Family and Consumer Sciences
Family and Consumer Sciences programs provide research-based education to help people and families increase knowledge and make informed decisions. Programs from the Roanoke Office are offered in nutrition, fitness, healthy lifestyles, prevention and control of chronic diseases, aging well, local foods, food safety and food preservation. The local FCS agent is also available for speaking engagements, health fairs and for answering citizen questions on the above topics. Ask an Expert
Here are some current public offerings from FCS:
Money Mondays - Simple Money Skills seminar
Money Mondays starting Jan. 2011
Money Mondays August 2010 Flyer (PDF | 405KB)
Living Well Newsletter
Check out our state-wide quarterly newsletter. Each issue focuses on a variety of topics facing families and consumers. Check out the latest issue online. If you would like to have a reminder when the latest issue comes out or if you would prefer to receive this newsletter by way of US mail, contact Deb Chappell, dchappel@vt.edu.
Giving to FCS
You can make a difference by contributing to the Virginia FCS Foundation Fund.
Family Nutrition Program (FNP)
The Family Nutrition Programs reach limited income families, adults and youth, providing science-based nutrition education to help them to make wise nutritional choices, prevent chronic disease and stay on a budget.
Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program (EFNEP) – Youth
Youth nutrition and lifestyle education programs are offered through schools, at after-school programs, at camps, with Head Start, Boys and Girls Club and any place reaching limited income youth. Tammy Davis will be glad to plan a series of at least 6 sessions, for children between 3-19 years of age using research-based, experiential programs.
Contact Tammy if you are interested in bringing these classes to your site or if you are interested in becoming a trained partner or volunteer.
Contact Info:
Tammy Davis
tdstclr@vt.edu
(540) 444 - 2945
SNAP-Ed and EFNEP Volunteer and Partner Opportunities
The Nutrition Outreach Instructor (NOI), Stephanie Wheeler, trains community agencies and volunteers to teach nutrition, through the Family Nutrition Program (FNP), to limited-income groups in the Roanoke and New River Valleys. Stephanie recruits agencies that are already working with groups (children, parents, families, seniors, etc.), such as the Rescue Mission or local Food Pantries, to teach nutrition as part of the services they provide their clients. Stephanie also recruits traditional volunteers who wish to donate their time in order to give back.
The FNP program offers free training and free lesson materials for those who partner with us. If you want to share nutrition education with a group you work with or if you want to give back to your community, contact Stephanie to become a volunteer collaborator. You can teach topics such as: shopping on a budget, basic nutrition, pregnancy nutrition and breastfeeding, food safety, healthy cooking techniques, recipes, school gardening, and lots more!
Possible training sites: schools, churches, food pantries, home-visitors, case managers, transitional living centers, pre-schools, ESL groups, free clinic staff—anywhere!
Contact info:
Stephanie Wheeler
Phone: (540) 772-7524 x 265
Email: swheel@vt.edu
Fax: (540) 776-7136
Margarita Cubas is a Family Nutrition Program Assistant serving the Roanoke Valley. She is a member of the Virginia Cooperative Extension -Roanoke Office, housed in the VT Riverside Carilion Clinic. Margarita works with the limited income adults and families in the community, delivering nutrition education at various sites throughout the year. For more information about the Family Nutrition Program in your community, please contact Margarita at msc4@vt.edu, or call our office at (540) 772-7524.