This is an excerpt from Alabama Extension Human Sciences 2026 Program Guide, FCS-2500. Find all sections of the publication at www.aces.edu. Contact your county Extension office for more information on how to participate in local programs or email aceshse@auburn.edu.

Career FAST (Alabama’s FAFSA Application Survival Toolkit) supports teens and families in making informed choices about the life after high school graduation. This program offers 1-hour practical workshops on topics including Financial Student Aid (FSA) ID Creation, Career and College Exploration, Navigating Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), Comparing & Committing to Financial Aid Offers, and Preparing for Campus Life. Ultimately, Career FAST supports teens and their families in successfully transitioning to two- or four-year college, career technical training, or apprenticeship opportunities.

iCare Kids serves fourth and fifth grade students in the classroom. The series aims to educate, enable, and empower youth to become financially responsible, develop their full leadership potential, and promote an understanding of philanthropic engagement. The fivelesson series topics include dreams, goals, money smart, philanthropy, and legacy.

Money Goals provides strategies and tools to help adults successfully manage personal finances. Topics include healthy habits regarding spending plans, credit, savings, and debt. Topics are to be taught as a series of three sessions, not provided as a single program.

WISE 101: Money Management helps participants acquire the financial capability to create a budget, save money, and manage debt. It can help people feel more confident about finances and plan for the short and long term. In this hour workshop, participants are guided through eight steps to create a personalized money management plan (or budget). Using the accompanying resource—a user-friendly money management calendar—as a guide, the participants are equipped with the skills needed to track expenses and income, develop a personal money plan (budget), manage their plan, and adjust for planned and unexpected expenses.

Financial Self Defense is an educational program for adult residents that teaches how to recognize and avoid financial scams and fraud. These 1½-hour sessions focus on scams common during specific times of the year: tax season, storm seasons, and the holiday season. The goal is to empower participants with the skills and confidence to mitigate the risk of financial exploitation in their lives.

Preparing for Property Taxes is a 1-hour workshop designed for homeowners and landowners to help them better understand their property tax responsibilities and available resources. The workshop covers what property tax is, how it is calculated, and what ways there are to save money. Participants will also gain knowledge on understanding their property tax bill, important payment deadlines, and resources and assistance available in their county. These workshops are open to the public, but registration is required.

52 Ways to Hazard-Proof Your Finances is designed to help people safeguard their finances against the devastating effects of an emergency or natural disaster. The program is a multistate project led by Alabama Extension financial management specialists and is sponsored by the Extension Disaster Education Network. Workshops are delivered in 30-minute and 60-minute presentations, encouraging participants to examine 52 actionable steps they might incorporate in their emergency financial plans. Key topics include understanding local disaster risks, the necessity of specific insurance policies like flood coverage, and the importance of properly protecting financial documents in go bags and stay bins. Ultimately, the program empowers individuals and families to take the lead in their own financial disaster resilience.