This is an excerpt from Alabama Extension Human Sciences 2025 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.

Financial Literacy

The following are Extension programs related to financial literacy:

Career FAST is Alabama’s FAFSA Application Survival Toolkit that supports high school students and families in making informed choices about the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). The program is facilitated in partnership with local high school career coaches and counselors. It is endorsed by the Alabama Department of Education and the Commission on Higher Education. Schools are invited to enroll for workshops during the upcoming academic school year by the summer.

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 five-lesson 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.

Money Smart for Adults provides must-have strategies to help adults successfully manage personal finances. Information includes spending plans, credit, savings, identity theft/scams, and banking. This course can be taught as a four- or five-program series or as single lessons.

Alabama Money Podcast launched in January 2023 with six episodes released by June 2023. Extension professionals discuss topics to help you create financial independence. The podcast is available on Apple Podcasts. Google Podcasts, Spotify, and Stitcher.