Money for Life

Program Planning and Reporting homepage

Reporting Instructions

Plan of Work Index

Evaluation Instruments 

Summary

Goals:

1. Learners make more informed family financial and consumer decisions that result in increased family economic stability.
2. Research findings are applied to increase family economic stability and community vitality.
3. Public policies are adopted that encourage family economic stability.

Outcomes:

• # of individuals improving personal and family financial management skills
• # of individuals strengthening consumer decision making skills

Activities:
(These activities are available state wide, additional activities may be available at the county and area level.)

Youth Financial Education
High School Financial Planning Program
Financial Security in Later Life
Retirement: Secure Your Dreams
Legally Secure Your Financial Future
Welcome to Retirement
Investing for Your Future
Money Talk: A Financial Guide for Women
Basic Financial Management Skills
Planning to Stay Ahead
Getting Organized
Earned Income Tax Credit Campaign
Credit Education (including PowerPay)
Homebuyer Education
Consumer Skills
Protecting Your Identity
Individual Consultations/Referrals
Iowa Concern Hotline
Bets Off Line
Building Community Capacity in Financial Literacy
Volunteer Financial Counseling
Volunteer Income Tax Assistance

Download the following Money for Life Plan of Work as a pdf file.

1. Name of Planned Program
Money for Life

2. Program knowledge areas
801 Individual and Family Resource Management - 75%
607 Consumer economics - 25%

3. Program duration
Mature

4. Expected program duration
Long term

5. Brief summary about Planned Program
Extension programs on family resource management and public policy are guided by research that is focused on 1) increasing understanding of how families can maximize use of resources, and 2) how policies and programs can enhance family economic well-being. Evaluation research assesses the efficacy of Extension education. Extension family resource management programs aim 1) to improve personal and family financial management skills, and 2) to strengthen skills in consumer decision making. Programs address needs across the lifespan, but focus particularly on resource-constrained families and policies and programs that target families’ most basic needs. Low-income, rural families face significant challenges—lower levels of human capital, underemployment, low wages, and limited access to markets for both basic goods and critical services. These barriers have direct effects on family economic well-being and influence how best to design effective Extension educational programs for families and communities.

6. Situation and priorities
Iowans work diligently to earn a living, yet poor consumer decisions, low savings, high debt levels, and a lack of planning for potential major life events leave them financially vulnerable. Rural communities face growing challenges in retaining well-paying job opportunities and the array of services desired by families across the lifespan. Low-income consumers are at greatest risk of economic instability.

7. Assumptions made for the Program
Evidence-based education can help people make wise consumer decisions and achieve financial security. Iowans who do earn a living wage can build financial stability. Public policies can enhance family financial security and, in turn, community vitality. Adequate funding for targeted research and Extension education can positively influence quality of life. Adequate resources are available to sustain Extension initiatives.

8. Ultimate goal(s) of the Program

• Learners make more informed consumer decisions that result in increased family economic stability.
• Research findings are applied to increase family economic stability and community vitality.
• Public policies are adopted that encourage family economic stability.

9. Scope of program
Multi-state Extension

Inputs for the Program
10. Expending formula funds or state -matching funds - yes

11. Expending funds other than formula funds or state matching funds - yes

12. Estimated amount of professional FTEs
2007 - 15.25
2008 - 15.25
2009 - 15.25
2010 - 15.25
2011 - 15.25

Outputs for the Program
13. Activity
Extension educational programs will be directed to professionals and community leaders, as well as to individuals and families through multiple methods—classes, workshops, web-based programs and mass media.

14. Methods of reaching clients
Direct
Education class
Workshop
Group discussion
One on one intervention

Indirect
Public service announcement
Newsletters
TV media programs
Web sites
eXtension Communities of interest

15. Description of targeted audience
All families and the policy makers, agencies, businesses, organizations and practitioners that serve families.

16. Standard output measures

(Direct contacts came from calendar reporting and individual consultations, indirects came from hotlines; direct youth - HSFPP)

17. SKIP

18. Output measures
Output text: number of adults participating in programs on improving personal and family financial management skills
2007 - 7500
2008 - 7500
2009 - 7500
2010 - 7500
2011 - 7500

Output text: number of adults participating in programs on strengthening consumer decision making skills
2007 - 2500
2008 - 2500
2009 - 2500
2010 - 2500
2011 - 2500

Outcomes for the Program
19. Outcome measures
Outcome text: Number of individuals improving personal and family financial management skills. ( 80% ??)
2007 - 6000
2008 - 6000
2009 - 6000
2010 - 6000
2011 - 6000

Outcome text: Number of individuals strengthening consumer decision making skills. ( 75%??)
2007 - 1875
2008 - 1875
2009 - 1875
2010 - 1875
2011 - 1875

20. External factors which may effect outcomes
Natural disasters
Economy
Appropriations changes
Pubic policy changes
Competing public priorities
Competing programmatic challenges
Population changes

21. Evaluation studies planned
Before and after

Description
Participant attitudes, knowledge and behaviors will be assessed before participation in educational interventions and following the intervention. With available funding, more rigorous evaluations including a comparison group will be conducted.

Data collection methods
Survey - onsite, mail
Observation