The Consultant Project is designed to guide the student through the steps of effective family resource management. The project is grounded in themanagement model process; therefore, at each phase of the assignment, use the management model. This means as you communicate with your family, plan your strategy for working with the family, and as you work on your written documentation, use the management model in:

1. Family face to face meetings, telephone follow-ups, and/or emails;
2. Researching resources for your family; and
3. Writing up your report

Part 1: Family Description

1. Describe the family that you will work with. You are encouraged to work with your own family or a family close to you. If you feel it is necessary, you may fictionalize some details, but the family should be based on a real situation that you are working with.
2. Introduction and description
3. Brief introduction to members of the family
4. Family demographics (genders, ethnicity, SES, e)
5. Family background
6. Lifestyle of each family member
7. Family values
8. Managerial needs
9. Family problem areas
10. Family needs
11. Family wants
12. Family goals
13. Your goals for working with the family.

As you write this paper, include subheadings and organize information so that each category is easily identified. Family descriptions will average 3 4 pages.

Part 2: Family Action Plan and Project Outline

As a pre-practicing family resource management consultant, you will help your family in identifying three (3) areas from which you will assist the family in developing an effective management plan. Meet with the family to develop an action plan. Use the management model as a framework for the plan.

Action Plan and Project Outline

1. Part 1 Goals, Rationale & Plans for Documentation:
   1. Goals: You must have 3 specific goals that focus on THREE different management areas (use theConsulting Options document to help identify areas)
   2. Rationale: Provide 1 sentence per goal explaining how it helps meet your family's goals, needs or wants.
   3. Documentation: What two types of documentation will you plan to collect for each goal?Documentation could include before and after pictures, research on large purchases, photos of completed chore charts, projected budgets,family comments, etc. This is your chance to be creative and show off your family's accomplishments.
2. Part 2: Timeline: Detail specifically how and when these goals will be accomplished. Make a table with columns for each goal and rows for each week. Specify steps that need to be completed and target dates to complete.

Family Action Plans average 2 3 pages.

Implementing the PlanHow? By using the management process model:

For each option you choose with the family, you will use the management model as a framework. Start the management process for each option with Step 1, followed by the remaining steps, including deciding, planning, and implementing phases.

At this stage, you are coaching the family as they work toward achieving their goal(s); therefore, you are leading them to a state of family empowerment.

At times you may want to complete the work for the family, but you must allow them to work through the management process. You are there to assist them and not to do all the tasks (work) for them.

Your goal is to demonstrate best family resource management practices.

After guiding your family througheach stepof the management model, you will write a report of your progress as you worked with your family.

You are graded on your understanding of the management process and not whether your family completes all three options or even withdraws from the project.

NOTE:Do not force family members to complete the project if they want to pull out. Remind the family that they can stop participating at any time during the project. This is a rare occurrence, but if your family decides to stop participating, thank them for their participation and immediately contact your instructor.

Part 3: Meeting Family Goals and Summary

There will be 6 sections of your final paper. Be sure to identify each section with a heading.

Section 1: Family Description

Briefly, include information about your family (do not resubmit the entire family description!). Include goals, problems, needs, wants and family values.

Section 2: Review goals and timeline

• Restate the goals you developed with the family, and how these goals are meeting the family's needs.
• Include your goals as a consultant for the family (if they differed from the family's goals)

Section 3: Resources

Identify and describe at least NINE resources (total for all three goals) that the family used in implementing their goals. Discuss how resources were identified, accessed, evaluated, and used by the family.

• 2 agencies (local to your family)
• 2 books or magazine articles
• 2 websites
• 3 other resources

Section 4: Goal area #1

• What was the goal?
• Explain how you guided the family through each step of the management process for this goal. State what you did and what the family did. Be sure that each step of the model is addressed.
• Was the goal achieved or not? Explain
• Include documentation of goal progress

Section 5: Goal area #2

• What was the goal?
• Explain how you guided the family through each step of the management process for this goal. State what you did and what the family did. Be sure that each step of the model is addressed.
• Was the goal achieved or not? Explain
• Include documentation of goal progress

Section 6: Goal Area #3

• What was the goal?
• Explain how you guided the family through each step of the management process for this goal. State what you did and what the family did. Be sure that each step of the model is addressed.
• Was the goal achieved or not? Explain
• Include documentation of goal progress

Section 7: Summary and Personal Reflection

What did you learn from this project? How did your plans workot work with your family? Why or why didn't they work?

FAQWhat type of documentation do I need to include?

Documentation could include before and after pictures, research on large purchases, budgets,family comments, etc. This is your chance to be creative and show off your accomplishment.

What if my family didn't complete the goal? How do I show documentation?

You can always show documentation of research you completed the goal, family comments, etc. You need to demonstrate that the goal was attempted or in progress.

How do I keep track of all this?

I recommend creating a file and use it when communicating with the family and while working on your written reports. The file should contain the following information:

1. the family description,
2. a copy of the family's action plan,
3. a list of family resources for each option, and
4. a copy of the management mode

Is there any special formatting for the project?

• Youmusttype the project. (Arial 12 point is preferred)
• Use subheadings as identified in the management model.
• Include acover pagewith family name, student name, course, instructor, and date.
• Documentation can include pictures, video, etc. Make sure the instructor can access and view these files easily.

Time Management Assist family members in developing more effective time management strategies. Special Family Needs You may develop, with approval of your family and the instructor, a special alternative option to meet your family's unique management needs. Consultant Project Options Options to fulfill family goals You will choose three goals to work on with your family. These are pre- approved areas for you to consider. Any other ideas will need approval from the instructor Menu planning Develop menu plans for your chosen family for one week, based on dietary guidelines appropriate for their situation and income. Submit complete plans in correct format with cost figures and information on nutritional appropriateness. Division of labor Develop a plan for distribution of household work. This could be a plan to involve spouse, children, hired help, etc. Assess appropriate managerial style for your family. Could include chore chart, duty chart notes from family discussion, etc. Storage Analyze the present storage problems of your family and develop suggested changes. You could focus on children's closets, pantry, laundry, etc. (at least two different areas of storage). Money management Develop a monthly budget for your family based on normative spending guidelines for their income level and their unique family goals. Include information on allowances and at least two weeks experience in using the budget. Child care/Parenting Choose a parenting issue and research possible approaches to recommend. Demonstrate problem solving and decision making style to specific problem and discuss results. Examples of issues include day care selection, homework issues, television watching, allowances, etc. Screen Time Analyze current access to screen time and use. Develop a plan for management of children/teen screen time. Cut Cable Analyze current TV consumption and research options for family to cut cable that would provide suitable replacement. Home Technology Analyze the present use technology of your family and develop for efficiency and future ewnansinn