Financial Education Resources – Home Ownership
Curricula and Programs
Money Smart
Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation
The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) developed
the "Money Smart" curriculum to help adults enhance
their money management skills, understand basic financial
services offered by the financial mainstream and build their
financial confidence to use banking services effectively.
The "Money Smart" curriculum is comprised of ten
comprehensive instructor-led modules covering basic financial
topics including an introduction to bank services, tips
on obtaining credit and buying a home.
Strengthening
the Family in the 21st Century: Financial Security
Department of Labor, Women’s Bureau
The Women’s Bureau is sponsoring a Financial Security
Outreach Program that will help women across the country
better understand the importance of financial security and
how to achieve it. This financial outreach program is comprised
of two projects. The Hispanic Financial Literacy Project
(“Las Mujeres y el Dinero”) is a series of 10
nation-wide financial education conferences designed for
Hispanic women. “WI$E UP” is an e-mentoring
financial security and retirement savings demonstration
project focused upon women 22-35 years old consisting of
a curriculum accessible via the web and at selected institutions
in six Women’s Bureau regions.
Other Initiatives and Resource Centers
Federal Citizen Information Center
General Services Administration
The General Services Administration distributes financial
education materials developed throughout the Federal Government
through its Federal Citizen Information Center. The center
acts as a clearinghouse, distributing various consumer-oriented
publications via its website and regular mail dealing with
personal finance, money, credit, investing & saving,
and retirement planning, among other topics.
LIFELines Services Network
Department of Defense, United States Navy
The U.S. Navy's LIFELine Services Network is a web portal
providing "Quality of Life" information to military
personnel and their families. Through the LIFELines Financial
Management section, military personnel are provided information
and tools for saving money and handling income and expenses
while enabling their family to work toward financial stability.
Topics include budgeting, understanding income, understanding
credit, investing, and retirement.
Military Assistance Program – The Money Station
Department of Defense
The Department of Defense has established the Military Assistance Program – The Money Station to give servicemembers and their families a chance to learn more about personal finances and to encourage them to better manage their money. This initiative is directed toward junior enlisted servicemembers who are most at risk and spouses of service members who have not received the personal finance information that is part of military training.
National
Credit Union Administration
The National Credit Union Administration (NCUA) is the
independent federal agency that charters and supervises
federal credit unions. The NCUA works with credit unions
to provide opportunities for economic empowerment and access
to low-cost financial services. The NCUA website features
links to its "Access Across America" initiative and the
agency's Share Insurance Estimator.
Office of Community Planning and Development
Department of Housing and Urban Development
The Office of Community Planning and Development (CPD)
seeks to develop viable communities by promoting integrated
approaches that provide decent housing, a suitable living
environment, and expand economic opportunities for low and
moderate income persons. The primary means towards this
end is the development of partnerships among all levels
of government and the private sector, including for-profit
and non-profit organizations. Financial Education is a principal
component of CPD initiatives.
Office of Financial Education
Department of the Treasury
The mission for the OFE is to ensure that Americans have
access to financial education programs and that they obtain
the practical knowledge and skill sets that will enable
them to make informed financial choices throughout various
life stages. For example, the ability to evaluate credit
card offers or the practical skill to compare retirement
plans. The OFE also focuses Treasury’s financial education
policymaking, and coordinates financial education initiatives
within the Department and all of its bureaus.
Office of Housing
Department of Housing and Urban Development
The Department of Housing and Urban Development is the
nation's housing agency committed to increasing homeownership,
particularly among minorities, creating affordable housing
opportunities for low-income Americans, supporting the homeless,
elderly, people with disabilities and people living with
AIDS. The Department also promotes economic and community
development as well as enforces the nation's fair housing
laws. HUD's Housing Counseling program provides advice on
buying a home, renting, defaults, foreclosures, credit issues
and reverse mortgages through HUD-approved counseling agencies
throughout the country.
Office of Public and Indian Housing
Department of Housing and Urban Development
The Office of Public and Indian Housing (PIH) ensures safe,
decent, and affordable housing, creates opportunities for
residents' self-sufficiency and economic independence, and
assures the fiscal integrity of all program participants.
Financial Education is a principal component of the Resident
Opportunities and Self Sufficiency Program (ROSS) which
links public housing residents with supportive services,
resident empowerment activities, and assistance in becoming
economically self-sufficient.
Office of the Comptroller of the Currency
Department of the Treasury
The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) encourages
bank participation in financial literacy initiatives. Involvement
in these programs helps banks develop new customers while
enhancing their visibility in the communities they serve.
Bank participation in financial literacy programs also may
receive positive consideration under the Community Reinvestment
Act
Office of Thrift Supervision
Department of the Treasury
The Office of Thrift Supervision promotes financial literacy
through its community affairs activities and partnerships
with various financial education organizations.
Personal Financial Education
Federal Reserve
The Federal Reserve provides economic literacy materials
to help students and the public better understand the U.S.
economy and the role of the Federal Reserve. Each of the
twelve Federal Reserve Banks supports this objective through
a wide variety of education partnerships, publications,
learning tools, and student challenge contests. Links to
Financial Education resources offered through each of the
twelve Federal Reserve banks are available through the Personal
Financial Education website.
Last Updated: May 9, 2006
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