Public Policy and Federal Legislation Influences on the Development of Family and Consumer Sciences Information gathered by Lucy Campanis Revised by Mikki Meadows EIU School of Family & Consumer Sciences

What Is Public Policy? Rules or regulations at the local, state, or federal level of government-the public sector Formalization of societal preferences

Public Policy Issue Point of concern for which there are varied opinions Seldom clear-cut right or wrong solutions Opinions are generally based on value judgments Neutral –proposed solutions may be positive or negative, based on different perspectives

Public Policy and the Family Families are affected by public policy through –Government regulations –Government services Families affect public policy when they –Are informed about issues –Actively participate in the policymaking process

Formation of Public Policy Legislation Agency regulations

The Role of the Professional Be informed about issues Monitor the legislative process Provide information to policymakers Interpret policy Educate families and individuals

AAFCS and Public Policy Monitors public policy affecting families and the discipline Identifies policy issues on which to focus Informs members - keeps them updated Provides information (testimony) to legislators

The direction and structure of Family and Consumer sciences, as well as the body of knowledge of the discipline, have been affected by a variety of federal acts and research initiatives.

1862 – Morrill Land Grant Act 1867 – Office of Education 1875 – First Experiment Station –Directed by W. O. Atwater 1887 – Hatch Act –Agriculture Experiment Stations

1894 – Congress votes funds for Human Nutrition research 1912 – Children’s Bureau –Department of Commerce and Labor 1914 – Smith-Lever Act –Funds for Cooperative Agriculture Extension 1915 – Home Economics Specialists added

1917 – Smith-Hughes Act –Funds for vocational education in public schools 1923 – Bureau of Home Economics established in the United States Department of Agriculture 1925 – Purnell Act

1957 – Bureau of Home Economics became the Institute, emphasizing –Human nutrition –Household economics research –Clothing and housing research 1963 – Vocational Education Act 1970 – National Goals and Guidelines

1984 – Carl Perkins Vocational Education Act 1986 – AHEA received funds to support public policy 1990 – Vocational and Applied Technology Act (Carl Perkins Act II) 1995 – School to Work Act

Many pieces of legislation are related to education. Identify legislation which has impact on: –families –basic areas of family and consumer sciences –professional practice