Themes and Deadlines

Although themes are identified for each issue, manuscripts can be submitted at any time on any topic relevant to FCS, its body of knowledge, and consistent with “Connecting professionals. Touching lives.”  Submissions are not limited to the identified themes. 

Vol. 105, Issue 3     Summer 2013                                                   
Manuscripts due: January 4, 2013
Ethical and Moral Decision Making Amidst Change

FCS has embraced many change factors in our environment—child and parental rights in surrogate situations, elimination of sweat shops; reducing  carbon footprints; evolving technology in education; healthcare and privacy issues; and economic profiles of consumers in recession and depression eras. What roles should FCS play to ensure families engage in ethical and moral decision making, resource management, and ethical and moral leadership?

Vol. 105, Issue 4    Fall 2013                                                             
Manuscripts due: April 5, 2013
FCS Extension—Centennial Year of the Smith-Lever Act, 2014

FCS was recognized (as home economics) with the initiation of Cooperative Extension when President Woodrow Wilson signed the Smith-Lever Act in 1914. FCS Extension has been involved in the “development of practical applications of research knowledge and giving of instruction and practical demonstration of existing or improved practices or technologies in … home economics” for 100 years.
Telling the past, present, and future of FCS Extension.

Vol. 106, Issue 1     Winter 2014
Manuscripts due: June 14, 2013
The Role of Integral Thinking in FCS Practice

Our profession has historically focused on integrated thinking. This theme explores the notion of integral thinking and how it can/does inform FCS practice. While integrated focuses on balance, certainty, order, and harmony within systems, minimizing tensions and reducing chaos, integral is another approach altogether. Grounded in the sciences of quantum physics, chaos theory, and living systems theory, integral thinking respects uncertainty, disorder, and insecurity. It respects the creative, dynamic, and evolving nature of complex human and natural processes. An integral perspective to FCS practice would assume that order is emerging (a different definition of chaos) and that tensions can be healthy, holding things together as they emerge (relationships, ideas, information, new knowledge), including new forms of practice. How would FCS practice look if viewed through an integral lens?

Vol. 106, Issue 2    Spring 2014
Manuscripts due: September 15, 2013
Preparation and Advancement in the Labor Force

How is FCS preparing professionals for the workforce of the future? With many of the ongoing discussions of sufficiency of preparation for employment and the reality that FCS is a career and technical field at the secondary and postsecondary levels, knowing about cutting edge programs in FCS would be informative and it would showcase some of the workforce preparedness and entrepreneurial programs initiated by our colleagues. The 'new' professional collegiate programs would fit within this theme and underscore new interdisciplinary (dare we dream, transdisciplinary) efforts emanating from recent administrative realignments and attention to labor demands—for example, those related to the field of health, technology, design, wellness. Inclusion of projections for supply and demand in various allied fields would be appropriate.

Vol. 106, Issue 3    Summer 2014
Manuscripts due: January 3, 2014
Leadership

AAFCS has a focus on leadership. Leadership has many facets—from that of leadership development in Family, Career and Community Leaders of America (FCCLA), 4-H, the AAFCS Student Unit, and FCS related honorary societies, as well as leadership in policy development, research, service, instruction, and applications of technology, to name a few. What should future leadership, leadership preparation, and professional development look like for FCS? What approaches to leadership will make FCS stronger and improve individual and family well-being and quality of life as well as strengthen resiliency in times of relentless change and transformation?

Vol. 106, Issue 4    Fall 2014
Manuscripts due: April 2, 2014
Accountability and Political Influence

Accountability is different from responsibility. Put simply, accountable means calculating the import of one's actions and then taking action; responsible means promising to be answerable for the consequences. Being accountable happens before acting. Being responsible happens after acting. How has accountability influenced policy decisions and informed stakeholders (school boards, boards of regents or trustees, legislative bodies, government agencies, etc.)? What is our role in ensuring meaningful accountability? How can we improve our accountability and responsibility in the future?