The Families and Child Well-Being Learning Network is a new eXtension Optimized Community of Practice (CoP) that is committed to collectively extending the public reach and engagement capacities of five individual CoPs: Alliance for Better Child Care; Family Caregiving; Families, Food and Fitness; Financial Security for All; and Just in Time Parenting. The Families and Child Well-Being Learning Network serves as a more comprehensive online resource for family and consumer needs through the creation and dissemination of deliverables on parenting, childcare, family nutrition, finance, and caregiving. Its inaugural webcast will explore the Learning Network’s goals, mission and vision, and social media presence

1. Optimized Community of Practice
Inaugural Webcast
February 27, 2014

2. The Families and Child Well-Being Learning Network is
an eXtension Optimized Community of Practice (CoP)
that is committed to collectively extending the public
reach and engagement capacities of five individual
CoPs:
(1) eXtension Alliance for Better Child Care;
(2) Family Caregiving;
(3) Families, Food and Fitness;
(4) Financial Security for All; and
(5) Just in Time Parenting.

3. ¡ The Learning Network is housed at NC State University
¡ Optimization year runs from 11/1/13-10/31/14
¡ The Learning Network Executive Team is comprised of:
¡ PI: Nichole Huff, Ph.D., CFLE, NCSU
¡ Co-PI: Jenell Kelly, Ph.D., NCAT
¡ Project Manager: Katie Stamper, M.S., NCSU
¡ CoP Representatives from each of the 5 national CoPs

4. Families and Child Well-Being Learning Network
will co-brand and partner with FCS as:
¡ “A National Collaboration of Family & Consumer Sciences”
¡ The LN will serve as a more comprehensive online resource for
family and consumer needs through the creation and
dissemination of deliverables such as webinars, articles, etc.
¡ This will include FCS topics such as parenting, childcare,
family nutrition, finance, and caregiving.

5. Mission Statement
To provide high quality, practical, online
educational resources and learning
opportunities via eXtension to families
and the communities who support them
through integrated efforts within the
field of Family and Consumer Sciences.

6. Vision Statement
To address, promote, and advocate
timely research that directly impacts
today’s children and families while
building a sense of community among
Family and Consumer Sciences
professionals and partners.

7. eXtension Alliance for Better Child Care
Dan Weigel, Ph.D., University of Nevada Extension
¡ “…a community of early childhood professionals at leading
universities who are dedicated to improving the quality of child
care and early childhood education for all children.”
¡ Wide variety of articles
Social media
¡ Searchable databases
Ask An Expert
¡ Webinars
FAQ’s
¡ Online training
Military providers

8. Family Caregiving
Andy Crocker, M.S., Texas A&M University
¡ Address educational needs of family caregivers
¡ Create a national resource for Extension’s educational
resources on aging, adult development, & family caregiving
¡ Provide educational information to professionals and family
caregivers, including Extension professionals

9. Family Caregiving Areas of Interest
¡ Content
¡ Adult
Development
&
Aging
¡ Disaster
Preparedness
¡ Employed
Caregiving
¡ Finances
¡ Health
¡ Housing
¡ Military
Caregiving
¡ Nutri>on
¡ Rela>onships
&
Self-­‐care
¡ Rela>ve
Caregiving
¡ Rural
Caregiving
¡ etc.,
etc.,
etc.
¡ Roles
¡ Content
¡ Authors,
Reviewers
¡ Re-­‐purposing
“stale”
materials
¡ Social
media
¡ Webinars
¡ etc.,
etc.,
etc.

10. Families, Food and Fitness
Ashley Fondren, M.S., CHES, Mississippi State University
Vision:
To become a source of research-based information for families
as they work to eat smart, move more and achieve a healthy
weight.
Mission:
FFF will provide education and skills to help families make
informed decisions about healthy eating and physical activity.

11. Families, Food and Fitness
Goals:
Behaviors:
¡ Encourage healthy eating
¡ Increase Physical Activity
¡ Move More Everyday
¡ Tame the Tube
¡ Maintain body weight in a
healthy range/avoid excess
weight gain
¡ Control Portion Size
¡ Enjoy More Fruits and Vegetables
¡ Prepare More Meals at Home
¡ Re-Think Your Drink

12. Financial Security for All
Megan O’Neil, M.P.S., CFCS, University of Maryland
¡ http://www.extension.org/personal_finance
¡ We help people:
¡ Set SMART financial goals
¡ Spend less than they earn
¡ Avoid excess debt
¡ Improve credit worthiness
¡ Plan for tomorrow while keeping pace with day-to-day needs
¡ Save and invest regularly
¡ Protect their financial identity
¡ Prepare for health insurance decisions

13. Financial Security for All
¡ Join us! 186 members in this CoP
¡ email at fsfa@extension.org
¡ Webinars at eXtension LEARN
¡ Monthly leadership conference
call, second Wednesdays,
2:00-3:30 p.m. Eastern Time
*This morning’s event…
Saving Money: Research Insights
https://learn.extension.org/events/1442
¡ Twitter @moneyeXtension
¡ MoneyeXtension on Facebook
¡ ASK personal finance
¡ ASK health insurance
bit.ly/askhealthlit
¡ Within the Military Families
Learning Network
http://blogs.extension.org/
militaryfamilies/

14. Just in Time Parenting
Pat Nelson, Ed.D., CFLE, University of Delaware
¡ Pulls together key messages from research: how to help kids
grow up healthy and ready for success.
¡ Available via:
¡ Print
¡ Electronically
¡ Mobile devices
¡ A multi-state team has combined efforts to create one
up-to-date, evidence-based national parenting education tool

15. Just in Time Parenting Goals
¡ Catch parents at a time when they are open to learning
and need information
¡ Promote practices that support healthy growth and
development
¡ Reinforce positive parenting behaviors
¡ Affirm healthy interpersonal and family relationships
¡ Provide strategies for managing work and family stress

16. Why is JITP such a gem?
¡ Colorful, attractive design
¡ Language is at 4th – 6th grade reading levels
¡ Available in both English and Spanish
¡ No cost to families (electronic version)
¡ Easy to deliver – especially the online format
¡ Usage data is available by city and state
¡ Great potential for growth with social media efforts

17. Upcoming JITP Webinars
¡ Military Families Learning Network: Family Development
¡ March 20 – Fathers, work and family life
¡ April 3 – Early childhood brain development and trauma
¡ April 24 – Early childhood online parenting resources (JITP & text4babies)
¡ For more information about the webinars:
http://blogs.extension.org/militaryfamilies/family-development/
professional-development/

18. http://www.extension.org/families_and_child_well_being

19. Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/
familiesandchildwellbeinglearningnetwork
Twitter
https://twitter.com/Families_Child
Pinterest
http://www.pinterest.com/familiesandchil/

20. Timeline
¡ Jan 2014: Social media/online presence created & launched
¡ Feb 2014: LN will host first webinar on its optimization effort
¡ Mar 2014: LN will host workshop at NeXCon in Sacramento, CA
¡ Ongoing: Create collaborative, topic-specific webinars; expand
social media presence; produce articles, fact sheets,
video clips, etc.; secure additional funding; expand
LN; develop sustainability plan; and more!

21. Questions or comments?