Family & Consumer Sciences

Staff Listing

Charles OkpalaFamily and Consumer Sciences County Extension Agent

What is a Family and Consumer Sciences Agent?

A Family and Consumer Sciences (FACS) agent is a person who can assist workers, consumers and families in meeting their basic and most important needs with a wide body of research-based knowledge about topics that affect your life: your family, your food and your house. FACS Agents have a long tradition of helping individuals and families over their life span and strengthening communities through educational programs.

How can we help you?

We want to help Georgians meet new challenges in a changing environment. We focus on our clients' economic and social well-being through programs that help people extend their income, cook and eat nutritiously, and make important buying decisions.

What programming is provided in the county?

We help consumers understand the relationships between food and health, promote informed nutrition decisions and regular physical activity, safe food handling and storage, safe home food preservation and economical food selection and preparation. Through a unique partnership between Richmond County and UGA Extension, Richmond County Extension staff can tap into a wealth of information for you.

The Family & Consumer Science (FACS) mission is to extend lifelong learning through trusted resources to Georgia citizens through unbiased, research-based education in agriculture, the environment, communities, youth and families. Tips for improving health, finances, food preparation and family interactions are frequently featured throughout the website. We look for collaborations with community partners to give timely access to information and programming on a local and state level.

Contact the Richmond County Extension Office for more information about FACS programming by calling (706) 821-2350 or emailing uge3245@uga.edu

Upcoming Events

Dec 6 ServSafe® Manager One-Day Training & Exam Georgia Cooperative Extension provides the nationally recognized and accredited ServSafe® training for foodservice managers from the National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation (NRAEF). Upon successful completion of the ServSafe® examination, the ServSafe® Food Protection Manager certificate will be issued by the NRAEF. Class registration is $140 and covers the textbook, testing fee, and refreshments. Registration deadline is November 28th, 2022. For additional information, please contact Keishon Thomas at 478-751-6338.
- Macon, GA - (105.0 Miles)
Dec 8 Understanding your On-site Waste System Do you flush the toilet, wash dishes, wash clothes or do anything that causes water to go down a drain in the house? If so, join us to learn about how this water and solids are managed in a septic system and how to maintain the systems. If you are on municipal sewer system also join us in that we will also discuss how to protect sewer systems.
- Virtual Event
Dec 8 Prevent T2/T2 with a Twist Informational Session An Informational Session about the FREE Prevent T2/T2 with a Twist class will be held on December 8th at 10:30am. The session will be held at the Elbert County Extension Office which is currently located in the Paul J Blackwell Learning Center (373 Campbell Street Elberton). If you want to learn proven ways to lose weight and improve your health and you haven’t signed up for the series of classes…sign-up today as we begin life’s next learning adventure in January 2023! For more information about the informational session or to register for the series of classes starting January 2023 contact Christa Campbell at the Elbert County Extension Office. Phone: 706-283-2037 Email: christaa@uga.edu
- Elberton, GA - (68.0 Miles)
Jan 11 ServSafe Manager Certification 2-Day Training and Exam University of Georgia Cooperative Extension provides the nationally recognized and accredited ServSafe® training for foodservice managers from the National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation (NRAEF). Upon successful completion of the ServSafe® examination, the ServSafe® Food Protection Manager certificate will be issued by the NRAEF. The fee of $140 includes course book, educational materials, instruction, exam and refreshments. Pre-registration required, please contact our office.
- Claxton, GA - (87.0 Miles)
Jan 12 ServSafe Manager Certification 2-Day Training and Exam University of Georgia Cooperative Extension provides the nationally recognized and accredited ServSafe® training for foodservice managers from the National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation (NRAEF). Upon successful completion of the ServSafe® examination, the ServSafe® Food Protection Manager certificate will be issued by the NRAEF. The fee of $140 includes course book, educational materials, instruction, exam and refreshments. Pre-registration required, please contact our office.
- Claxton, GA - (87.0 Miles)
May 18 ServSafe Manager One-Day Training We provide Georgia's food service industry with food safety training using the National and Georgia Restaurant Associations ServSafe® program. UGA Extension has been offering ServSafe® manager and employee (Food Handler) certification programs throughout the state since 1997. The ServSafe® Manager Exam is a very detailed 90-question multiple choice test. Examinees must score a 70% to obtain ServSafe® Manager Certification. Each two-day course offered includes course instruction by a certified ServSafe® instructor and proctor, an updated ServSafe® Manager book, a certification exam and light refreshments.
- Conyers, GA - (120.0 Miles)
Nov 30 ServSafe Manager One-Day Training Georgia Cooperative Extension provides nationally recognized and accredited ServSafe® training for food service managers from the National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation (NRAEF). Upon successful completion of the ServSafe® examination, the ServSafe® Food Protection Manager certificate will be issued by the NRAEF. Workshops are offered in multiple locations throughout the state; see each training's contact for details. Registration includes the course, textbook, light refreshments, and exam.
- Conyers, GA - (120.0 Miles)

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Here are some of UGA Extension's most popular resources on family, food, health, home, and money.

eLearning with UGA SNAP-Ed 24/7 Tips to live a more active lifestyle, shop smarter, make healthier food choices, and cook delicious meals on a budget! Receive free kitchen and fitness items.

Start a New Food Business A collection of resources to help you get started with your small food business.

Food Talk Eat healthy and get moving on a budget. Find free online nutrition education courses, recipes, and other resources.

Marriage Matters Series Looking for ways to strengthen your relationship? Whether you have just started dating, have been married for a while, or have been married more than once, we can always use some guidance in developing and maintaining a healthy and satisfying relationship.

Childcare Provider Training Entity-approved training to help child care providers meet state licensing requirements. Check the calendar for training events near you.

Your Good Credit Series Establishing, maintaining, and protecting Your Good Credit can save you thousands of dollars over time. This series will teach you the basics of credit reports and scores.

So Easy to Preserve This book covers topics on preserving food, canning, pickled products, sweet spreads and syrups, freezing and drying. Available for purchase only.

Eat Healthy, Be Active A flexible 3-week schedule of hands-on activities meant to improve young children's health and well-being by teaching key nutrition and physical activity concepts.

Radon Education Radon is a colorless, tasteless odorless gas that can cause lung cancer. It occurs naturally and is released into the soil, easily entering buildings through the foundation. The only way to know if you have radon is to test.

Building Baby's Brain Series What happens during a child's first few years makes a big difference in the child's later life. This series helps parents learn strategies to improve early brain development.