The Master Family and Consumer Sciences Volunteer Program
The Master Family & Consumer Sciences Volunteer Program provides core training that increases the capacity of Extension volunteers to help people make informed decisions, enhance their quality of living, and meet unique challenges affecting their families, farms, communities and the economy.
If you would like to achieve Master FCS Volunteer status:
- Please complete the Online Master FCS Volunteer Application Form. Your completed form will be sent to your county educator. If you need the paper version of the form, contact your county FCS Extension Educator. Contact information for your county FCS Educator.
- Complete the learning modules found on this page. The recommended method would be for you to review the slides with speaker notes for each module. Your county educator may also have access to narrated or printed versions of the presentations.
- After you have completed the modules (Welcome plus 12 lessons), complete the post-test. Your county educator will provide you with the password that is necessary to access the post-test located at the bottom of this page.
- Your County FCS Educator will be informed of your score on the post-test. You must make at least 80% to pass.
- If you are approved for Master FCS Volunteer status, your FCS Educator will contact you to set up a meeting time during which you will need to sign a Volunteer Agreement Form and watch OSU's Working with Minors video. (Or watch it now.)
- Your county FCS Educator may choose to not accept you as a Master FCS Volunteer based on reference checks, background check, or personal interview outcome.
Welcome and Overview – estimated length 8 minutes
Objectives:
Describe the purpose, structure, and resources necessary to participate in the program
Gain knowledge to successfully engage in the Master Family & Consumer Sciences Volunteer
Program
M0 Welcome & Overview of Modules – with speaker notes
M0 Welcome & Overview of Modules - slides only
Module 1: Cooperative Extension
Lesson 1: Cooperative Extension History – estimated length 17 minutes
Objectives:
- Identify the relationship between land-grant institutions and Cooperative Extension
- Recognize the impact of the Morrill Acts and the land-grant institutions(s) in your state
- Identify why the Cooperative Extension System was established
- Learn how to connect to the eXtension website
M1L1-Cooperative Extension History – with speaker notes
M1L1-Cooperative Extension History - slides only
Lesson 2: Family & Consumer Sciences History – estimated length 15 minutes
Objectives:
- Describe basic Family & Consumer Sciences history and how it fits into the land-grant mission
- Identify the mission of Extension Family & Consumer Sciences
M1L2-Family & Consumer Sciences History – with speaker notes
M1L2-Family & Consumer Sciences History - slides only
Lesson 3: Extension Family & Consumer Sciences Volunteers – estimated length 16 minutes
Objectives:
- State the relationship between Cooperative Extension and Family & Consumer Sciences volunteers
- Identify two roles of Family & Consumer Sciences volunteers in your state
- Learn the history of the first Family & Consumer Sciences volunteer base
- Explore various opportunities for engagement
M1L3-Family & Consumer Sciences Volunteers – with speaker notes
M1L3-Family & Consumer Sciences Volunteers - slides only
Lesson 4: Family & Consumer Sciences Core Programs – estimated length 21 minutes
Objectives:
- Identify the core program areas of Extension Family & Consumer Sciences
- Discuss the role and services of Extension Family & Consumer Sciences, and how they are relevant in today’s society
- Identify how core program areas of Extension Family & Consumer Sciences are interrelated
M1L4-Family & Consumer Sciences Core Programs – with speaker notes
M1L4-Family & Consumer Sciences Core Programs - slides only
Module 2: Leadership & Public Policy
Lesson 1: Effective Communication – estimated length 32 minutes
Objectives:
- Determine appropriate methods to effectively communicate both verbally and in writing
- Identify strategies for effective verbal communication
- Identify strategies for effective listening
M2L1-Effective Communication – with speaker notes
M2L1-Effective Communication - slides only
Lesson 2: Diverse Audiences – estimated length 21 minutes
Objectives:
- Define the characteristics of a diverse audience
- Identify a series of approaches entitled “All Reasonable Efforts”
- Pinpoint strategies for making all learners feel welcome and encouraged to participate
- Identify the demographics of your geographic area
M2L2-Diverse Audiences – with speaker notes
M2L2-Diverse Audiences - slides only
Lesson 3: Facilitation Skills – estimated length 20 minutes
Objectives:
- Characterize differing roles of a facilitator
- Identify skills for assisting groups to work together productively
- Decipher techniques to deal with people in difficult and compromising situations and topics
M2L3-Facilitation Skills – with speaker notes
M2L3-Facilitation Skills - slides only
Lesson 4: Resource Development – estimated length 19 minutes
Objectives:
- Discuss benefits of Family & Consumer Sciences
- Identify types of resources
- Decipher agencies/organizations to collaborate with to develop and expand programming and services
- Develop ideas for finding resources
M2L4-Resource Development - with speaker notes
M2L4-Resource Development - slides only
Module 3: Marketing & Branding
Lesson 1: Branding Family & Consumer Sciences – estimated length 13 minutes
Objectives:
- Identify the reason for branding
- Recognize the Family & Consumer Sciences brand
- Understand when and how to use branding
- Comprehend how marketing and branding coincide
M3L1-Branding Family & Consumer Sciences – with speaker notes
M3L1-Branding Family & Consumer Sciences - slides only
Lesson 2: Value of Family & Consumer Sciences – estimated length 13 minutes
Objectives:
- Describe at least three ways Family & Consumer Sciences benefits society
- Identify at least two major national impacts of Family & Consumer Sciences programming
M3L2-Value of Family & Consumer Sciences – with speaker notes
M3L2-value of Family & Consumer Sciences - slides only
Lesson 3: Value of Volunteers – estimated length 15 minutes
Objectives:
- Understand how volunteers fit into the Cooperative Extension System and the value
of volunteers
Learn how to use the Volunteer Management Database
M3L3-Value of Volunteers – with speaker notes
M3L3-Value of Volunteers - slides only
Lesson 4: Telling Our Story – estimated length 23 minutes
Objectives:
- Utilize storytelling to raise awareness of the value of Family & Consumer Sciences
- Identify government representatives
- Recognize appropriate ways to communicate with government officials and stakeholders
- Determine methods to market Family & Consumer Sciences educational programming and
resources
M3L4-Telling Our Story – with speaker notes
M3L4-Telling Our Story - slides only
Post-Test
A password is required for the post-test. Please contact your County Extension FCS
Educator. If a written version is required, your county FCS educator will have access
to that as well. Please make sure you have completed the Master FCS Volunteer application prior to taking the Post-Test.