Are you a new adviser?
If yes, welcome to Missouri FCCLA! We hope that the information included here will guide you on your new journey. If at any point you have questions, please reach out to the state adviser.
To do list:
- Email mofccla@dese.mo.gov to find out if your school has a chapter in the national affiliation system.
- Once you have access to the affiliation system, use the information posted on the affiliation page to add yourself as an adviser and update the system for the year.
- Make sure to review the calendar of events and add these dates to your calendar. Make sure to notify administration and others as needed on the dates of conferences.
- Reach out to the advisers for the regional president and state officer in your region to inquire about information you need for regional events and activities. You can find out more about regions and the regional president information on the regional information page, and the state officer information on the leadership page.
- You can find information about dues on the affiliation page. You can also find basic membership information on the membership page. This page also houses our membership resources section!
- Join the MO FACS Listserv. This is the main method of communication for information from the state office and regions frequently use it to communicate information to chapter advisers. Information can be found on the Family Consumer Sciences and Human Services section of the DESE website.
- Explore resources found on this site and the national FCCLA site. There are several pages under the adviser section that contain a variety of information that is important to chapter advisers.
- Start working with your chapter officers and members to kick off the year. Be sure to communicate important dates and financial information with students, parents, and administration as early as possible.
- Enjoy this new adventure!
Resources |
New Adviser Handbook: https://fcclainc.org/sites/default/files/New%20Adviser%20Handbook%202021.pdf
New Chapter Checklist: https://fcclainc.org/sites/default/files/New%20Chapter%20Checklist_0.pdf 
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Starting an FCCLA Chapter
The following information was copied from the FCCLA Guide to Preparing Future Advisers CD published by FCCLA Published 2008
(information has been updated with current programs and information as available)
(information has been updated with current programs and information as available)
Family and Consumer Sciences programs throughout the United States are experiencing the enthusiasm FCCLA members generate. Becoming an FCCLA adviser may change your life and the lives of your students. When an FCCLA chapter starts in a school, students become involved in projects they plan and put to work what they have learned from their Family and Consumer Sciences classes.
To help you plan and start your own FCCLA chapter, this Count Down to Success answers questions new advisers frequently have, and offers resources that will help you get started. All resources mentioned are available through national headquarters.
What is FCCLA?
Family, Career and Community Leaders of America is a dynamic and effective national student organization that helps young men and women become strong leaders and address important personal, family, work, and societal issues through Family and Consumer Sciences Education. FCCLA takes Family and Consumer Sciences learning beyond the four walls of the classroom. FCCLA puts theory into practice with student-planned and implemented projects. FCCLA: the Ultimate Leadership Experience.
To help you plan and start your own FCCLA chapter, this Count Down to Success answers questions new advisers frequently have, and offers resources that will help you get started. All resources mentioned are available through national headquarters.
What is FCCLA?
Family, Career and Community Leaders of America is a dynamic and effective national student organization that helps young men and women become strong leaders and address important personal, family, work, and societal issues through Family and Consumer Sciences Education. FCCLA takes Family and Consumer Sciences learning beyond the four walls of the classroom. FCCLA puts theory into practice with student-planned and implemented projects. FCCLA: the Ultimate Leadership Experience.
Who does FCCLA benefit?
An active FCCLA chapter offers a range of benefits for the school, community, the Family and Consumer Sciences program, the adviser, and students. FCCLA offers a ready-to-use framework for implementing cooperative learning strategies, interdisciplinary teaching, volunteerism, and school-to-career transitions options. FCCLA will help you publicize the Family and Consumer Sciences program to parents, administrators, and the community. It will attract more students and expand your professional experience and fulfillment. FCCLA allows students to develop skills and learn to balance school, work, and family responsibilities. It also helps students gain recognition for accomplishments, and teaches them to identify concerns, learn how to make decisions, and carry out activities.
Talk with veteran FCCLA advisers in your area to discuss the benefits FCCLA will bring to you and your students. Contact your state adviser for their names and contact information. You can find your state adviser by checking out our Web site at www.fcclainc.org.
MO interim state adviser: Theresa Struemph, mofccla@dese.mo.gov, phone: 573-522-6542
An active FCCLA chapter offers a range of benefits for the school, community, the Family and Consumer Sciences program, the adviser, and students. FCCLA offers a ready-to-use framework for implementing cooperative learning strategies, interdisciplinary teaching, volunteerism, and school-to-career transitions options. FCCLA will help you publicize the Family and Consumer Sciences program to parents, administrators, and the community. It will attract more students and expand your professional experience and fulfillment. FCCLA allows students to develop skills and learn to balance school, work, and family responsibilities. It also helps students gain recognition for accomplishments, and teaches them to identify concerns, learn how to make decisions, and carry out activities.
Talk with veteran FCCLA advisers in your area to discuss the benefits FCCLA will bring to you and your students. Contact your state adviser for their names and contact information. You can find your state adviser by checking out our Web site at www.fcclainc.org.
MO interim state adviser: Theresa Struemph, mofccla@dese.mo.gov, phone: 573-522-6542
How do I start a chapter?
Review files in the Family and Consumer Sciences department to determine previous FCCLA activities. Gather and review information about FCCLA. Contact your state association, and talk to nearby advisers.
Review school policies regarding student organizations. Discuss with school administrators the advantages of starting a chapter, pointing out the relationship of FCCLA to the Family and Consumer Sciences curriculum and the value it adds to the school program.
Discuss the possibility of starting a chapter with prospective members. Guide students to form a chapter and begin a project.
Request a chapter membership packet from national headquarters, or check the Web site at www.fcclainc.org. After the chapter has been formed, affiliate by sending in national and state dues as soon as possible. Attend district/region, state, and nationally sponsored meetings to become familiar with FCCLA activities.
Don't be afraid to ask for help. Start small, find a handful of students to join and start by making goals for the year and attending regional and state meetings.
Review files in the Family and Consumer Sciences department to determine previous FCCLA activities. Gather and review information about FCCLA. Contact your state association, and talk to nearby advisers.
Review school policies regarding student organizations. Discuss with school administrators the advantages of starting a chapter, pointing out the relationship of FCCLA to the Family and Consumer Sciences curriculum and the value it adds to the school program.
Discuss the possibility of starting a chapter with prospective members. Guide students to form a chapter and begin a project.
Request a chapter membership packet from national headquarters, or check the Web site at www.fcclainc.org. After the chapter has been formed, affiliate by sending in national and state dues as soon as possible. Attend district/region, state, and nationally sponsored meetings to become familiar with FCCLA activities.
Don't be afraid to ask for help. Start small, find a handful of students to join and start by making goals for the year and attending regional and state meetings.
What resources are available?
Family, Career and Community Leaders of America provides four types of resources for chapters, members, and advisers. These include: programs, STAR Events, meetings, and membership services.
The national Web site at www.fcclainc.org provides information about national programs and STAR Events. Many of the national programs are available online with project ideas, lesson plans, PowerPoints, and other resources. These are available through www.fcclainc.org.
Nationally Sponsored Meetings: Offered in various parts of the country every fall, Fall Leadership Meetings help chapters kick off the year with an exciting program filled with leadership training, networking, and idea sharing.
The annual National Leadership Conference each summer brings members and advisers from across the country together to make new friends, exchange ideas, and learn more about being a great leader.
National Membership Services: The FCCLA membership campaign sets the stage for membership growth. Available online, the membership campaign materials lay out roles, responsibilities, and ways of working as a team to strengthen membership at all levels. Effective membership development is an ongoing process that involves recruiting, retaining, and recognizing members. This program enables chapter members to earn national recognition and rewards membership activities, national programs, and public relations. New members will want to complete Step One as their first activity.
Family, Career and Community Leaders of America provides four types of resources for chapters, members, and advisers. These include: programs, STAR Events, meetings, and membership services.
The national Web site at www.fcclainc.org provides information about national programs and STAR Events. Many of the national programs are available online with project ideas, lesson plans, PowerPoints, and other resources. These are available through www.fcclainc.org.
Nationally Sponsored Meetings: Offered in various parts of the country every fall, Fall Leadership Meetings help chapters kick off the year with an exciting program filled with leadership training, networking, and idea sharing.
The annual National Leadership Conference each summer brings members and advisers from across the country together to make new friends, exchange ideas, and learn more about being a great leader.
National Membership Services: The FCCLA membership campaign sets the stage for membership growth. Available online, the membership campaign materials lay out roles, responsibilities, and ways of working as a team to strengthen membership at all levels. Effective membership development is an ongoing process that involves recruiting, retaining, and recognizing members. This program enables chapter members to earn national recognition and rewards membership activities, national programs, and public relations. New members will want to complete Step One as their first activity.
What is integrated FCCLA?
FCCLA chapters organize activities one of three ways:
Intra-curricular chapters integrate FCCLA activities into Family and Consumer Sciences curriculum, and it becomes part of the classroom instruction.
We strongly recommend that new advisers plan on an intra-curricular chapter. For example, one Family and Consumer Sciences teacher decided to start a chapter in connection with her child development class. She had students brainstorm how they could take the information they learned and put it to use in their community. They decided to work on a Halloween project that encouraged safe trick-or-treating in their neighborhood.
Once the students found out how much fun this was, they were anxious to plan the next FCCLA activity. This type of chapter project could then be developed into a STAR Events Chapter Service project. And in turn, the school and students will receive recognition and publicity.
FCCLA chapters organize activities one of three ways:
- in class (integrated or co-curricular)
- out of class
- combination of the two.
Intra-curricular chapters integrate FCCLA activities into Family and Consumer Sciences curriculum, and it becomes part of the classroom instruction.
We strongly recommend that new advisers plan on an intra-curricular chapter. For example, one Family and Consumer Sciences teacher decided to start a chapter in connection with her child development class. She had students brainstorm how they could take the information they learned and put it to use in their community. They decided to work on a Halloween project that encouraged safe trick-or-treating in their neighborhood.
Once the students found out how much fun this was, they were anxious to plan the next FCCLA activity. This type of chapter project could then be developed into a STAR Events Chapter Service project. And in turn, the school and students will receive recognition and publicity.
What does an integrated program look like?
Families First, a national program, can be used as the basis for an intra-curricular chapter. Here are examples of how three of the five Families First units could be implemented in the classroom.
Families First, a national program, can be used as the basis for an intra-curricular chapter. Here are examples of how three of the five Families First units could be implemented in the classroom.
- Families Today teaches about families and celebrates their contributions to individuals and society. FACS classes, with units on family/family relationships, could ask the mayor or city council to proclaim a “Celebrate Families Day” in your community. You could tie your celebration into National Family Week in November, or to coincide with Mother’s or Father’s Day.
- You-Me-Us improves relationships within the family. A FACS parenting class may develop a project based on communication, effects of technology on a family, traditions and rituals, etc. Members could collect information about how television viewing and other media affects family relationships.
- Balancing Family and Career helps reduce conflict between family, school, and work demands. Members could organize a panel of adults to discuss how they balance their lives between their family and careers, and broadcast the discussion on a cable channel.
| Integrating National Programs |
What is the value of FCCLA?
Many local schools’ education goals and FCS national standards can be achieved through FCCLA activities. Here are some competencies that are especially suited to FCCLA fulfillment.
into classroom instruction. Much of what FCCLA chapters do through community service projects is considered service learning
Many local schools’ education goals and FCS national standards can be achieved through FCCLA activities. Here are some competencies that are especially suited to FCCLA fulfillment.
- Demonstrate creative and critical thinking skills.
- Learn to balance school, home, and work responsibilities.
- Develop skills and ethical behavior needed for successful employment.
- Learn cooperation and teamwork.
into classroom instruction. Much of what FCCLA chapters do through community service projects is considered service learning
Where do I turn for answers to my questions?
All advisers had to start out sometime and most advisers remember what that was like. We recommend that you develop an information network that would include the following types of people and resources:
All advisers had to start out sometime and most advisers remember what that was like. We recommend that you develop an information network that would include the following types of people and resources:
- FCCLA state adviser
- Local advisers in other schools
- National Executive Council
- National Consultant Team
- State officers and their advisers
- Fall Meetings
- National Leadership Conference
- FCCLA national staff
- National Web site: www.fcclainc.org.
I am ready to start an FCCLA chapter, now what?
The FCCLA Planning Process is the chapter management tool that helps members select and carry out projects to fit their needs and concerns. It also helps sort out thoughts, analyze situations, and plan for specific goals. Use the FCCLA Planning Process to identify your steps to starting a chapter. Why not start now?
The FCCLA Planning Process is the chapter management tool that helps members select and carry out projects to fit their needs and concerns. It also helps sort out thoughts, analyze situations, and plan for specific goals. Use the FCCLA Planning Process to identify your steps to starting a chapter. Why not start now?
- Identify Concerns—Brainstorm concerns, evaluate listed concerns, and narrow to one workable idea or concern.
- Set a Goal—Get a clear mental picture of what you want to accomplish. Write it down and evaluate it.
- Form a Plan—Figure out the who, what, where, when, and how of your plan.
- Act—Carry out the project and keep a record of your progress.
- Follow up—Evaluate the project, thank people involved, and recognize participants.