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Financial Education

Mission:
To provide people in their neighborhoods with information and resources to take charge of their money by helping them understand the system, their rights, and their obligations.

Target Market:
* Low-income communities
* Non-profit community groups serving: seniors; people re-entering the mainstream workforce; women's groups; immigrants; minorities; micro-entrepreneurs
* Members of check systems
* Foster youth 16 - 18 years old
* Adult education students
* Residents of transitional housing
* High school students and recent high school graduates

Advisory Committee:
* California Capital Financial Development Corporation
* River City Bank
* Sacramento Works Career Centers
* Home Loan Counseling Center
* Sacramento Employment and Training Agency (SETA)
* Precision Bill Paying
* Sacramento Neighborhood Housing Services
* Scalzitti Insurance Agency
* City of Sacramento
* Golden Gate University
* American River Bank
* First Bank


Notes:
The series contains 8 sessions, which start at 6:00 p.m. and end at 8:30.
A light meal is provided at each class.
At the end of each series, participants receive a certificate for sessions completed.

Course Description

Week 1:
Orientation, Overview, and Computer Lab: Participants will be provided an overview of the curriculum; ground rules will be discussed; and students will be surveyed to determine their specific areas of interest. During the second hour of class, participants will have an opportunity to "surf the net, " by stepping onto the e-bus, a mobile computer lab

Week 2:
Money Matters: Presented by Kathe Nathan, and Jennifer Harris, River City Bank, this course provides an overview of basic banking services available at most banks; an explanation of how to access them and use them responsibly; and a hands-on lesson in balancing a checkbook.

Week 3:
Stretch Your Money to Match Your Month: Presented by Jayna Bower, Home Loan Counseling Center, this course offers practical tools and information to assist in designing and living within a household budget.

Week 4:
Give Yourself Some Credit: Presented by Dianna Hillyer, Sacramento Neighborhood Housing Services, participants will examine their "money attitude," learn the importance of having a good credit record, how to read a credit report and correct errors on credit reports, and how to avoid the pitfalls of using credit cards.

Week 5:
Take the Ax Out of Taxes: Anthony Rucker, California Capital Loan Officer and H & R Block Tax Professional, will guide participants through the preparation of basic tax returns. Common questions related to exemptions, deductions, credits, and reportable income will be addressed.

Week 6:
Don't Fight It, Resolve It: During one half of the class, Kathleen Stanbrough, of the Sacramento Mediation Center, will teach participants basic skills to resolve conflicts that arise in everyday life. During the second half of class, a legal expert will discuss common legal issues that many people face, and provide information and resources that can be used to handle them.

Week 7:
Are You Covered?: Sherry Scalzitti, broker, and Joanne Cromwell-Black, agent, Scalzitti Insurance Agency, will provide information about various types of consumer insurance such as automobile, life, renter's, health, and home owner's insurance, including purchase options.

Week 8:
Explore Your Entrepreneurial Spirit: Participants will explore their potential for becoming business owners, and learn about resources that are available to prospective entrepreneurs.