Community of Taking it to the Streets

Our mission

Taking it to the Streets (TIS) is dedicated to providing leadership and support to empower family and consumer sciences professionals better serve the general public, the populations with whom they work, and their personal lives, to address current issues of major concern.

Core Objectives

• Choose a current issue of concern to individuals, families and communities by studying current issues, and seeking member input.
• Focus on the current concern for a period of time.
• Collaborate with other AAFCS communities whose expertise is aligned to assist with our chosen issue.
• Provide the necessary resources and professional development for AAFCS members and FCS professionals in general, to help them assist, support, and educate individuals, families and communities, regardless of circumstances and demographics as they deal with an issue of current major concern.
• Promote visibility and respect for the FCS profession to the general public.

Our Actions

• Seek member input to determine an issue of major concern affecting individuals, families, and communities.
  
• Research current issues of major concern.
  
• Maintain a focus with one issue at a time to enhance our strength in that area.
  
• Create an awareness of, and provide resources and professional development on, the chosen issue by periodically sharing relevant information through AAFCS communication sources, affiliate meetings and at our annual conference.

Our annual strengths since 2009

• Collaborate with at least three other AAFCS communities.
• Successfully assisting FCS professionals to utilize this information in their personal and professional practice settings.
• Reaching, assisting, supporting, and educating thousands of people through our numerous issues of major concern.
• Awarding the Cleaning Institute with the Friend of the Family Award for their assistance with our focus on H1N1. Award accepted by Nancy Bock who was instrumental in providing resources and FCS visibility.
• Elevating our work to the action level: Since thrifting is a current trend for many regardless of their socioeconomic status, we created the Twice is Nice Swap starting in 2013. This popular activity provides a model for sustainability and resourcefulness. It gives members a cost free and entertaining break during our conferences, and an declutter and also provided a model for use at the affiliate level.
• Providing access to members for our annual PowerPoint Presentation focusing on the current issue of concern.
  
• Creating opportunities for involvement and leadership for the numerous members who served on the TIS leadership team.
  
• Focusing on a majority of issues (one at a time) ongoing resources and professional development on numerous issues of concern including:
  
  • 2009-2010 H1 N1 Virus
    
  • 2010-2011 Preventing Childhood Obesity 
    
  • 2011-2012 Preventing Obesity 2
  • 2012-2013 Resourcefulness Part 1
  • 2013-2014 Resourcefulness Part 2
    
  • 2013 Began Twice Is Nice Swap
    
  • 2014-15 Navigating Health Insurance
    
  • 2015-2016 Resources to Improve Wellbeing of Individuals, Families, and Communities
    
  • 2016-2017 Get FCS Fit: Emergency Financial Fitness in a Nutshell
    
  • 2017-18 FCS Family Crises 1 - Role in Promoting Mental Well Being: Financial Implications/Divorce/Suicide
    
  • 2018-19 Family Crises 2 - Providing Help for Military Families
    
  • 2021 Family Crises 3 - Role of FCS During Covid (Virtual)
    
  • 2022 Family Crises 3 - When Helpful Becomes Harmful: The implications for FCS professionals when dealing with opioids, vaping and other “new” addictions.
    
  • 2023 Knock out Economic “Sticker Shock”