Minnesota Extension Home Economics Past and Present

Part Two:

Extension Home Economics

Studies and Reviews

"Status of the Family Report," a 1986 study, describes characteristics of Minnesota families and projects status of families.

1965 Study Program Review: Focus I-1967 Program Review: Focus II-1976 Civil Rights Review: 1981 County Home Economics/Family Living Program Review: 1981 Status of the Family Report: 1986

1965 Study

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In 1965 Director Luther Pickrel appointed a committee to study and make recommendations for Extension Home Economics. The committee recommended that:

• The leadership position for Extension Home Economics be given immediate consideration, and that this position carry responsibility, with commensurate authority, for direction of Extension Home Economics.
  
  
• The Extension Home Economics program areas be human development and family relations, consumer education, management of resources, community life and public affairs, and creative arts.
  
  
• Specialists at the state level for each major area of concern in the state program provide guidance for programs and prepare home agents to conduct local programs by updating subject matter as needed.
  
  
• Close working relationships with the College of Home Economics teaching and research staff be developed, with specialists responsible to division heads for subject matter and to extension for administration and programming.
  
  

Programs were developed based on committee recommendations. However, the recommended State Leader-Extension Home Economics position remained vacant for four years.

Program Review: Focus I-1967

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In the late 1960s internal program reviews were conducted in all program areas to assess current program response to changing political, economic, and societal needs. In 1967 a review of Extension Home Economics was chaired by Rosella Qualey, District Home Economics Supervisor. Five task forces studied program needs and developed guidelines in the five program areas of food and nutrition, family development, consumer competence, family health, and community resource development. Members of task forces were county and state extension workers, experiment station staff members, and representatives of relative state agencies. The final report, entitled "Focus on Families in Minnesota," published in 1968, served as a guide for program development for the next several years.

Program Review: Focus II-1976

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In April 1976 there was another Minnesota home economics/family living program review. This one, chaired by Lois (Ingels) Goering, Clothing Specialist, was an objective review of the Extension Home Economics program, a self-examination of the total state program. The review team had representatives from county, area, and state levels within and outside of Minnesota Extension, plus extension USDA and home economics professionals from other states. The review resulted in a long-range plan, "Focus II, Home Economics/Family Living," developed under the direction of Wanda Olson, Household Equipment Specialist. Recommendations emphasized staff development and training within state-wide priorities; coordination between coworkers in offices, planning units, counties, districts, and specialists; coordination with other program areas; support materials from specialists on program emphasis areas and mass media support for counties. The committee also recommended the addition of an Assistant State Leader for Home Economics. In 1980 Irene Ott was hired to fill this position.

Civil Rights Review: 1981

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In 1981 home economics civil rights reviews were conducted in four counties by a USDA home economics staff member. County extension agents found them helpful and requested that information about the review be presented at the "Focus on Families" conference on January 29, 1981. A panel presentation, "Effective Program Outreach-Affirmative Action," was made by three home economists involved in the study. This was helpful in planning for affirmative action in family programming.

County Home Economics/Family Living Program Reviews: 1981

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In late summer and fall of 1981 a county home economics/family living program review process was developed by Irene Ott, Assistant Program Director. It was piloted in Sibley, Rock, Murray, and Redwood Counties. The review was a process to describe current county programs and to direct plans for the future for improved effectiveness of county units. In the following years county program reviews were conducted in additional counties.

Status of the Family Report: 1986

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In 1986 Pamela Gusk, Research Assistant, under the direction of Shirley Baugher, Assistant Director, Home Economics, conducted a study and developed a "Minnesota Status of the Family Report," a description of characteristics of Minnesota families. Purposes of the report were to identify historical and current status of families and to project the future status of families. This information was used for several years as background for developing future programs.

Produced by Communication and Educational Technology Services, University of Minnesota Extension.

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