Financial Security for All (Doña Ana County)

The agent presented a money management program at the Rincon Community Resource center to 5 individuals. This program was offered in Spanish and was viewed positively by the participants as well as the Community Center VISTA volunteer who operates the center. This positive view resulted in the agent being invited to present at a Doña Ana County Health and Human Services staff meeting. The staff was very pleased with the Dollar Decision program and requested it be presented at all County Community Resource Centers during Program Year 2008-2009.

The agent presented a money management program to 54 treatment foster care parents and staff at Families and Youth, Inc. FYI, a local not-for-profit agency, offers monthly trainings to their treatment foster care (TFC) parents who reside throughout Doña Ana County. The TFC program coordinator invited the agent to present twice in English and once in Spanish. The agent utilized a curriculum by the Idaho State University Cooperative Extension Service called Dollar Decisions which is available in English and Spanish. This program was received with much enthusiasm and resulted in the agent being invited to present at more training sessions during Program Year 2008-2009.

The agent offered 2 money management programs for a job skills program housed at the Dona Ana Community College. This program is a collaboration between DACC and New Mexico Works.

The agent also offered a money manement program for the Tres Manos Program. This is a micro-enterprise development program targeting low-income families needing to find opportunities for increasing family resources to improve their quality of life. The focus of the program is skill development in the textile arts including sewing and spinning. Job creation for program participants is the ultimate goal of the program.

Karim Martinez has signed on to support Financial Security for All within Doña Ana County.