UGA Cooperative Extension 
Forsyth County Extension:
Family & Consumer Sciences
Meet your FACS Agent:
Michele Melton started with UGA Cooperative Extension in May of 2008. She earned her Bachelor's degree from UGA's College of Family & Consumer Sciences in Child and Family Development, and her Master's degree from Auburn University in Human Development and Family Therapy. She has been married for 6 years and has a 4-legged child (Labrador Retriever) that keeps her busy at home.
Michele believes that the most effective teaching style includes interaction from the audience, so be prepared for lots of activities if you have the chance attend a presentation. Her current programming focus is in nutrition/health and financial management, but she's always willing to try and help out with any FACS related needs.
From cub scouts to county employees, high school classes to homemakers's clubs, presentations throughout the community continue to be requested, and Michele tries her best to meet the demand. The topics discussed are as diverse as the populations served.
If you are part of an organization that is looking for a research-based speaker, don't hesitate to contact Michele at 770-887-2418 or msmelton@uga.edu for more details. Read the "Overview of FACS" below to understand more about the background and mission of Family and Consumer Sciences' role in communities.
Overview of FACS
UGA Family and Consumer Sciences Cooperative Extension programs place non-biased, research-based information at your fingertips. County agents and specialists throughout the state provide cutting edge knowledge on many topics, including home food preservation, parenting, personal financial management, and healthy eating habits.
Why is the work of Family and Consumer Sciences (FACS) Extension Agents so important?
A healthy and productive worker, family or consumer depends on a variety of factors from food, child care and shelter to interpersonal relationships and budgeting. FACS Extension Agents and Specialists have the educational background, skills and knowledge to assist workers in meeting their basic needs.
How can FACS Extension Agents assist school systems?
FACS Extension Agents often serve as resources for schools to meet the requirements of the Georgia Performance Standards and as providers of basic life skills education. They can:
- Provide health education for all grade levels
- Teach financial planning courses
- Train teachers in proper handwashing concepts to prevent spread of disease
- Teach lessons in nutrition, health and food safety
- Coordinate career fairs for rising juniors and graduating seniors
- Teach life skills that students can use upon entering the workforce
How can FACS Extension Agents assist business and industry?
FACS Agents partner with employers to enhance economic development by educating our present and future workforce. Agents are trained to:
- Provide health education and chronic disease prevention programs that can reduce absenteeism
- Provide required employee training programs such as food safety for restaurant workers and age-appropriate development for child care providers
- Teach homebuyer education to assist the workforce in acquiring and maintaining affordable, healthy and adequate housing
- Teach life skills that employees need to function effectively in the workplace and to reduce turnover and increase productivity such as managing finances and balancing work/family responsibilities
What do Family and Consumer Sciences (FACS) Extension Agents offer to all consumers?
FACS Extension Agents provide education in the community and the workplace on critical issues to all Georgians. Educational topics include:
- Financial Security and Economic Well-Being
- Foodborne Illness Prevention
- Housing and Environmental Health and Safety
- Child Care, Youth, and Family Development
- Chronic Disease Prevention and Management
FACS Agents provide educational opportunities that contain practical, research-based information to help consumers lead more productive lives.
The information offered by FACS agents, as well as others in Cooperative Extension, is provided by researchers at The University of Georgia College of Family and Consumer Sciences, College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, and other universities across our nation. Business, consumers and community representatives in each county identify the critical issues that Extension should address and guide the planning and delivery of these programs, some of which we can deliver in Spanish.
