Audrey A. Jones-Drayton, M Ed. CPHE, IPHE

Caribbean families have throughout history displayed remarkable resilience and a key reason for this has been their ability to modify and reconfigure themselves to suit their specific social and political context (James and Harris,1998; Chamberlain,1999). A culturally appropriate definition of the Caribbean family, an understanding of its composition and its origins can best explain its evolution towards interventions for meeting the needs of these families and their communities. While similarities between the familial structures and the impact of multiple variables upon families in the Caribbean and other parts of the region of the Americas exist, nuances and yet distinct differences prevail. All territories in the region have experienced socio-political changes and the resulting economic and demographic trends have affected some territories more than others. Nonetheless the Caribbean family continues to recreate itself as it is impacted by global trends, more particularly the intra-regional changes in cultural, religious, economic and political policies and practices. A dearth of current statistics for the critical variables of familial roles and structure, immigration, repatriation and their impact on the family tend to diminish the magnitude of these changes, their effects and interventions to mere conjecture. This lack of empirical evidence presents a challenge for scientific discussions but because vast similarities exist within and between countries in the Caribbean the presentation will benefit from a qualitative approach derived from focus group discussions and available statistics. The presentation will discuss critical impacts and examine solutions and the implications for home economics towards improving the quality of life for families.

Key words:  Caribbean families, trends, social change

Click here for full paper Meeting the changing needs of the family Perspectives form the Americas CAHE Jamaica 2017

 

Home Economics is a field of study and a profession, situated in the human sciences, that draws from a range of disciplines to achieve optimal and sustainable living for individuals, families and communities. Norma Maynard (Author)

Download Professionalism in Home Economics by Norma Maynard PowerPoint Presentation.

PROFESSIONALISM IN HOME ECONOMICS. Norma Maynard 09

In this presentation Dr. Coward discusses Competency Based Education and Training: Implications for Workforce, on successful completion of the presentation, attending participants would have been able to discuss the underpinnings of  the competency-based training approach, comment critically on the strengths and limitations of competency-based training and establish the link between competency-based training and the implications.

Download Competency Based Education by Antonia Coward PhD here.  

Competency Based Education and Training- Implications for the Workforce

IMAGE BUILDING FOR SUSTAINABILITY IN HOME ECONOMICS

 

Public opinion and perception can determine the outcome of the operations and sustainability of Home Economics. Similarly the image projected to the public by Home Economists individually or collectively through their professional associations can likewise perpetuate the image held by the public. Home Economists must therefore project an image that ultimately leads to the survival of this discipline that is the bedrock for ensuring a high quality of life for families, communities and the global village at large. The matter of image building is urgent since changes to the curriculum in some schools in the region have resulted in the marginalization of Home Economics as a tool for transmitting the knowledge, skills, attitudes and values that can develop positive behaviours within individuals and transform societies in a meaningful way.

Formerly, the image of a home economist was a teacher of cookery, sewing and housekeeping. However in the 21^st century Home Economics has emerged as profession not simply grounded in Domestic Science but as a synergistic study of a wide range of disciplines grounded in the Human Sciences for the empowerment and sustainability of families and communities.  The resulting is a powerful mandate that must rely on the combined efforts of all home economists. Consequently the Caribbean Association of Home Economists, mindful of this grave responsibility, has seen it fit to facilitate ventilation of the views of those who will support the sustainability of this profession hence the student forum.

This paper is prepared for a  forum that is poised to be a powerful assembly where fresh young minds and those of the young at heart can freely and openly discuss several pertinent issues of which professionalism and advocacy will be paramount. The forum will also seek to garner commitment to the cause of sustainability of Home Economics.  Four main questions will be addressed:

1. What values do Home Economists represent?
2. What is meant by representing “the image”?
3. What is the role of the Home Economists in the community?
4. How should Home Economists advocate ensuring the sustainability of the profession?

Download full article here

IMAGE BUILDING FOR SUSTAINABILITY IN HOME ECONOMICS 

Audrey A. Jones-Drayton.  M. Ed.) (Author)

 

 Jacqueline M. Holland, Ed. D,  CFCS, IFHE member, and family and consumer sciences supervisor at Prince George’s County Public Schools, Maryland, USA shares her findings and experiences  for getting students on the right career track and linking people to the right careers. She shares one of the most utilized career development theories;John Holland’s Theory of Career Choice. His theory outlines six personality types that help to determine career choices. Ms Holland can be contacted at jholland{at}pgcps{dot}org.

Jacqueline M. Holland, CFCS (Author)

To read the full article please download it here.  Career Development Planning

This paper highlights the experiences of the Caribbean Association of Home Economists Incorporated (CAHE) in strengthening the domestic economy in the world as part of an ongoing response to the socio-economic challenges in the region and affirmative action in support of the United Nation’s Millennium Development Goals (UNMDG) particularly No 1: The eradication of extreme hunger and poverty. The paper also examines critical prospects for strengthening these economies and the role and commitment of Caribbean home economists in fulfilling its mandate to improve the quality of life of individuals, families and communities in the Caribbean.

Caribbean Association of Home Economists Inc. (Author)

The full paper is coming soon in the next volume of the Caribbean Journal of Home Economics.