b'Educator SpotlightFaye Griffiths-Smith Financial Education Program Helps Participants Improve Their LivesCT Saves Campaign Faye coordinates the Connecticut Saves social marketing campaign. Collaborating organizations include Managing family and personal financespeople. One focus area is reachingstate agencies, financial institutions, well is a common challenge. Findingspeople living on limited incomes, thosecommunity organizations, and from recent studies show cause formaking life transitions such as enteringbusinesses. Connecticut Saves concern regarding Americans financialor returning to the workforce, or othersencourages participants to save practices. According to the 2018 FINRAexperiencing financial challenges. Recentautomatically for their financial goals. Financial Capability Study, nationally: participants included veterans, seniorTaking the Connecticut Saves Pledge46% of individuals lack a rainy-daycenter residents, adult education students,helps people make a simple financial fund, teens, summer youth employmentplan and commitment.34% of individuals can answer four orstudents, and college students. Reaching teens, college students, and other youngFaye Griffiths-Smith, third from left, and colleagues celebrate Connecticut Saves Week. five questions on a basic five-questionadults at a point when they are likely toPhoto courtesy of Sydney Putnam. The most popular goal is saving for financial literacy quiz correctly, start facing important financial decisionsan emergency fund with 50% of35% of individuals with credit cardsis exciting because the information ispledges. Other popular goals include paid only the minimum on theirhighly relevant for them and many recog- homeownership, vacations, and credit cards during some months innize it is important, Faye says. Engagingresources. Complex financial products andstaying current on the myriad of productseducation. This local campaign is the last year, and learning activities are a great way forservices make it harder for people to beand services available as well as the impactpart of the larger America Saves19% of individuals reported that overthem to experience their future financialaware of all their options. Training agencyof legislative changes on our finances. ItCampaign coordinated by the the past year, their household spentlives.and organization professionals is anothergets to the heart of what people believe isnonprofit Consumer Federation of more than their income.As the incoming President of theway to expand the impact of Extensionsimportant about how they live. It involvesAmerica and supported by more than Connecticut Jump$tart Coalition financial education and information.listening, learning about their situations, UConn Extensions financial educationThese staff reach their clients or studentsand guiding them in identifying their1700 organizations nationally. program provides workshops, professional(www.jumpstart.org/connecticut) pro- with information as financial topics andoptions while addressing financial decisions development sessions, events, andmoting financial literacy for youth, I lookconcerns arise.they face.HE Participants can take the CT Saves resources to help Connecticut citizensforward to working with teachers, otherFaye has provided financial empowermentpledge at http://bit.ly/CT_Saves.improve their lives. Participants receiveprofessionals, and volunteers from manytraining for hundreds of social service relevant, research-based information andorganizations across the state on ways toagency staff through Your Money, Your tools to encourage them to adopt soundincrease the financial knowledge of ourGoals, a program developed by the financial management practices. young people, Faye says. Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.Article by Stacey StearnsShortly after I was hired, I conductedStrength in NumbersThrough collaboration with United WayContacta needs assessment. Money managementof Greater Waterbury, Ive also had theFaye Griffiths-Smithwas the topic respondents indicated asThe UConn Extension Financialopportunity to provide financial coachingfaye.griffiths-smith@uconn.edumost important to address, says FayeEducation Program collaborates withtraining and technical assistance forfinancialliteracy.uconn.eduGriffiths-Smith, UConn Extensionseconomic stability and move towardagencies and organizations to enhance thevolunteers who work with agency clients family economics and resource manage- financial security. financial capability and economic securityrequesting this assistance, Faye shares. ment educator. Today, there is increasedof Connecticut citizens. CollaborationsBeing a financial educator involves more recognition that financial capability has aThe Extension Financial Educationare key to reaching diverse audiences thatthan performing financial calculations andParticipants in a financial coaching training session.strong impact on ones ability to achieveProgram reaches adults and youngmight otherwise be unaware of available 20 2019 HIGHLIGHTS OF EXTENSION 2019 HIGHLIGHTS OF EXTENSION 21'