Family & Consumer Sciences

Family and Consumer Sciences, which includes programming in Family Life, Family & Consumer Economics, and Nutrition and Wellness, has been delivered to residents throughout the two county area through partnerships with other agencies:

• Super Sitter Babysitting Clinics have been held in Sullivan, Arthur and Lovington, educating 37 youth about good babysitting practices. With the assistance of Sullivan High School teacher Ginger Voegel, Hydrogear, Lovington Children's Librarian Teresa Harlin, the Friends of the Lovington Library, and the law enforcement and health department volunteers, these clinics were able to be held with great success.
• A Time for Me, a women's wellness day, was held this past year at Eagle Creek Resort. With the cooperation of the Shelby County Extension Unit, 39 women had a very informative and enjoyable day.
• Walk Around Illinois is a program that everyone gets involved in - Extension staff, TOPs participants, walking clubs, and residents from Moultrie, Douglas and other counties. Many employers across the counties encourage employees to join. This year, 172 people participated in Walk Around Illinois. 47% of participants shared their mileage, steps or time exercised with Extension, creating a grand total of 16,359 total miles walked or 12.38 times around the state of Illinois.
• Through cooperation with all of Moultrie and Douglas county school personnel, Moultrie-Douglas Extension is able to reach parents of 2500 children aged Kindergarten through sixth grade, with the parent newsletter "Connecting with Kids." In addition, the personnel of Project HELP, County Health Departments, Community Libraries, Project SHIP, Project Bright Start, and several Day Care Facilities have assisted Extension in distributing 1200 sets of the early childhood fact sheets "Nibbles" to parents of young children.