The Nutrition, Family, and Consumer Science program helps people better manage their family and personal resources. Advisor, Dr. Maria Giovanni, coordinates the program, which includes a Program Manager, four Nutrition Education Associates, and an Office Specialist. The program provides research-based information about food and nutrition, food safety, money management, and parenting to residents of Santa Clara County, with an emphasis on families with young children and people with limited resources.

Program goals for 2006 are to establish collaborative relationships with key community-based organizations, focus nutrition education on wise money management and prevention of overweight, food safety, and ensure access to nutritious food throughout the county.

In Santa Clara County cities, 52.7% of adults are overweight or obese, and child overweight rates range from 11.5% to 31.3%. This population has a higher risk of many chronic and acute diseases, such as diabetes, high blood pressure, and cancer. By joining forces with a wide variety of organizations, the NFCS program is able to leverage its educational classes with others doing work in preventative health care, physical activity, and other areas.

Advisor Giovanni also plans to conduct research on produce and seafood quality to provide training on product evaluation and purchasing by consumers to Farm Advisors and small and specialty crop farmers.