Extension believes that to provide holistic research and education to Macon County residents, family life programming is necessary. The American family is not dying it is changing. Extension assists individuals and families to understand and cope with change. Macon County Extension is working in the community to form partnerships to increase the audiences reached, add value to programs presented, and expand the diversity of our programming. To better achieve this goal, and to serve the needs of the community, Sherry Rocha joined Macon County Extension as family-life educator in January of 2002

On-going programs include:

• Parenting classes
• Newsletters for parents and grandparents
• Training for child-care providers

A Macon County Association for Home and Community Education"Lessons for Living" schedule has been established for Macon County. Lessons are delivered every year. Topics for the upcoming year are:

September 6,2006 Getting to Know Macon County Treasures (at Rock Springs Center)

November 4, 2006 Groundcovers to Know and Use (8:30 a.m.)

Easy Meals (10:00 a.m.)

Healthy Snacks (11:30 a.m.)

Lessons are taught at the Macon Extension Office at 2535 Millikin Parkway in the Illini Conference Center and begin at 9:30 a.m. unless otherwise indicated. For information about "Lessons for Living," or to arrange for specialized accommodations, please contact Teresa Easterly-Adams.

New Family Life Program initiatives being undertaken include:

Strengthening families

Care giving relationships for adults who care for adults

Mentoring youth

Celebrating diversity in the community

Care giving relationships for individuals acting as relative care givers for children