Community and Family Economics (CAFÉ) Links
General CAFÉ Links
Retirement and Financial Security
Credit Management and Credit Repair
Homeownership
Small Business and Microenterprise Technical Assistance
Curriculum
Lesson Plans
General CAFÉ Links
Building Native Communities: Financial Skills for Families is a curriculum specifically geared towards Native Americas. It was developed through a partnership between First Nations Development Institute and the Fannie Mae Foundation.
United States Department of Treasury has up-to-date news in all areas of finances.
The Financial Services Education Council was formed by the Department of Treasury and the Electronic Funds Transfer (ETF). It was an initiative requiring direct deposit for most federal payments by Jan 2,1999. The council published “Helping People in Your Community Understand Basic Financial Services.”
Money Smart is a comprehensive adult financial literacy curriculum. It also provides employment and training services. You can order a free copy of it. The curriculum is divided into 10 modules: an introduction to bank services, credit, keeping a checking account, how to keep track of your money, saving money, consumer rights, credit history, credit cards, loans, and home ownership.
National Endowment for Financial Education is a foundation devoted to helping Americans gain the skills and tools to control their personal finances. The foundation has also developed curricula that is for sale on their website.
Parent Job Net is a non-profit organization that offers a cost-free job networking program and an ESOL program.
Retirement and Financial Security
Choose to Save: Education Program
Sponsored by the Employee Benefit Research Institute and the American Savings Education Council, this public education campaign on retirement savings has run for three years in the Washington, D.C., metropolitan area. The campaign includes a series of public service announcements, weekly news segments, and an annual one-hour prime time television special. The website includes some helpful free brochures that can be used in class.
Credit Management and Credit Repair
Consumer Credit Counseling Services is a nationwide nonprofit service, composed of local and regional affiliates, that offers free and confidential budget, credit, and housing counseling plus debt repayment plans.
Homeownership
HUD recently introduced a Homeownership Basics Online program that provides prospective homeowners with modules that explain the basics of buying a home, and what is expected of a buyer. It is available online as a webcast.
Small Business and Microenterprise Technical Assistance
Small Business Development Centers, which is administered by the Small Business Administration (SBA), provides management assistance to current and prospective small business owners. Nearly 1,000 SBDCs exist nationwide, providing a wide variety of information and guidance.
Curriculum
F.R.E.E., a curriculum designed for immigrants with limited English, is composed of six units, including topics on attitudes about money, budgeting, bank accounts, credit cards, saving money and buying a home. The curriculum and teacher’s guide can be downloaded from the California Litearcy website.
Lesson Plans
Money Instructor
Practical Money Skills
For additional Practical Money Skills resources, including pamphlets and brochures, click here