NYCUF hosts financial education trainings in Rochester, Hauppauge

Related Media

Trainer Barbara Henza reviews the NEFE curriculum with attendees

ALBANY, NY (07/31/2013)(readMedia)-- Albany, N.Y. – The New York Credit Union Foundation (NYCUF) recently partnered with Cornell Cooperative Extension to train New York teachers and community volunteers on the National Endowment for Financial Education's (NEFE) High School Financial Planning Program (HSFPP). The organizations hosted training sessions July 18 at The Summit FCU in Rochester, N.Y., and July 23 at Teachers FCU in Hauppauge, N.Y.

Nearly 30 educators and credit union professionals completed the daylong trainings, which prepared them to teach the award-winning, recently updated HSFPP curriculum to youth in their area schools and community groups. Cornell Cooperative Extension Trainer Barbara Henza reviewed each of the curriculum modules, which include: planning, borrowing, earning capability, investing, financial services and insurance. She also outlined the program resources available to educators, including: student guides, teacher lesson plans and a growing collection of online resources and learning activities.

"Attending this seminar was hugely helpful because the financial literacy curriculum provided through NEFE is excellent. It follows state and national education standards, but, more importantly, it is presented in a fun, logical and enjoyable way," said attendee Jackie Wiegand, marketing administrator at Compass FCU. "My plan is to share the seminar's resources with an area teacher and to use NEFE materials for credit union workshops and any guest presentations in our local schools."

The HSFPP curriculum is used by credit unions across the state, with many providing free curriculum materials to area schools and/or teaching the financial literacy workshops themselves. According to the Credit Union Association of New York, the state's credit unions educated more than 35,000 youth through financial literacy programs last year.

"Our Foundation's mission is 'fostering the financial independence of New Yorkers through credit unions,' and building youth financial literacy is a critical part of that," said Allison Barna, director of NYCUF/community development. "We are proud to partner with NEFE and Cornell Cooperative Extension to bring HSFPP resources to New York credit unions and educators."

For the past four years, NYCUF has partnered with Cornell Cooperative Extension to provide NEFE HSFPP trainings across the state. The organizations are planning to host another session this fall.

To learn more about NEFE HSFPP, visit http://www.hsfpp.org/ or contact Allison Barna, director of NYCUF/community development, at (800) 342-9835, ext. 8134 or allison.barna@cuany.org.