Below is a profile of financial literacy resources for your use. M. H. West & Co., Inc. (WEST) identified these in its research work as the TA provider for School District Generation I and the Youth Offender State/Local Implementation, Planning and Intermediary Grantees funded through the Employment and Training Administration. WEST in collaboration with the Division of Youth Services and the Grantee Coaches and Facilitators hopes to follow-up this email with a telephone training opportunity for you to learn more about the information and tools available through the organizations referenced below. We will let you know of scheduled times for the telephone sessions. Please contact Marilyn, Erica or Joe at consulting@mhwest.com if you have any questions regarding this email or have suggestions of other resources that your colleagues and peers may use.

The mission of the National Endowment for Financial Education is to help individual Americans acquire the knowledge and skills necessary to take control of their financial destiny. NEFE’s mission is grounded in the belief that regardless of background or income level, financially informed individuals are better able to:

• Take control of their circumstances,
• Improve their quality of life, and
• Ensure a stable future for themselves and their families.

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Many benefits of financial literacy programs, including:

• Assists residents of lower-income neighborhoods build wealth and participate in the American financial system.
• Increases access to depository institutions by educating consumers about available products and services.
• Participation in these programs may receive consideration under the Community Reinvestment Act (CRA).

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The Finance Project is an independent non-profit research, consulting, technical assistance and training firm for public and private sector leaders nationwide. We specialize in helping leaders plan and implement financing and sustainability strategies for initiatives that benefit children, families and communities. Through a broad array of products, tools and services, we help leaders make smart investment decisions, develop sound financing strategies, and build solid partnerships.

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360 Degrees of Financial Literacy is a comprehensive effort, headed by the AICPA, with the support of state CPA societies. The program promotes CPAs to take an extensive leadership role in volunteering to educate the American public, from school children to retirees, on financial topics that apply specifically to their particular stage of life.

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Clear View Education offers many free courses, eBooks and bill tracking software to promote financial literacy among recent college grads to help effectively manage budgets. Some of the free online courses include: Family Finance, Entrepreneurial Finance, Investing in Your Future and Planning for a Secure Retirement.

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This website is designed to help the majority of consumers that are experiencing some sort of financial difficulty causing significant impact on everyday lives. In fact, Americans carry more than $2 trillion in consumer debt. Through financialliteracymonth.com consumers can seek tips and steps to overcoming financial burdens.

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MyMoney.gov is the U.S. government's website dedicated to teaching all Americans the basics about financial education. Access to important information from twenty different federal agencies is provided on this site for the most comprehensive education.

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The Edfund provides financial aid information, including available programs and how to apply. Students and families are able to explore many different programs while obtaining planning information to make the big step to college. EdFund is one of the nation's leading providers of student loan services under the federal student loan program and manages a portfolio of outstanding loans valued at $38 billion.

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First convened in December, 1995, the Jump$tart Coalition for Personal Financial Literacy determined that the average student who graduates from high school lacks basic skills in the management of personal financial affairs. The Coalition's direct objective is to encourage curriculum enrichment to ensure that basic personal financial management skills are attained during the K-12 educational experience. The wheels of education do not need to be reinvented, they simply require balance.

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At www.practicalmoneyskills.com and www.whatsmyscore.org, educators, parents, and students can access free educational resources including personal finance articles, games, lesson plans, and more. Practical Money Skills for Life is educator-developed and educator-approved, and the program reaches millions of students across the nation.

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The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) initiated a national financial education campaign in 2001 by launching Money Smart, a comprehensive financial education curriculum designed to help individuals outside the financial mainstream develop financial skills and positive banking relationships.

The FDIC's Money Smart for Young Adults curriculum helps youth ages 12-20 learn the basics of handling their money and finances, including how to create positive relationships with financial institutions. Equipping young people in their formative years with the basics of financial education can give them the knowledge, skills, and confidence they need to manage their finances once they enter the real world.

Money Smart for Young Adults consists of eight instructor-led modules. Each module includes a fully scripted instructor guide, participant guide, and overhead slides. The materials also include an optional computer-based scenario that allows students to complete realistic exercises based on each module.

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GradReady is a modular, web-based program for financial literacy training on college campuses. The curriculum's three modules (available separately or as a suite) cover a college student's entire experience, from pre-enrollment to 1 repayment. Through a series of standardized questions, the guide aims to get schools thinking about the five hallmarks of effective programs:

• accessible,
• comprehensive,
• sustainable,
• measurable and
• cost-effective

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This financial literacy guide helps prepare students for the future by making positive decisions when it comes to financials. Each unit is broken down to provide specific details about how to obtain one's goal. The six units include:

• Managing Money
• Understanding Banking
• Using Credit Wisely
• Understanding Taxes & Insurance
• Understanding Investing and Home Ownership
• Understanding Consumer Fraud & Identity Theft

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The National Coalition of Girls' Schools has long been a leader in financial literacy education, creating conferences, seminars and publications to bring this topic to the forefront of today's school curriculum. They argue young women need to be smart consumers, vigilant savers, wise managers, responsible givers, and active participants in the global economy. Being financially savvy and achieving financial independence are the next steps toward true gender equality.

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This game is ideal for teaching 12-20 year olds to prepare for their future by helping them understand some aspects like the cost of living, budgeting and more.

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The Joyner Walker Foundation is a non-profit 501 (c) 3 organization dedicated to providing life skill programs to assist high school and college students in a way to prosper and be self-sufficient. Our flagship program is financial literacy and will consist of the necessities of money management that are not taught in general education, but combined with education, can lead to the road of prosperity and heightened self-esteem. Life Skill programs are the following:

• Financial Literacy
• Dress for Success
• Presentation Skills
• Mentoring
• Time Managing for Life
• Resume & Interviewing Skills

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Southern California Entrepreneur Lori Mackey has created a brand to show kids the road to financial freedom. Mackey's children's books, read-along cds, and games all help to keep kids engaged while learning critical life skills.

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The goal of HiFi is to make financial education available to all high school students in Massachusetts, specifically juniors and seniors. The HiFi program trains teachers, financial professionals, and representatives of community-based organizations to offer financial literacy classes to teens. Through this program the students gain the financial skills and abilities they need whether they are headed to the workforce, military, or college.

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The Utah Education Network provides curriculum resources and lesson plans pertaining to general financial literacy education for teachers and administrators in the state of Utah.

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A production of the Educational Communications Board, Financial Literacy: TEACH IT! is a multi-media professional development resource designed around Wisconsin's new Personal Financial Literacy standards. Twenty-one short videos demonstrate effective teaching of each of the seven content standards in elementary, middle, and high school classrooms.

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