration
Presented by Diana Saiki and Jay Kandiah
Through various research and education tools, learn about strategies for collaboration that result in positive outcomes with community leaders, stakeholders, and media. Gain the knowledge and practical skills that will enable you to successfully utilize collaboration in the advancement of the FCS profession.

Bringing Leadership Into Ethical Action: A Model for Multiple-Perspectives Decision-Making
Presented by Jody L. Roubanis, CFCS, Sammie G. Garner, CFCS, Sister Victoria Marie Gribschaw, CFCS, and Sheri Lokken Worthy, CFCS
Ethical decision-making is the cornerstone of collaborative leadership. In this interactive workshop, members of the AAFCS Ethics Committee present a model for encouraging multiple perspectives in reasoning as a tool for FCS leaders to make ethical decisions, which are premised on the AAFCS Code of Ethics and collaborative mission of the profession.

The FCS Body of Knowledge Comes Alive Through campF.R.E.S.H.
Presented by Cheryl A. Houston and Mary Beth Ohlms
Interact in this innovative application of the FCS Body of Knowledge while learning about campF.R.E.S.H. (family, recreation, education, sharing and health), an active, hands-on, health-focused, creative global journey for children. Emergent positive outcomes shared with community stakeholders provide an FCS-basis from which you can translate camp experiences to a variety of settings.

Words Create Worlds: Creating Connections for Meaningful Outcomes
Presented by Nancy White and Yvonne S. Gentzler
Particularly during stressful times, it's common to view the world through deficit concepts based upon weakness and dysfunction. Instead, learn how to shift and embrace strength-based concepts to improve connections and bolster effectiveness. Learn how simple thoughtful changes in your approach can captivate, illuminate, and inspire positive outcomes in your professional and personal life.

BLOCK 11: Wednesday, June 27, 10:45am-11:45am

Pilates for Professionals: Strengthening Our Core Using the FCS Body of Knowledge Model
Presented by Janine Duncan; research by Monica Dickens
During this interactive session, engage and connect with FCS professionals using the FCS Body of Knowledge (BOK). Building our core, both literally and figuratively, we will rediscover how the FCS Body of Knowledge is our fundamental professional connection.

Plan of Action: Connecting Families With Tools for Financial Success
Presented by Pam Bennett, CPFFE and Denise Fisher, CFCS, CPFFE
Why are so many families still struggling with the aftermath of the great recession? In this interactive session, learn about the tools available for promoting financial well-being. Combine your understanding of family systems and personal finance to promote improvements to individual and family well-being in their communities.

Student Unit 101: Navigating and Networking in AAFCS
Presented by Kyley Brooks and Catherine Sustersic
Student Unit members and chapter advisors are invited to learn more about the opportunities available in the AAFCS Student Unit, including leadership, networking, awards, scholarships, and more!

BLOCK 12: Wednesday, June 27, 12:00pm-1:00pm

Broken Promises: FCS Professional Leadership Can Help Employees Cope With Reduced Income and Benefits
Presented by Barbara M. O’Neill, CFCS
Advance both personally and professionally at this workshop! Learn how to provide leadership to help your colleagues and clients cope with reduced income and benefits. Find out about specific financial coping strategies, including "retire" while working, control what's possible, and investigate benefit alternatives.