Richards and her followers believed that the application of science to domestic issues could help save society from the social disintegration that was taking place at the turn of the century. Beginning in 1899, Ellen Richards helped organize a series of ten annual conferences that became known as the Lake Placid Conferences. At the first conference, participants agreed on the term home economics to define the broad range of disciplines and scientific studies being discussed.
In 1994, the AAFCS (formerly the American Home Economics Association), other organizations, and programs decided to change the name of the field to family and consumer sciences (FCS) to more accurately reflect the complexity of the profession. As times have changed, so have the issues and needs of daily living. And, the family and consumer sciences profession has evolved to meet the current challenges facing individuals, families, and communities. Home economics has transformed into family and consumer sciences due to the complex social and economic issues that individuals, families, and communities face today. Like any other applied science, family and consumer sciences has evolved with society and technology. Our emphasis is on issues relevant to today’s individuals and families and skills critical to successful living and working in the 21st century global society. Our classes cover topics like personal and family finance, nutrition, responsible parenting, and peaceful conflict resolution.
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