Financial Literacy: What is Dollars and Sense?

By Marleen Thudium, CPA

CalCPA has developed many programs to support financial literacy education. Throughout the year, I will bring relevant information regarding financial literacy to you through the Bulletin. If you have an opportunity to speak about financial matters, CalCPA’s Dollars & Sense is an easy-to-use program that makes a great presentation.

What is Dollars & Sense?
Dollars & Sense is the cornerstone of the CalCPA’s and CalCPA Institute’s financial literacy initiative. Dollars & Sense workshops are offered as a public service to help Californians “get the most for their money.”

Who are Dollars & Sense workshops for?
Any Californian interested in improving their financial literacy.

Who hosts Dollars & Sense workshops?
Workshops are designed to be co-hosted by CalCPA in conjunction with another entity, such as a chamber of commerce, state legislator, PTA, nonprofit etc..

What part does CalCPA play?
CalCPA provides three to four CPA volunteers to lead the workshop—a 45-60 minute presentation on financial topics such as budgeting, money management, managing credit cards, saving and investing, tax tips, disaster preparedness, financial preparations and more. The presentation is followed by an hour of Q&A with the audience. CalCPA also includes materials for audience members to take home.

What are the host’s responsibilities?
The host arranges for a location, sends invitations or announcements, handles earned media and staffs the event.

Can the programs be customized?
Dollars & Sense can be customized for practically any audience. In addition to general financial planning and tax-related topics, programs can be tailored for a variety of topics or audiences, including:

• College students
• Individuals entering the job market
• Parents
• The “sandwich generation”
• Change in marital status
• Life crisis
• Small businesses/entrepreneurs
• Military families/reservists
• Retirement
• Homeowners
• General adult audience

What about public relations for the event?
To help hosts prepare for a Dollars & Sense workshop, CalCPA will provide sample fliers, press releases, news advisories and more. In some instances, CalCPA may lead the media outreach effort.

What about high school students?
While CalCPA has an excellent Dollars & Sense module for high school students, most high school presentations need to be more interactive. Thus CalCPA members have been working with curriculum developed by the National Endowment for Financial Education (NEFE) when they visit high school classrooms.

What are the NEFE materials?
NEFE provides a comprehensive curriculum guide, and both our volunteer and the teacher get a copy. Additionally, each student receives a workbook. The modules in the NEFE program include budgeting, saving and investing, and credit.

How are high school visits scheduled?
CalCPA Community Outreach Coordinator Crystil Turner schedules high school visits. She is the contact for both volunteers and teachers and can be reached at (650) 802-2494 or crystil.turner@calcpa.org.

More information regarding financial literacy programs is available online or you can contact Crystil Turner, CalCPA’s community outreach coordinator.

—Marleen Thudium, CPA

This entry was posted on Monday, November 3rd, 2008 at 12:42 pm and is filed under President's Message. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.