Cooperative Extension Service Departments
Family and Consumer Sciences Programming
Job Loss: Educating Families About Financial Issues – A Leader’s Guide
Prepared by Dr. Judith R. Urich,
Family Resource Management Specialist
Objective: Providing educational opportunities for families and workers
affected by plant closings or other job loss.
Dislocated Workers Events – Plant Closings
When you are asked to provide more education for workers affected by plant
closings, you are typically asked to participate in a Dislocated Worker’s
meeting in your community. These are teaching ideas based on publications and
lesson materials posted on the web or in your files. Unless indicated, the
primary resource will be Living Resourcefully With Reduced Income (LRWRI) -
FSHEC132.
Immediate – What to do first.
Get a handle on the bills (LRWRI)
List bills and due dates
Use form in
Trim Your Credit Line – FSHEC44, page 2.
What money do you have for family spending?
Create a balance sheet to know what you have and what you owe
See
Preparing Family Income and Net Worth Statements – FSHEC49
List what income you have to pay bills
See
Preparing Family Income and Net Worth Statements – FSHEC49
List your assets.
What assets in your list can you convert to cash to cover expenses?
Create A New Spending Plan
Consider what is important.
See Think, Page 1 – spending habits that work against you.
Make a Spending Plan (Budgeting)
How we spend today
FSHEC42: Shape Up Your Spending (Money & You, Lesson 2)
Selections from The Spending Plan Workbook (Order copies from
Urich-Sample copy in Money2000 workbook.)
Our new spending plan
Cutting expenses
See LRWRI - Regain Control: Make A New Plan, p. 2.
FSHEC42: Shape Up Your Spending
Spending Plan Workbook
While cutting expenses is important, the actual task will be
more successful (not necessarily easier) if you spend time on writing goals,
getting a handle on current spending, spending habits that work against you and
so on. Keep in mind most families in the audience want a quick fix. Encourage
participants to create a plan that will work for them.
Zero-Based Budget
This is the most direct method to determine how to cut
expenses.
See
FSHEC42 Shape Up Your Spending, Money & You, Lesson 2, Worksheet 3.
Debt Management
FSHEC44: Trim Your Credit Line (Lesson in Money & You)
The goal of these lessons is to look at all debt and make a plan to trim debt.
Also includes information on how to contact creditors.
FSHEC116: Cash Crisis: Money Traps That Keep You Broke (Lesson in Money & You)
There is no lesson but bankruptcy is briefly referenced in
Living Resourcefully with Reduced Income -
FSHEC132
Congress is considering changes in bankruptcy laws.
Employment Skills
Looking for employment is a three-step process in Arkansas.
These are the guidelines of the Workforce Investment Act (WIA) administered by a
state Workforce Investment Board and 10 regional Investment Boards.
Contact nearest One-Stop Center. Call first to make an
appointment.
A logical first-step - work through the employment office.
A logical second-step – access the web pages in the handouts.
A logical third step – Conduct a google / yahoo search using keywords
such as Arkansas Workforce Investment Act or Employment Security Division.
WIA - Core Services: Job services, tier one.
A job search using materials at the employment office, your networks (tell
everyone you are looking for a job), interviewing, updating your resume, etc.
The goal is to secure employment now/soon.
WIA - Intensive Services: Job services, tier two
If a job is not found, ask to use services such as skill assessments,
counseling, resume writing, etc. These services will help you improved job
hunting skills. The goal continues to be a job search that leads to employment.
WIA - Training Services: Job services, tier three
ITA – Individual Training Account, funds for approved training.
The attachments list some approved training options per district.
Ask about dislocated worker funds, eligibility for unemployment, training
funds.
Cooperative Extension Service Educational Materials
(These are linked from the ESD web site.)
Web site,
http://www.arfamilies.org/money/employment/default.htm, lists our job search
publications and web-based instructions on how to create an experience resume
and targeted cover letters. This is a good place to start a pre-employment
search since hog farming involves numerous marketable skills, for example,
mechanics, financial management (bookkeeping/accounting), time management, etc.
Work through state web sites from the Department of Workforce
Education and Employment Security Division.
Contact local ESD office for location of closest One-Stop
Center, the central location for employment and training opportunities.
See handouts for how to access the site.
Community Resources
Living Resourcefully With Reduced Income-FSHEC132
Create a local resource list, using the state list as a guide.
AIMS Reporting
See Managing Resources – Adult. Report under Objectives
1, 2, or 3 depending on what you are teaching.
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