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Our Founder
In 1909, Ellen H. Richards founded the American Home Economics
Association. Ms. Richards was the first female graduate and
professor at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and an
activist for consumer education, nutrition, child protection,
industrial safety, public health, career education, women's
rights; purity of air, food, and water, and the application of
scientific and management principles to the family. Her
professional experience and foresight led to the formalization
of the family and consumer sciences profession. |
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Our Symbol
In 1926, the American Home Economics Association adopted the
Betty Lamp as a symbol for the association. The lamp
derived its name from the German words "besser" or "bete,"
meaning "to make better." The Betty Lamp produced comparatively
good light for its time and was used widely by early American
colonists. Mildred Chamberlain of Chicago submitted the design
stating, “The lamp in colonial days provided light for all
household industries." Similarly, the American Association of
Family & Consumer Sciences (AAFCS) provides enlightenment
through leadership in thought and action for family and consumer
sciences professionals. |
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Our Focus
AAFCS is the only national professional association dedicated to
Family & Consumer Sciences professionals across practice areas
and content specializations. AAFCS strives to improve the
quality and standards of individual and family life by providing
educational programs, influencing
public policy, and through communication. More than 10,000+
AAFCS members work to empower individuals, strengthen families,
and enable communities. Our members focus on an integrative
approach to the reciprocal relationships among individuals,
families and communities, as well as the environments in which
they function
Our members focus on an integrative approach to the reciprocal
relationships among individuals, families and communities, as
well as the environments in which they function. The association
supports the profession as it provides leadership in:
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improving individual,
family and community well being;
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impacting the
development, delivery and evaluation of consumer goods and
services;
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influencing the
creation of public policy; and
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shaping social
change.
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