IFHE-US Member, Juanita Mendenhall, to Receive IFHE Distinguished Service Award

The International Federation for Home Economics Distinguished Service Award honors members for their outstanding contribution to the Federation and the home economics profession. The 2024 recipients are Juanita Mendenhall, CFCS, CFLE from the United States and Lilha Lee from South Korea. The award will be presented to Mendenhall and Lee during the Closing Celebration at the XXV World Congress 2024 in Galway/ Ireland in June. 

Mendenhall was nominated by the IFHE-US affiliate and the Caribbean Home Economics Association for her active involvement with their organizations and her significant influence on projects and activities that have furthered the profession and provided global outreach to numerous countries outside of their borders.  Recipients are selected based on their demonstration of modelling excellence in scholarship, professional conduct, and integrity; encouraging, inspiring, and supporting colleagues, community and/or students; demonstrating and fostering professional competencies; contributing to the work of IFHE; promoting a climate of respect and collegiality; and advocating for the profession.

Mendenhall has been a member of IFHE for 46 years. Some of her contributions to IFHE include service as member of the Executive Committee (1996 – 2004), Senior Advisory Committee (2004 – Present), Congress Program Planning Committee, and as Vice-President, Region of the Americas (1998 – 2002).  She has missed only one IFHE Council meeting since becoming a member in 1978.  She was instrumental in the initiation of the IFHE-US affiliate in 1998 and served as the first President (1998 – 2004).  Mendenhall created the Disaster Assistance Partnerships Program (DAP) to provide technical, material, and financial assistance to areas affected by natural disasters. Since DAP’s inception, Mendenhall has served as Coordinator rebuilding/assisting home economics programs in developing countries, collaborating with several home economics organizations, and maintaining the Partnership as an IFHE Programme Committee.

Mendenhall earned a Bachelor of Science in Home Economics Education and a Master of Arts in Teaching from Indiana University.  She has been a role model for home economists both in the United States and internationally and served in leadership positions in various home economics related organizations on the local, state, national and international levels. She was actively employed for over forty years as a classroom teacher at the high school, university, and community levels, as well as worldwide. Since retirement, she has continued to serve as a volunteer in a variety of roles.  From training teachers for the profession at the local, state, national and international levels to public policy initiatives, she has demonstrated superior passion for the value of home economics.

Mendenhall continues as President Emeritus of International Home Economics Services (IHES) and her work has been recognized with over twenty-five prestigious awards from involvement in the profession and other organizations, including the American Association of Family and Consumer Sciences (AAFCS).  Awards include six different Teacher of the Year Awards, two AAFCS Leader Awards, the AAFCS Wiley-Berger Award for Volunteer Service and the AAFCS Distinguished Service Award.

Mendenhall is a mentor and role model whose life exemplifies distinguished service to the profession.  Throughout her career, she has passionately pursued and modeled her personal mission to “apply Family and Consumer Sciences (Home Economics) research-based knowledge and best practices to improve people’s well-being throughout the world.”

Mendenhall will travel to Ireland with family members and IFHE-US colleagues to receive the award at the World Congress in June.  Congratulations Juanita on this prestigious honor!

Abstract Deadline EXTENDED!

IFHE World Congress 2020

Abstract and Travel Grant Submissions

Extended Until September 15, 2019

It’s not too late to submit an abstract(s) for oral, poster, symposium, or workshop presentations!  Share your new research and/or best practices with your international colleagues.  Apply for a travel grant (up to $1,000) to support your participation in Atlanta, Georgia, USA.  All information, including the Call for Abstract Announcement and Travel Grant Announcement can be found on the Congress website. Follow the links to submit your abstract(s) and travel grant application.

There are 90 abstracts in the system that have not been submitted.  Your abstract submission isn’t complete until you click the final submit button and receive a confirmation number.  You will also receive a confirmation email that contains the number.  To be sure everyone has time to complete the submission process, the deadline has been extended until September 15, 2019.  After this date, there will be no more extensions.

Two reminders:

  1. To apply, you must create an account on the Congress website.  It is not connected to the IFHE website.
  2. If you have forgotten your Congress website password, go to Reset Abstract Password Here; in the upper right corner select “Log In;” you will be prompted to change your password.  Wait five minutes for an email.  The link is only good for one hour.

IFHE-US is looking forward to seeing you in Atlanta!

Submit your abstracts for World Congress 2020

Dear IFHE members and friends, 

We would kindly like to remind you that the deadline for submitting abstracts for the XIV IFHE World Congress 2020 in Atlanta, Georgia, USA is approaching. You are invited to submit your abstracts until 31 August 2019 after which a panel will review them and inform you about the acceptance.

To submit an abstract, please use the online tool at the

https://www.ifhe.org/world-congress-2020-atlanta

website. See more details on criteria and the Congress theme “Home Economics: Soaring Towards Sustainable Development” in the attached document.  

We are looking forward to receiving your abstracts.

The XVI IFHE World Congress Organizing Committee

IFHE-US Development Fund Annoucment

Every four years, the IFHE Development Fund offers competitive grants to Home Economists in developing countries. These grants have been created to improve or extend programs that enhance the quality of life of individuals, families, and communities.

Project proposals should address an important need among a target population that at the same time, extends or strengthens the capacity of Home Economists or Home Economics organizations. Target population must be from a developing country. Only IFHE members, organizations or partners may apply. Proposals are being solicited and are due February 20, 2020.

Grants will be awarded at the XXIV World Congress in Atlanta, Georgia, USA. All IFHE members are invited to share this information with colleagues and organizations working abroad, so that worthy projects in developing countries can be funded. A full description of the Development Fund and the Grant Application process is available on two websites: www.ifhe.org and www.ifheus.org.

Grants range from $1,000 to $5,000 USD. During the past four-year cycle, four projects were awarded. Applications are due no later than February 20, 2020. Applications are to be submitted via e-mail to the address at the end of the application form.

The winners will be announced at the XXIV World Congress 2020, Atlanta, Georgia USA, August 2nd-8th.

IFHE Development Fund Chair Dr. Roxie V. Godfrey

IFHE-US President revgodfrey13@gmail.com

To Print the application,please download below.

IHES Offers Scholarships to World Congress 2020

International Home Economics Services Offers Eight Scholarships to Attend the XXIV IFHE World Congress 2020

The International Home Economics Services (IHES) invites home economics professionals from developing countries to apply for financial assistance with expenses to attend the International Federation for Home Economics (IFHE) World Congress in Atlanta, Georgia, USA, August 2-8, 2020.

The Congress theme is “Home Economics: Soaring Toward Sustainable Development.” Applications are welcome from any IFHE member (There is still time to join IFHE by going on line to ifhe.org). A priority for the IHES scholarship is to promote engagement by emerging professionals, thus

  • International graduate students who are studying in a home economics-related program in the United States or Canada are especially encouraged to apply, with priority given to those from countries in Africa, South and Central America, and Puerto Rico.
  • Preference will be given to members of IFHE who have not yet attended an IFHE Congress.

Eight (8) IHES scholarships will be given. Each scholarship will provide $1700 USD. Applications need to show that the applicant has resources for the remainder of the Congress expenses.

Applications are due no later than September 15, 2019. Applications are to be submitted via e-mail to the address at the end of the application form. The IHES scholarship selection committee will review the applications and select the recipients. Notification of awards will be sent no later than November 1, 2019.

Please help IHES distribute this information to individuals who may need financial assistance to attend the XXIV IFHE World Congress 2020 and who will use the experience to enrich home economics in their country and internationally.

Contact person for IHES Scholarship information:

Mary Warnock, IHES President

mwarnock@uark.edu