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Impact Report

For plan Financial Security for All (Doņa Ana County)
Date November 2, 2009, 4:03 am
For Objective Short-term Show short-term objectives
Impact Report Many families in Doņa Ana County have very limited resources with 21.7% of families living below the poverty level (2000 Census) and approximately 35.1% of Doņa Ana children under 18 years of age living in poverty(2004 NM Vital Records & Health Statistics). Financial literacy is important for all income levels but is especially critical for limited resource families. The fewer the resources the less room to make financial errors or deal with emergencies such as medical, dental, loss of job or death of a wage earner. The agent presented money management programs to 25 participants in the TeamWorks programs. Begun in 1998, the TeamWorks program serves TANF-eligible women who are heads of single-parent households in transitioning from welfare to work. Using best practice models from across the nation, TeamWorks offers participants an extensive variety of services based on assessed individual needs. To that end, both State and Contract employees provide these direct services to a yearly matrix of 1000 women in Albuquerque (700) and Las Cruces (300). The goal of TeamWorks is to support TANF-eligible women in overcoming barriers that have impacted their transition to self-sufficiency through successful employment. Since 2008, the agent has utilized a curriculum by the Idaho State University Cooperative Extension Service called Dollar Decisions which is available in English and Spanish. Participants in money management programs developed financial goals and worked on a plan to implement changes to accomplish this financial goal. When possible, evaluations are given following money management programs. Retrospective pre-test/post tests from these programs showed 80% of participants increased their knowledge and awareness related to money management.