Alabama Extension’s consumer sciences and personal financial management programs prepare individuals for the job market. Alabamians are also empowered to manage personal finances and become financially literate. Our team works with youths and adults, whether they are unemployed, underemployed, or exploring new job opportunities.

FLIP

FLIP: Financial Literacy in Progress teaches people how to develop good money management skills. Participants learn how to rationally approach buying, recognize irrational buying behavior, develop a spending plan or budget, build and maintain good credit, apply strategies to reduce debt, and avoid financial fraud and predatory lenders.

PC-FLIPP

The PC-FLIPP: Parent Child Financial Literacy in Progress Program is funded through the Children, Youth, and Families at Risk program through the United States Department of Agriculture. The program helps parents build financial literacy skills while their children, aged 5 to 9, develop money management skills.

PREP

PREP: Promoting Readiness for Employment Possibilities is a workforce development program that teaches people how to find a job. PREP has exercises that help participants with existing jobs develop a career plan for future career changes. Specifically, program participants learn how to apply for a job, prepare for an interview, develop a resume, find employment they love, and use valuable soft skills.

2024 Program Impacts

• 3,904 participants engaged in programming activities in 2024.

FLIP

Pre- and post-test surveys revealed the following:

• 177 percent increase in the percentage of participants who agreed to review their credit reports regularly.
• 157 percent increase in the percentage who plan to keep their credit balance under 30 percent of their credit limits.
• 49 percent increase in the percentage of participants who indicated they plan to pay their bills on time.
• 47 percent increase in the percentage of participants who can identify predatory lenders.
• 335 percent increase in the percentage of participants who indicated they plan to avoid using payday and cash advance loans.
• 437 percent increase in the percentage 0f participants who planned to avoid using title loans.
• 472 percent increase in the percentage of participants who will avoid using rent-to-own services.

PREP

After taking a series of lessons, there was a:

• 58 percent increase among participants who developed a resume.
• 23 percent increase among participants who applied for jobs online.
• 22 percent increase among attendees who developed crucial soft skills.

Overcoming economic challenges begins by mastering skills to secure employment and manage finances, leading to debt reduction and household savings.

For More Information

For more information about consumer sciences and personal financial management, contact Dorothy Brandon at (256) 372-5458.