Alexandria, Va. – July 17, 2018 –The American Association of Family & Consumer Sciences (AAFCS) Board of Directors recently adopted the resolution titled, “Support Humane Policies & Treatment of Families Crossing Borders into the United States.” The Family & Consumer Sciences Education Association has also endorsed this resolution.
In the resolution, it states that:
- AAFCS members, affiliates, and communities support the humane treatment of all individuals, families, and groups of people.
- AAFCS members, affiliates, and communities actively support policies and practices that consider and uphold the best interests of families.
- AAFCS members, affiliates, and communities actively collaborate with other organizations through the promotion of awareness, education, analysis, and action to support the rights and well-being of families who have entered or are entering the United States.
The resolution provides background information on the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, as well as research related to the long-term negative consequences of children being separated from their parents for prolonged periods of time. According to Megan Gunnar, Regents Professor and Distinguished McKnight Professor of Child Development, University of Minnesota, children in this scenario may experience toxic stress and be set on a path toward impulsivity, low academic achievement, and depression. Additionally, according the CDC-Kaiser Permanente Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) Study, experiencing ACEs have been linked to risky health behaviors (e.g. alcoholism, substance misuse), chronic health conditions; psychological problems of anxiety, depression, suicide; academic difficulties; lowered life potential; and early death. The more ACEs experienced, the more negative impacts the children and families’ experience.
“The resolution was a collaborative effort of members of the AAFCS Communities of Global Perspectives, Family Relations and Human Development, and Public Policy,” said AAFCS member and Global Perspectives Community Leader Deborah Tippett, CFCS. “The authors of the resolution--Jody Roubanis, CFCS; Carole Makela, and Ginny Vincenti, CFCS--worked tirelessly with many members of AAFCS to present a meaningful resolution. I look forward to joining others who want to take action on this issue.”
About the American Association of Family & Consumer Sciences (AAFCS)
Based in the Washington, D.C., area, AAFCS is the only association for family and consumer sciences students and professionals across multiple practice settings and content areas. For more than 100 years, AAFCS has focused its mission on providing leadership and support for professionals whose work assists individuals, families, and communities in making more informed decisions about their well-being, relationships, and resources to achieve optimal quality of life. AAFCS members provide research-based knowledge about the topics of everyday life to help create healthy and sustainable families. These topics include human development, personal and family finance, housing and interior design, food science, nutrition and wellness, textiles and apparel, and consumer issues. AAFCS members are located nationwide, and include educators, administrators and managers, human service and business professionals, researchers, community volunteers, and consultants who develop research-based information and deliver programs on essential skills to help individuals and families be better prepared to live, work, and succeed in today’s complex and diverse world.
Field of Family & Consumer Sciences
Family and consumer sciences (FCS) draws from broad and diverse disciplines to develop and provide content and programs that help individuals become more effective critical thinkers and problem solvers. Through discovery and delivery of research-based knowledge, FCS professionals help individuals and families develop essential skills to successfully live and work in a complex world. Professionals in the field are uniquely qualified to speak on many critical issues affecting individuals and families, such as maintaining a healthy lifestyle, wisely managing personal and family finances, and creating supportive relationships with family members, friends, and co-workers. They are located nationwide in a variety of practice settings, including secondary schools, universities, government agencies, and businesses.
For more information, please contact:
Gwynn Mason
Sr. Director, Communications & Marketing, AAFCS
703-706-4613
gmason@aafcs.org
###