Tagged With "Financial Preparedness"
Blog Post
Organizations Partner to Combat the Digital Divide by Launching Searchable Wi-Fi Map for Needed Broadband Connections
American Connection Project organizations launch an interactive tool for users to locate more than 2,300 free Wi-Fi locations in 49 states ARDEN HILLS, MINN. (October 20, 2020) – Several partner organizations today announced the launch of the American Connection Project (ACP) interactive Wi-Fi map. The map provides a free resource to help the public locate more than 2,300 free Wi-Fi locations across 49 U.S. states. The map includes Wi-Fi locations from Land O’Lakes, Inc. and its ag retail...
Blog Post
ICYMI: Development of market assessment tools for improved sustainability and profitability of small and medium-sized U.S. dairy farms
Atlantic Corporation thanks the extension professionals who joined them to discuss findings from their national consumer attitudes and preferences survey about local dairy. We enjoyed sharing our findings and providing demonstrations of our interactive spatial visualization tool, Dairy Market Assessment and Planning System (DairyMAPS). If you missed the presentation, the recording is now available and the PowerPoint slides are attached to this post. To help Atlantic improve the value and...
Blog Post
FREE Course: The Science of Well-Being
Offered by Yale University, taught by Laurie Santos , delivered by Coursera! Course Description In this course you will engage in a series of challenges designed to increase your own happiness and build more productive habits. As preparation for these tasks, Professor Laurie Santos reveals misconceptions about happiness, annoying features of the mind that lead us to think the way we do, and the research that can help us change. You will ultimately be prepared to successfully incorporate a...
Blog Post
Asset Based Community Recovery - Add Your Voice!
The pandemic has shown us that we can’t do anything alone. However, we can use our experience and the experiences of others to learn and grow from this pandemic to be better prepared for future disasters and emergencies. That's our invitation to you. If you work with community groups, local government, families, businesses, non-profits, farmers, youth, or any other sector of communities, consider joining us for one of our upcoming Asset-based Community Recovery Workshops! Through the...
Blog Post
ICYMI: An In-Depth Look at the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2020-2025
A couple of weeks ago, we had Stephenie Fu and Elizabeth Rahavi join us from the USDA Center for Nutrition Policy & Promotion to discuss the new Dietary Guidlines for Americans for 2020-2015. The U.S. Departments of Agriculture (USDA) and Health and Human Services (HHS) recently released the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2020-2025 to reflect the current body of nutrition science. The Dietary Guidelines for Americans is the nation’s source for nutrition guidance to promote health and...
Blog Post
Old Hat
Each of us probably have items we've held onto for a long time. The sentimental value pulls at our heartstrings so hard we can't seem to let them go. One such item for me is a New York Yankees hat. The Story My wife & I were on the road together in New York. One of the stops on the tour was New York City. We found ourselves with some time one morning & decided to venture out to discover downtown. It was a gorgeous sunny day & I wasn't prepared so naturally, I bought a Yankees...
Blog Post
What drives you?
Why do we do the things we do? If we're honest with ourselves, we know our actions are driven by two things: motivation & ability. Ability to do anything is influenced by external help and/or environmental structure. Motivation is connected to our internal belief system, our values. Intrinsic The things we value most in life are our internal motivators. They are our core values. The things we sacrifice for, stand up for and are prepared to die for if it came to that. They're super...
Blog Post
"Extension’s Role in Disaster Response and Mental Health" Virtual Chat
On Wednesday, May 19 th , over a dozen Cooperative Extension professionals across the nation gathered in a Connect Extension chat to discuss disaster response and mental wellness in our work. The main themes interrogated throughout the hour were: mental wellness, disasters*, disaster recovery, and community interaction within those sectors. In this discussion, we wanted to learn how branches of Extension approach mental wellness in their communities and if they find themselves in disaster...
Blog Post
Resilience in action...
Resilience is defined as: " the capacity to recover quickly from difficulties; toughness. " Our resilience has been challenged big time over the course of this pandemic. How have you done? What have you done that worked? Honestly, it's been hard at times for our family. It's in what we did to get through together that matters. Chances are some of these are on your list! They celebrate other people's success They accept full responsibility for their past behavior They invest their energy in...
Blog Post
It's situational and it's not...
My brother & I talk a lot and it has brought us closer, especially during our "philosophical" discussions. We like to dive deep into our passion areas, share what we've learned from books, articles, Ted Talks, work situations, parenting, etc. We just go with whatever is on our minds in a healthy banter. One thing keeps coming up regardless of topic is leadership & its close relationship with character . We agree on one point...leadership is situational but character isn't. Character...
Blog Post
Eliminate to Concentrate
The secret to concentration is elimination. You can't move forward on the monkey bars without letting go of one hand. It’s in the letting go of something we aren’t uniquely gifted to do that we create opportunity. Opportunity for others to grow in their strength area. Opportunity to focus. Opportunity to step into efficiency. This is the only way we can get to effectiveness. In the letting go we are more prepared to receive. To receive an opportunity from a teammate. In his book ”Good to...
Blog Post
Give Your Clients a Financial Checkup
A financial check-up is as important as an annual physical with a doctor. Like a medical exam, a review of someone’s personal finances can identify steps to improve “financial fitness” and screen for potential problems.
Blog Post
Are you ready?
Life isn’t happening to you it’s happening for you. Are you ready to lean into all the opportunities life brings? When was the last day you felt at your best? What does it mean to be ready ? When you're ready you feel prepared. You feel rested. To be the best we can be, it takes caring for our mental, physical, spiritual and emotional states. Taking care of what it means to be human. When we fail to prepare we're preparing to fail. To be the best we can be means helping others be the best...
Blog Post
30 Days Left to Submit Presentation Proposals for the 2022 National Urban Extension Conference!
Proposals for individual presentations, panels, lightning talks and posters are due by November 20, 2021 at 5pm Pacific Time.
Blog Post
A One Hour End-of-Year Financial Checkup
Like a medical exam, a review of clients’ finances can identify strategies to improve their “financial fitness” and screen for potential problems, such as a high debt-to-income ratio. This article features 10 diagnostic tools to assess the strengths and weaknesses of a client’s financial situation that can be reviewed in a one-hour appointment.
Blog Post
University of Maryland Extension (UME) is Accepting Applications for TWO Financial Wellness Educator Positions!
Hello colleagues! Please take a moment to consider these exciting opportunities, and feel free to share them with others! University of Maryland Extension ( UME ) is seeking to fill two (2) Family and Consumer Sciences (FCS) Financial Wellness Educator positions , with one position at each of the following county Extension office locations: Calvert County (Position 103388) - This Office is located in Prince Frederick, Maryland, and provides programming to the Southern Maryland Cluster, which...
Blog Post
Impact Collaborative Launches Three New Professional Development Series for 2022
For 2022, the Extension Foundation's Impact Collaborative Program has launched three new professional development series for Extension Foundation members : Extension Skills Each second Thursday of the month, the Impact Collaborative's Extension Skills series will provide an opportunity for Cooperative Extension professionals to build capacity with tools, processes and tech skills training. For March 2022, join Victor Villegas and Molly Immendorf as they share their favorite tools and tips...
Blog Post
Let's Talk Money
University of Illinois Extension is providing a series of six free online workshops to help families learn about personal finances as well as strategies for talking about money. The workshops are held each Thursday evening beginning May 5. The one-hour sessions start at 6:30 p.m. Registration is required at go.illinois.edu/TalkMoney to receive Zoom connecting information. If a reasonable accommodation is needed to participate, contact Camaya Wallace Bechard , Extension consumer economics...
Blog Post
Leadership from "Band of Brothers" Commander
Major Richard "Dick" Winters , a native of Ephrata in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, was the Commander of "Easy Company", 2nd Battalion, 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment, part of the 101st Airborne Division, in World War II. They have affectionately become known as the " Band of Brothers ". On D-Day (June 6, 1944) he parachuted behind enemy lines into Normandy, France. 156,000 other American, British and Canadian forces were involved in "Operation Overlord" that become the turning point in...
Blog Post
Understanding the Financial Literacy Divide
Since Extension educators work with individuals and families from a broad array of racial and ethnic backgrounds, ages, genders, income levels, and educational levels, it is important to understand the impact that financial literacy disparities may have on those they are serving.
Comment
Re: Understanding the Financial Literacy Divide
Eye-opening study, thank you for sharing. What is the best source of material for teaching each of the 8 categories measured if one wishes to tailor an educational program to address these points? According to the study the areas are: Earning—determinants of wages and take-home pay. Consuming—budgets and managing spending. Saving—factors that maximize accumulations. Investing—investment types, risk and return. Borrowing/managing debt—relationship between loan features and repayments.
Comment
Re: Understanding the Financial Literacy Divide
Good morning, John. Great question. I am sure there are a lot of resources available that would cater to each one of these areas in depth, but there are a few resources that I personally have experience with that I think would be a good place to start, depending on your needs. Free resources: For those working with military families, the Department of Defense Office of Financial Readiness and OneOp Personal Finance are both a wealth of research-based information. University of Florida/IFAS...
Blog Post
Teaching Children About Money
Financial education courses notwithstanding, children’s strongest financial influence is most likely their parents. Below are tips for Extension educators to share with parents interested in teaching their children about money:
Blog Post
Pillars of Successful Transition - Models to help Service Members and their Families Prepare for the Military to Civilian Transition
What Extension programs do you have related to these topics that could support service members as they transition to civilian life?
Blog Post
Suicide Prevention Month: Extension Resources from OneOp
Military and veteran suicides is not only a public health concern within the Department of Defense and the Department of Veterans Affairs, but a concern within which the communities they live and serve. September is Suicide Prevention Month, and we want to highlight upcoming events from OneOp that may be helpful for service members, veterans, and military families within your local communities and surrounding counties. Suicide is a leading cause of death overall in the United States and the...
Blog Post
REQUEST FOR APPLICATIONS: New EXCITE Opportunity
REQUEST FOR APPLICATIONS EXCITE: Design Phase ELIGIBILITY: Non-competitive phase available to ALL Land-grant universities (LGUs) (1862, 1890, 1994) by completing a simple online application. Submit only one application per institution. AWARD AMOUNT: $10,000 TIMELINE: Application Open: September 22, 2022 Application Deadline: November 1, 2022 , November 30, 2022, 11:59 PM PST 11:59 PM PST Award Period: October 1, 2022 - March 15, 2023 APPLICATION ACCESS: The deadline for receipt of the...
Blog Post
EXCITE Design Phase Deadline Extended to November 30th, 2022
The application for the EXCITE Design Phase has been extended to November 30th, 2022 at 11:59 PM PST. The application is short, here are the requirements: Contact Information for Principal Investigator, Administrative Contact, and Financial Contact Subrecipient Information for FFATA Reporting (DUNS Name & Number, etc…) Letter of Support from Extension Director/Administrator Budget Template/Negotiated Indirect Cost Rate Agreement EXCITE is a nationwide local response by U.S. Cooperative...
Blog Post
Uplifting the Mental Health of LGBTQ+ Youth
An estimated 5% of the 1.76 million youth in military families identify as Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, or Queer. Surveyed LGBTQ youth with a parent currently serving in the military that experienced high levels of family support reported lower mental health challenges and suicide risk ( Trevor Project, 2022 ). When youth feel safe at home, their mental wellness is significantly improved. Fostering healthy family relationships translates into protective factors for younger and older...
Blog Post
Building Resilient Families: How New Technologies for Ag Extension is Serving the Heart & Hope Program from the University of Nevada, Reno
New Technologies for Ag Extension (NTAE) is a grant from USDA-NIFA in partnership with Oklahoma State University and is currently in its fourth year. Since 2019, the Extension Foundation has served 72 leaders and programs from across Cooperative Extension to help strengthen their programs and make a greater local impact in the communities they serve. Programs that applied for NTAE each year were competitively selected and aligned with USDA and Extension Committee on Organization and Policy...
Comment
Re: A ChatGPT Primer for Financial Educators
Hi @Kristen Jowers you can also promote this training in the subgroup- https://connect.extension.org/...-extension-education This is a place for Extension professionals to discuss technology use in their work and right now there is an emphasis in the subgroup to discuss and share best practices, tips and resources on using AI in Extension work!
Comment
Re: A ChatGPT Primer for Financial Educators
@MelaniePugsley thanks, got it posted to the subgroup!
Blog Post
June 22nd: Let's Cook at Home: Herbs and Spices, Penn State University
June 22nd, 2023: 12 PM ET $10 REGISTER HERE! Join us for Let's Cook at Home: Herbs and Spices , a virtual cooking class to learn about cooking delicious foods with herbs and spices and creating a healthy eating pattern that tastes great! In this event, we invite you to discover new recipe ideas using herbs and spices to enhance the aroma and flavor of foods. We hope you can join us! Registration is required to receive the link to access the webinar. Registrants will also receive access to...
Blog Post
Strategies to “Liven Up” Financial Education Classes
Extension educators are always looking for ways to increase participation and engagement in their financial education classes. Here are a dozen interactive teaching methods to consider: Case Study Analyses, Current Events, Financial Calculator Debriefs, Gallery Walks, Documentary Debriefs, Guest Speakers, and more!
Blog Post
A ChatGPT Primer for Financial Educators
Since launching in November 2022, ChatGPT has become the fastest technology tool to reach 100 million users…ever. Some are calling it “the next transformational platform.” Extension Educators may field questions about ChatGPT or consider its use in their work. Below are five key things to know about this ground-breaking artificial intelligence (AI) tool: ChatGPT Description - ChatGPT is “a very smart text-based robot” that can answer questions and have conversations with users. GPT stands...
Blog Post
What keeps senior leaders up at night?
Our family had the pleasure of being stationed in Tokyo, Japan while my wife and I were in the U.S. Air Force. While Japan and the other countries we visited were amazing, it was a particularly complicated time in the Pacific region. Most notably, North Korea's leader was threatening war. Additionally, many career fields in the Air Force lacked the people to sustain the operational pace required to maintain peace and stability in the region. Because of these situations, several military...
Blog Post
Ten Tips for Military Families to Survive a “Financial Tornado”
U.S. consumers haven’t just experienced a “perfect storm” of financial challenges…they have experienced a “perfect tornado!” Challenging financial events include sustained high inflation (and increased costs for food, utilities, rent, gas, insurance, housing, etc.), recession fears, increased interest rates, bank failures and government bank take-overs, volatile stock prices, lower savings rates, and increasing household debt. Extension professionals routinely answer questions from clients...
Blog Post
Game On! Equitable Development Leadership Academy: Calling Brave Souls
Attention, you courageous hearts and fearless spirits! Prepare to step out of your comfort zone and embark on a developmental adventure like no other with the National 4-H Council. Get ready for an extraordinary journey that will call upon your bravery and determination to redesign equity in your community. An experience where youth and adults unite to deepen their knowledge and leadership skills for a better tomorrow. Together, our cohort of community changemakers will build a strong...
Blog Post
Holiday Shopping with a Financial Mind$et
As we approach the Christmas season, be mindful of excessive holiday spending. While Christmas is the season of giving, excessive spending can lead to much regret, depression, and even added financial struggles in the new year. According to Berden and Haws (2012), spending can quickly get out of hand when it is driven by emotions rather than a plan. Have you ever gone to the store to grab a few items, but as you stroll next to the; buy one get one free, the rollbacks, the manager's special,...
Comment
Re: Holiday Shopping with a Financial Mind$et
Something to think about Troy! The holidays can really put you in that festive mode, that you totally forget to check your account and realize that you are spending way too much money. Half the things that we give as gifts never get used. I believe we should definitely put a spending plan together for the holidays and stick to it.
Comment
Re: Holiday Shopping with a Financial Mind$et
Deon, that is a great key point about gifting. But who are the people or even age groups that are really bent on reducing their budget for gifts during the holiday amid inflation pressure? There is so much room for a whole new discussion that could be taken in so many directions. I am leading a first-year college class on how price consciousness has become a defining characteristic of consumer behavior in a few weeks; let me know if you are interested in collaborating. Thanks for the insight!
Blog Post
Emotional Spending 101
Unlike impulsive buying, emotional spending is frequently heightened by stress, grief, or moments of happiness or sadness. Regardless of these triggers, they can impact your finances negatively. For example, you shop to make yourself feel better after a bad day at work. As a result, compulsive shopping and spending stems from an impulse disorder habit that can be addictive for many. The relationship between money and happiness is now seen as complete. Aknin, Wiwad, and Hannibal (2018)...
Comment
Re: Emotional Spending 101
Do you have any suggestions for tools like graphic organizers or worksheets that help people to think about and define their values?
Blog Post
How do you want to be remembered?
During a recent workshop we did a connection exercise where participants chose a question to discuss with others at their tables. When visiting the tables one of the folks was sharing their take on how they wanted to be remembered. It was very moving and inspirational. They asked me if I'd answer the same question. Here's the story I shared with them... When we were stationed in Japan my father's health was declining. Just a few years earlier he had recovered from an impossible amount of...
Comment
Re: Emotional Spending 101
Chris, I created and used a worksheet that I found effective with a college class a few weeks ago. It requires the participants to list all their values. Then, identify short-term, mid-term, and long-term goals related to their top (3) values from their list and explain how finance aligns with their specific goal. We then have an open discussion about barriers that can keep us from reaching our goals, and because life sometimes throws us a curve ball, we also address how to overcome the...
Blog Post
Moving the Needle on Racial Equity in Extension, Part 1 of 3
The 1862 land grant institutions face a large task to move beyond their troubled legacy and meet the needs of contemporary people of color. To address racial inequities in extension, we embarked on educational and institutional change activities. We share three key lessons: the need to take time for building relationships of trust, to tailor individual communication about diversity, equity, and inclusion work for different colleagues, and to re-think the sources of expertise in extension work.
Blog Post
Moving the Needle on Racial Equity in Extension, Part 2 of 3
The 1862 land grant institutions face a large task to move beyond their troubled legacy and meet the needs of contemporary people of color. To address racial inequities in extension, we embarked on educational and institutional change activities. We share three key lessons: the need to take time for building relationships of trust, to tailor individual communication about diversity, equity, and inclusion work for different colleagues, and to re-think the sources of expertise in extension work.
Comment
Re: Emotional Spending 101
I find that people often state their values, but then recognize a great misalignment between their habits/ actions/ behaviors and the values they thought they prioritized. The Value Clarification worksheet you shared gives a great start to recognition of potential disconnect, and can help formulate discussions or internal reflections leading to a meaningful reassessment (of behaviors and/or values) to influence goal setting and progress. Thanks for sharing!
Blog Post
Research Briefs for Financial Educators: IRAs, Financial Education and Two-Paycheck Families
Personal finance research informs high-quality financial education briefings, publications, and 1:1 financial counseling with clients. Included are findings and implications from three studies published in 2023.
Blog Post
EXCITE Adult Vaccination Project
The Virginia Cooperative Extension EXCITE Team and the Virginia Department of Health (VDH) conducted a symposium on November 3rd, 2023 to discuss the EXCITE project funded through CDC and ways that Virginia Cooperative Extension Agents could get involved in vaccine education! This session introduced our vaccine ambassadors and their roles in their respective localities, provided background on adult vaccinations and the current vaccination schedule, and discussed approaches to communicating...