Brief Summary of Minutes of Annual Meeting

In 2008-2009, NCCC052 continued to focus on setting research priorities for multi-state and national work in three key focus areas: (1) planning for a secure financial future, (2) household food security and health, and (3) loss in times of disaster. This year the committee held a mini-conference in the Marriott Oceanfront Hotel in Jacksonville Beach, Florida. To familiarize attendees on the vast work being done by researchers within NCCC052, this workshop has presentations by several members of NCCC052. These presentations were based on papers under review at journals or recently submitted to journals. Moreover, to further disseminate research by colleagues in NCCC052, many of these papers were presented in other for a across the country. On the first day, Tansel Yilmazer from the University of Missouri presented The Impact of Financial Development on Homeownership and Housing Quality: Evidence from Turkey; Cynthia Fletcher from Iowa State University presented Reducing Rural Poverty through Civic Engagement: Results from the Horizons Project; and Michael Gutter from the University of Florida presented Effectiveness of State High School Financial Education Policies. In addition, Zeynep Copur from Hacettepe University in Turkey gave a presentation titled Overview of Family Economics in Turkey. On the second day, Robert Scharff from the Ohio State University presented Evaluating the Cost of Foodborne Illness to Consumers; Kathryn Morrison from South Dakota State University presented Delivery Methods of Financial Information and Sources of Financial Education as Indicators of Perceived Financial Well-Being in South Dakota; and Catherine Solheim from the University of Minnesota presented Family Assets for Independence in Minnesota. (Another presentation, The Causes and Consequences of Food Insecurity among Seniors in the United States by Craig Gundersen of the University of Illinois was cancelled due to lack of time.) Consistent with the goals of NCCC052, the work presented demonstrated rigorous research in the field of family economics and, in many instances, the papers presented were from multi-state research projects. The committee's anticipated activities for 2009-2010 include: 1. Review and revise guidelines/benchmarks for measuring the aggregate impact and rigor of family economics research being conducted at committee members institutions. 2. Continue disseminating the 1-page flyer identifying (a) the key research priority areas, (b) who we are, and (c) who to contact for more information. 3. Continue to prepare and publish research briefs. During 2008-2009, eight research briefs were published as part of NCCC052. The briefs were distributed via a website (http://www.cefe.illinois.edu/research/nccc052_policies.html) to the family and consumer economics network and other stakeholders including: other colleagues, Agricultural Experiment Station Directors, educators (extension and resident instructors), funders/partners, government, and private institutions. Our goal is to increase this number in the upcoming year. 4. Present research at relevant and appropriate conferences. Look for opportunities to host special research sessions in the three research priority areas. 5. Continue to contribute briefs for eXtension. As part of this endeavor, members of NCCC052 will continue to browse various journals related to family economics with the goal of identifying papers on topics relevant for eXtension. After identifying these papers, consistent with how this has been done last year, contact will be made with the author(s) who will be encouraged to write a 1-page brief which will be accessible to lay persons. 6. Increase attendance at the annual meeting by encouraging each participating state to have a representative, increasing participation by graduate students, and increasing the number of new faculty members.