UT Extension Family and Consumer Sciences had its strongest year to date in 2022 with an economic impact of $272,412,143.00 for residents of Tennessee. The hourly value of volunteer hours donated through Family and Community Education members was worth $7.2 million, resulting from 240,750 hours contributed to the Family and Consumer Sciences program. In the fiscal year that ended June 30, 2022, Family and Consumer Sciences was awarded $19 million in grants, ones that provided the foundation to address emerging issues such as caregiver support and education, teacher financial education, health care costs, farmer stress, and vaccine education.

Janet Fox, UT Extension assistant dean and department head, says numbers are looking equally strong so far this year and says the impacts those numbers support matter to everyone. “The UT Extension Family and Consumer Sciences program provides essential educational programs and information that builds critical knowledge and skills that directly all aspects of people’s lives.”

Fox adds, “Through these programs, individuals and families benefit from knowledge gains that enable them to make decisions that increase the quality of their life. Our programs empower individuals and families to manage the challenges of living and working in a diverse, global society, and the unique focus of Family and Consumer Sciences continues to be on families, work, and their interrelationships.”