The FCCLA Families First 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.

Click Here to integrate FCCLA into your classroom by downloading lesson plans and activities!

Awards:

FCCLA offers national recognition to chapters that complete Families First projects. This hon0r includes cash awards and special regonition at the National Leadership Conference online, and in 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. 

Click here to submit your 2011-2012 Families First Program Award Application.

Families First Preview Application(.pdf)

Resources:

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