American Association of Family & Consumer Sciences
WHAT WE DO:
The American Association of Family & Consumer Sciences (AAFCS) national organization has a proud 99-year history of providing support and leadership for family and consumer sciences professionals. AAFCS has a well-established credentialing program that includes accreditation of university programs, professional level assessments, and certification of professionals as Certified in Family and Consumer Sciences (CFCS). AAFCS is committed to utilizing its resources and considerable grass-roots network of members and other stakeholders to promote personal and family finance education.
WHAT WE OFFER:
Financial Fitness...It's Priceless
AAFCS is pleased to announce the availability of materials for use with youths and adults who are eager to explore a timely public policy issue. The Financial Fitness...It's Priceless materials were designed to assist citizens in deliberating public policy approaches to problems associated with poor financial literacy and lack of financial security. AAFCS members and others knowledgeable in the area of financial literacy are encouraged to facilitate forums using these materials in their communities. It is hoped these forums will result in the identification of common ground regarding this issue and meaningful ways to take action.
An advisory board - comprises personal finance-related experts employed by relevant external entities, as well as members of AAFCS - was consulted individually and collectively on numerous occasions during the development process. Their insights were invaluable to the process of analyzing the nature and scope of the problem of financial illiteracy. Equally important were their visions regarding possible solutions. Another deliberation guide sponsored by AAFCS, Sizing Up America, was used as a model, as were National Issues Forum materials published by the Charles F. Kettering Foundation. See additional information on the AAFCS Web site at http://www.aafcs.org/policy/financialfitnessguide.html.
WHAT WE NEED:
AAFCS has made a strong commitment to help promote financial literacy through strong youth and adult education programs provided in both school and community settings. Additionally, we seek the data-driven improvement of quality and effectiveness of financial literacy curriculum and programs through use of learner assessments.
WHAT'S NEW:
Personal and Family Finance National Assessment and Pre-Professional Certification
Consistent with the swelling national emphasis on financial literacy as essential for all citizens, AAFCS announces the development of a national standards-based competency assessment measuring knowledge and skills in the area of personal and family finance. The assessment is based on the 12th grade level National Standards in K-12 Personal Finance Education developed by the Jump$tart Coalition® for Personal Financial Literacy and is consistent with the National Standards for Family and Consumer Sciences Education.
AAFCS has engaged the assistance of a broad range of esteemed personal and family finance practitioners and educators from across the nation to assist in assessment development. There is keen recognition of the value of a solid assessment tool in assuring that programs are effectively preparing individuals with the knowledge and skills necessary for successful management of their personal and family finances. While developed for targeted use in at the exit level of rigorous secondary programs teaching personal and family finance, the assessment has application in a broad range of education, community development, staff development, and human resource settings. Adhering to gold standards for effective testing, the computer-based assessment provides a mechanism for competency measurement, program accountability, and program improvement. Successful testing will qualify individuals for recognition and documentation through a corresponding personal and family finance pre-professional certification. See additional information on the AAFCS Web site at http://www.aafcs.org/prepac/.
CONTACT INFORMATION:
Gay Nell McGinnis, M.S., CFCS
Division Director of Credentialing, Professional Development and Public Policy
703-706-4600
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202-326-2368; fax: 202-326-3574
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Jump$tart Coalition for Personal Financial Literacy |
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