News and Information about Financial Education from the FDIC

In This Issue

• Message from the FDIC
• Updated Money Smart Curriculum Available
• Housing Help in the Gulf Coast
• Computer-Based Money Smart Now Easier to Use
• Coming Soon: Money Smart for the Visually Impaired
• Helping Military Families Face Financial Challenges
• New FDIC Guide to Money Management for Teens
  
  

Message from the FDIC

The FDIC is especially pleased to present this latest issue of our quarterly Money Smart News. That's because we've expanded the focus and changed the format of this online newsletter so that we can provide you quicker, easier access to more information about more developments involving the FDIC and financial education. Our goal is to do more to spread the word about a variety of exciting programs and projects you may want to join or emulate, and to let you know that the FDIC is constantly working to enhance and update the Money Smart education program and our other resources for educators and families.

In this issue, for example, you'll learn that the Money Smart curriculum has been expanded to include topics such as emergency preparedness and protecting against identity theft, and that a new version of Money Smart for the visually impaired is coming. You'll read about the latest in the FDIC's efforts to help victims of last year's Gulf Coast hurricanes get the information they need to find new homes. Other topics include financial education for military families and a new FDIC guide to money management for teens.

As you read more about the depth and variety of the FDIC's financial education and community affairs programs, we hope you'll also be reminded that the FDIC is a potential resource and a partner for financial institutions, nonprofit organizations, government agencies and other organizations. If you want to learn more, offer a suggestion or otherwise be a part of what the FDIC is doing to improve financial education in America, start by contacting your regional Community Affairs Officer.

Sandra L. Thompson
Acting Director
FDIC Division of Supervision and Consumer Protection

Updated Money Smart Curriculum Available
The FDIC is offering a revised Money Smart curriculum that reflects changes in law, industry practices and other developments since the program was unveiled in 2001. The revised curriculum includes expanded discussions of topics such as disaster preparedness, predatory lending, elder financial abuse, and ID theft, as well as a new instructor guide and promotional flyers. (Order a copy.)

Housing Help in the Gulf Coast
The FDIC and NeighborWorks® America will jointly help victims of 2005's Gulf Coast hurricanes who still need to rebuild, rehab, sell or purchase homes. The program includes the publication of a guide to housing-related information and resources called Navigating the Road to Housing Recovery and a series of train-the-trainer workshops and information sessions for consumers. The first two consumer information sessions were held on October 7th in Baton Rouge, LA, and more are planned for elsewhere in the region. In addition, the FDIC held a Gulf Coast Housing Assistance Summit in New Orleans October 23-25 to provide more information on the guide and other resources for financial institutions, housing counselors, community-based organizations and others interested in providing assistance to hurricane victims. (Read more.)

Computer-Based Money Smart Now Easier to Use
The FDIC has made technical improvements to the Computer-Based Instruction (CBI) version of Money Smart, which allows users to complete the program at their own pace on CD-ROM and on the FDIC's Web site. The enhancements will prevent certain technical difficulties that have been reported. (Read more about Money Smart CBI.)

Coming Soon: Money Smart for the Visually Impaired
The FDIC is about to launch the Money Smart financial education curriculum in Braille and large-print editions. Versions of the new Money Smart for the Visually Impaired will be available on CD-ROM and, in limited quantities, on paper. The new format will use "talking" calculators and oral presentations of exhibits and exercises for students. Stay tuned as details are expected to be announced in late October. ( Money Smart Press Release)

Helping Military Families Face Financial Challenges
The FDIC was a co-sponsor of a September 30 event in Washington that was taped for broadcast on public television and featured financial guidance for military personnel and their families. Kelvin Boston of the Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) television series Moneywise served as the host of the event, which was taped by Howard University Television (WHUT), a PBS affiliate. The event featured discussions of what military families need to know about saving and investing money, buying a home, and avoiding credit problems.

New FDIC Guide to Money Management for Teens
The FDIC has published a special guide to help teens (and many pre-teens) learn how to save, spend and protect their money. Although the new guide is written for teens, it also can be used by parents and teachers to help them talk about money management with young people. (Read more.)