Families First is an FCCLA national peer education program through which youth gain a better understanding of how families work and learn skills to become strong family members. Its goals are to: help youth become strong family members and leaders for today and tomorrow and strengthen the family as the basic unit of society.

Families First Units:

To help members focus their projects, Families First offers five units. Members may complete projects in one or several units. There is no particular order to them; although, "Families Today" might be a good place to start. It covers topics that provide a general overview of families and related issues:

• Families Today - Understand and celebrate families
• You-Me-Us - Strengthen family relationships
• Meet the Challenge - Overcome obstacles together
• Balancing Family and Career - Manage multiple responsibilities
• Parent Practice - Learn to nurture children.

Japanese Exchange

Members can also experience other cultures and family relationships through Japanese Exchange, sponsored by Kikkoman Corporation. Members who are sophomores or juniors can apply for a Japanese Exchange Scholarship to spend four- to six-weeks as an exchange student with a Japanese host family.

Awards:

FCCLA offers national recognition to chapters that complete FCCLA Families First projects. This hon0r includes cash awards and special regonition at the National Leadership Conference and in online Teen Times magazine. Chapters apply online for recognition for their hard work and innovative projects with the National Families First Program Award Application.

• High School Award — $1,000
• Middle School Award — $1,000
• Runner-Up Award — $500

Deadline: Families First Applications must be submitted online to FCCLA national headquarters by March 1. The online award system will automatically close March 1, 11:59 p.m. EST.  The 2010-2011 Families First Program Award Application will be posted August 1, 2010.

Families First Preview Application(.pdf)

Integrate FCCLA into your classroom by downloading lesson plans and activities!

Rockbridge County High Family Focus, Virginia
Title: “Shermville Soup Kitchen”

 

Partners:

National Family Week - Children do better when their families are strong and families do better when they live in communities that help them succeed.

NRTA: AARP's Educator Community - Part of AARP with programs and information designed just for educators. Teachers and educators 50 or over can get all the great benefits of membership in NRTA for only $16 a year. And membership includes your spouse or partner, free!

 

 

Resources:

• FCCLA Families First Info Sheet (.pdf)
• Activities That Teach Family Values – Helping Parents Move from Lecturing to Sharing
• Divorce For Dummies
• Etiquette For Dummies
• Family Tree Maker For Dummies
• Genealogy Online For Dummies
• Get Connected To, The FCCLA Get Connected To CD and accompanying guide make up a one-stop resource for four national FCCLA peer education Programs – Families First, Financial Fitness, Student Body, and FACTS.
• Parenting For Dummies
• Raising Smart Kids For Dummies
• Relationships For Dummies
• Single Parenting For Dummies
• Teaching Kids to Read For Dummies
• Teaching Kids to Spell For Dummies
  

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