Draft Agendas

7:30 am – 8:30 am

Registration

8:30 am – 10:00 am

Opening Plenary Session

Welcome and remarks on ACF Strategies for Enhancing Access to Asset-Building Services

10:00 am – 10:30 am

AM Break

10:30am – 12:00 pm

Conference Breakout Sessions 1

Psychology of Money (Financial Education)

This session will focus on the contradictory attitudes and beliefs about money and financial issues people hold. Participants will practice a series of activities (all replicable for the training context) as well as how to use Money Habitude cards in group or individual settings. A discussion about the theories of change including the Trans-theoretical Theory of Change will be related to these activities and this topic as a whole.

Overview of AFI² Program Management Tool (Data Management and AFI²)

This session will discuss how developing a data plan that is focused on performance management and using the AFI² system can increase project efficiency and simplify the reporting process.

New Tools to Manage Performance: Targets and Tracking (Managing Your AFI Project)

AFI is implementing an overall Performance Management Initiative that includes responsibilities and key indicators. This session will provide grantees with an overview of a key element of performance management: setting targets and tracking progress, including a simple calculator to project and track key project outcomes.

Leveraging Resources and Partnerships in Today’s Housing Market (Asset-Building in Today’s Economic Environment)

Changes in financial markets and regulatory revisions are affecting access to affordable housing. Grantees will learn how to navigate the changes and to coordinate with other homeownership assistance sources. The session will also address new lending trends and requirements.

Asset-Building in Native American Communities

(Expanding the Reach of Asset Building – New Communities and New Partners)

This session will feature effective practices, strategies, and information for AFI grantees and other organizations interested in learning about providing asset building services in Native American communities. AFI grantees and research experts will share success stories, innovative solutions to common challenges, and resources available for organizations serving Native American communities.

Innovations in the Field of Asset-Building: New Initiatives and Directions (Innovative Strategies)

Asset building approaches continue to advance as community programs, funders, and governments develop new and innovative ways to encourage financial security for low-income households. In this session, participants will learn about recent innovations in asset building, such as incorporating health interventions with IDAs.

12:00 noon – 1:30 pm

Plenary Session

1:30 pm – 1:45 pm

PM Break

1:45 pm – 3:15 pm

Conference Breakout Sessions 2

Financial Education for Underserved Populations (Financial Education)

Increasingly AFI programs have sought to serve new market segments including formerly incarcerated individuals, individuals with disabilities, young people (including youth transitioning out of foster care), immigrants and new Americans, and more. This session will feature AFI grantees and others that have learned to effectively serve some of these markets in terms of the financial education they provide.

Tips for Data Collection and Data Maintenance (Data Management and AFI²)

Managing data can be both challenging and time consuming. Grantees will learn how to use the AFI² system to plan data collection and maintenance with minimum effort and maximum usefulness.

Boosting Outcomes by Changing Project Design: Why, When, How (Managing Your AFI Project)

Sometimes design changes can boost project outcomes by increasing demand, smoothing the path to savings and successful completion. This session will focus on situations in which design changes may be a good choice for project managers striving to reach outcomes.

Leveraging Resources and Partnerships for Postsecondary Education Savers (Asset-Building in Today’s Economic Environment)

Education is gaining momentum as an asset choice for AFI project participants. Grantees will learn how to partner with educational institutions for both matching funds and recruitment, coordinate with Federal financial aid, and help participants make the best educational choices to achieve self-sufficiency.

Providing AFI Services to Refugee Communities (Expanding the Reach of Asset Building – New Communities and New Partners)

AFI grantees will discuss the benefits of serving refugees and how to design projects that serve multicultural savers and generate successful asset purchases. The AFI Resource Center will outline resources, such as webinars, conference calls and technical assistance, available to AFI grantees to successfully recruit, retain and graduate refugee participants.

IDAs Around the World: Learning from International Programs (Innovative Strategies)

The IDA community can learn critical lessons from international asset building interventions. In this session, participants will hear about several international asset building programs. See how the IDA movement in the United States has influenced asset building policy development world wide, and what U.S. programs can learn from the global experience.

3:15 pm – 3:30 pm

PM Break

3:30 pm – 5:00 pm

Conference Breakout Sessions 3

Financial Education Models: Coaching, Training and Counseling (Financial Education)

In this session, participants will learn about different models for creating financial management skills. Organizations that use financial education delivery models other than training will be featured in this moderated panel discussion. The presenters will share a brief description of their approach and the rationale behind each of their chosen modalities for financial education specific to participant populations.

Managing Contributions from Deposit to Asset Purchase (Data Management and AFI²)

Tracking project funds from commitment—to deposit—to obligation—to savers—to disbursement is a critical management task and one for which grantees most often request training. This session will help answer some of the most commonly asked questions about tracking the asset purchase process.

Navigating the Asset Purchase Process (Managing Your AFI Project)

Making matched withdrawals is both a sign of success and a challenging set of steps. This session will focus on practices to smooth the purchase process from account holder preparation to program exit. Sample tools and policies will be included.

Leveraging Resources and Partnerships for Microenterprise (Asset-Building in Today’s Economic Environment)

Financial upheavals have affected small businesses in many ways. Grantees will learn how to maximize business development opportunities for their participants, learning what micro-lenders want to see in business plans.

Tax Credits - For Savings and Cash Reserves (Special Topics)

Between $3000-$12,000 of additional income can be brought to IDA saver households by accessing available Federal and state tax credits. This session will identify Federal credits, the eligibility criteria, and processes to secure these credits. Additionally, information will be given about state tax credits. Participants will receive resources to connect IDA savers to these credits.

Building Assets for Fathers and Families: Bringing Asset-Building Services to Families Involved in the Child Support System (Expanding the Reach of Asset Building – New Communities and New Partners)

One in four children is now part of the child support system. Child support payments are the second largest source of income for low-income women, and child support payments and debt present special challenges to asset building for the non-custodial parents who owe them. Presenters and participants in this session will discuss creative and innovative ways AFI grantees can work with child support agencies to help their clients involved in the child support system – both custodial and noncustodial parents – strengthen their economic standing.

Federal Initiatives to Support Asset Development for People with Disabilities (Innovative Strategies)

The federal government is concerned about the disproportionate numbers of individuals with disabilities that are unbanked and living 6 below the poverty line. The purpose of this session is to educate AFI grantees on innovative efforts that the federal government is currently taking around asset development, new policies and regulations that are on the horizon from these agencies, and where there are opportunities for partnerships around asset development.

7:30 am – 8:30 am

Registration

8:30 am – 10:00 am

Plenary Session

10:00 am – 10:30 am

AM Break

10:30 am – 12:00 pm

Conference Breakout Sessions 4

Assessing Participants' Financial Skills: Tools AFI Grantees Can Use (Financial Education)

Assessing knowledge, skill, attitude, and behavior change as a result of financial education efforts in the context of AFI projects is a key part of demonstrating programmatic efficacy. The AFI Resource Center has been at work to develop an assessment tool that can assist AFI grantees in the process of understanding their participants’ competency gains in key financial education areas.

Using AFI² System Reports (Data Management and AFI²)

The AFI² system includes a number of standard reports that provide basic reporting and project management data. Grantees will learn how to identify and use the AFI² system reports.

Raising Resources for Your AFI Project (Managing Your AFI Project)

Learn how several AFI projects have sustained funding over several years, providing both non-federal match as well as other resources to support operations. Sources explored will include those providing cash support as well as in-kind contributions.

Creating, Maintaining, Expanding Partnerships with Financial Institutions (Asset-building in Today’s Economic Environment)

The financial industry is experiencing major changes that affect AFI projects. Learn how to find new partners, devise win-win relationships with financial institutions, and reduce risk to your AFI project.

Volunteer Tax Assistance: Successful Models and Partnerships(Special Topics)

Throughout the United States there are partnerships that create VITA sites as well as model campaigns to incorporate tax credit claim-it efforts within programs that serve low-income, working poor families. This session will highlight key partnerships with the IRS, state departments of revenue or treasury, AFI grantees, financial institutions, cities, counties, and community based organizations.

Asset-Building Strategies for People with Disabilities (Expanding the Reach of Asset Building – New Communities and New Partners)

AFI Grantees are doing innovative work to offer asset development services, using IDAs to serve individuals with disabilities. This session will highlight several strategies including leveraging resources such as Work Incentives Planning and Assistance projects, Ticket-to-Work, Plans for Achieving Self-Sufficiency, state-funded IDAs, and resources from the AFI Resource Center. The session will also leave significant time for discussion with AFI grantees to discuss challenges and lessons learned in providing asset development services for people with disabilities.

12:00 noon – 1:30 pm

Plenary Session

1:30 pm – 1:45 pm

PM Break

1:45 pm – 3:15 pm

Conference Breakout Sessions 5

AFI Financial Education Training Toolkits (Financial Education)

This session will provide participants with an overview of the 10-module series of AFI training toolkits that supplement the Money Smart curriculum. The facilitator will provide an overview of the content and materials included in the series, and give guidance on how best to incorporate the exercises and information. You do not need to be currently using Money Smart curriculum to attend the session.

Managing Multiple AFI IDA Projects (Managing Your AFI Project)

The first AFI awards were made in 1999; some of those organizations are still operating AFI projects.  Share practices on overlapping AFI awards with groups that have done so for several years. Presenters will share techniques for seamless service delivery to account holders, tools to assist in managing the different timelines and tips related to award start up and close out.

3:15 pm – 3:30 pm

PM Break

3:30 pm – 5:00 pm

Closing Plenary Session

1:45 pm – 3:15 pm

Marketing and Recruitment.  Learn effective outreach strategies for targeted populations; discuss best practices for enrollment procedures, and review AFI policies!

3:15  pm – 3:30  pm

Break

3:30 pm – 5:00 pm

Key Partnerships.  Identify potential funders and other key partners, discuss partnership agreements, discuss effective partnership practices, and more.

8:00am – 9:00am

Registration

9:00am – 10:15am

Financial Management.  Discuss AFI policies on the Project Reserve Fund, review useful online financial management tools.

10:15am – 10:30am

Break

10:30am – 12:00 pm

Saving Plan Agreements and Participant Policies.  Discuss setting appropriate goals and targets, discuss participant motivation, review AFI guidelines on match parameters, and more.

12:00 noon – 1:30 pm

Lunch

1:30 pm – 2:45 pm

Financial Education.  Discuss adult learning styles and teaching techniques and explore financial education curricula.

2:45 pm – 3:00 pm

Break

3:00 pm – 4:15 pm

Data Collection and Reporting.  Learn about the AFI² system, required federal reports and reporting cycles, and review data collection methods and systems.

8:00am – 9:00am

Registration

9:00am –  10:00am

Sustainability Assessment.  While the elements of sustainability apply broadly to organizations, they also apply to AFI programs.  The facilitated discussion will relate the elements of sustainability to both AFI projects and organizations in general. AFI grantee leaders will have a chance to consider how to maintain and strengthen their projects and organizations over time and in the context of the current economic environment.

10:00 am – 10:15 am

Break

10:15 pm – 12:00pm

Advanced Resource Development.  Organizations with diversified and sustained revenue sources are capable of reducing risk factors such as economic downturns, political shifts, and changes in community demographics. This segment will help participants develop effective plans to maintain and grow resources, cultivate donors, effectively frame requests for funds based on different funders needs and expectations, identify innovative resources, and communicate the resource needs of both their AFI project and their organization.

12:00 noon – 1:30 pm

Lunch

1:30 pm – 3:15 pm

Developing Beneficial AFI Partnerships.  Across the human service and asset development fields there is increased focus on how to bring the array of services and opportunities together to improve outcomes for families and communities. AFI leaders can do the work of raising awareness, building relationships, and finding the opportunities necessary to ensure that participants will get the most of their AFI experience.

3:15 pm – 3:30 pm

Break

3:30 pm – 5:00 pm

Leadership Development.  The greatest resource an organization has is its people. A persistent challenge for AFI programs is staff turnover.  This part of the academy will focus on recruitment, retention and motivation of AFI staff. The knowledge and strategies discussed can also be applicable to other asset development staff and the organization more broadly.

8:00am – 8:30am

Registration

8:30am – 10:15am

Poverty & Disability

This session will address the issue at the crux of asset development for individuals with disabilities:  this group is not expected to be a part of the American economic dream.  In 2008, over one in four individuals with a disability (28.6%) lived in poverty.  Individuals with disabilities who do work are frequently trapped in low wage employment.  According to the Rehabilitation Services Administration data on competitive employment outcomes, vocational rehabilitation clients earn approximately 57% of the average U.S. wage. 

This session will explore how AFI IDAs and financial literacy training represent a wonderful, yet under-utilized opportunity for people with disabilities to build a road map out of poverty.  In this module, participants will:

• Examine the unique relationship many individuals with disabilities have with money.  Many individuals with disabilities are determined to be part of the financial mainstream and believe they can achieve this goal, yet they have limited control over their money.  Acquiring assets has not been part of the planning process or the conversation with support systems.
• Understand that asset building for people with disabilities is possible.  Many disability professionals do not understand asset development.  They do not know how to talk about money or asset development to their clients.
• Explore the policies and rhetoric that impede asset development for individuals with disabilities (e.g., belief that people with disabilities are not able to work, do not want to work, or cannot work for fear of losing SSA benefits).
• Learn that partnerships with AFI grantees and the asset development community can lay the foundation for economic self-sufficiency for individuals with disabilities.

10:15 am – 10:30 am

Break

10:30 am – 12:00pm

Establishing Partnerships with the Disabilities Community

Establishing partnerships with the disability community can greatly enhance AFI grantees’ success in serving people with disabilities.  In this module, participants will gain strategies and tips for establishing effective partnerships with the disability community, including:

• Understanding the changing attitudes within the disability community, and why these changes make the timing right for valuable partnerships and increased opportunities for people with disabilities.  
• Talking to the disability community in ways that demonstrate what asset building has in common with Disability Services goals and missions                        
• Identifying what different partnerships can bring to the table, including how different partnerships can augment your knowledge, needs, and resource.
• Figuring out who in the disability community can help you with accommodations.
• Thinking strategically who to approach from the disability community. 

12:15 pm – 1:00 pm

Lunch

1:00 pm – 2:45 pm

Asset Development and IDAs for People who Receive SSA Disability Benefits

This module will address the most common myths surrounding disability benefits and work.  The moderator will explain what every AFI provider needs to know about the different Social Security Benefit Programs.  The session will demonstrate show how SSA work incentives and IDAs can work in conjunction, through the following topics:

• Introduction to the Social Security Disability Benefit Programs:  Title II disability benefits and Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
• Common misconceptions regarding work and asset development for Social Security disability beneficiaries
• What AFI grantees need to know about SSA beneficiaries and work
• What work incentive are and how they can augment asset saving goals
• What AFI grantees need to know about SSA beneficiaries and IDAs

2:45 pm – 3:00 pm

Break

3:00 pm – 5:00 pm

Putting it all Together

This module will bring the three previous modules together in an interactive session that will initiate plans to tap into a broad array of programs in local communities that provide employment, case management, and benefit supports.  Participants will be assisted not only to identify key community organizations and new funding sources, but also to start thinking of practical steps for outreach, building partnerships, and supporting the IDA participation of people with disabilities in their community.  This session will provide participants with a foundation for action including:

• Understanding current initiatives that can be tapped for promoting asset development and IDA participation for people with disabilities, both on a state and federal level
• Examining expanding opportunities, including the Telework program and low interest loans for assistive technology
• Providing financial education in partnership with the Work Incentive Planning and Assistance (WIPA) Program or the Medicaid Infrastructure Grant
• Incorporating asset building into disability planning

9:00 am – 9:10 am

Welcome

Provide an introduction to the training.

9:10 am – 9:30 a.m

Opener

Provide an active and participatory way to focus on core topics of the training.

9:30 am – 9:50 am  

Introductions and Training Overview

Provide an overview of the training, develop learning covenants, and elicit burning questions.

9:50 am – 10:05 am

Toolbox of Methodologies and Grab Bag of Ideas

Review tools to capture and catalog training ideas gleaned from the training.

10:05 am – 10:20 am

Break

10:20 am – 11:00 am

Psychology of Money and Theory of Change

Provide participants with an opportunity to develop an understanding of how to address this topic in financial education and its relationship to changing behavior in participants.

11:00 am – 12:00 noon 

Asset Building

Provide participants with a framework, background information and specific exercises to teach asset building as the foundation for financial education.

12:00 pm – 12:45 pm 

Lunch

12:45 pm – 1:00 pm

Financial Education Energizer

A fun exercise participants can incorporate into their own financial education courses.

1:00 pm – 2:00 pm  

Other Approaches to Providing Financial Education:  Mentoring, Financial Coaching, Financial Counseling and Support Groups

Provide participants with additional models of helping clients build financial knowledge and skills and practice capabilities that support and build on group based financial education.

2:00 pm – 2:15 pm 

Break

2:15 pm – 3:00 p.m.

Adult Learning Principles

Examine in-depth adult learning principles, which provide a foundational framework for financial education facilitation and determine how to put them into action within a financial education program.

3:00 pm – 3:45 pm

Effective and Engaging Facilitation

Examine the core skills of an effective and engaging facilitator. Identify specific methodology to animate financial education topics in ways that connect with target audiences.

3:45 pm – 4:30 pm   

Effective and Engaging Facilitation – Part 2

Identify and develop specific techniques to manage potentially challenging situations in financial education or other training situations.

4:30 pm – 5:00 pm  

Engaging Facilitation: New Approaches and Ideas for Facilitating Common Financial Education Topics

Provide participants with the opportunities to develop and learn about new ideas for facilitating financial education topics in exciting and participatory ways.

9:00 am – 10:00 am     

Economic and Media Literacy

Provide participants with the rationale for inclusion in financial education courses as well as ways to incorporate economic and media into financial education sessions.

10:00 am – 10:30 am

Peer to Peer Sharing

Provide an opportunity for participants to share ideas and insights as well as to raise concerns or ask questions to peer group.

10:30 am – 10:45 am

Break

10:45 am – 11:45 pm

Approaches to Assessment and Evaluation

Discuss the reasons for pre/post assessment, review the pitfalls in both developing and using assessments, and identify resources for developing assessments.

11:45 am – 12:30 pm

Lunch

12:30 pm – 12:45 pm 

Financial Education Energizer

A fun exercise participants can incorporate into their own financial education courses.

12:45 pm – 1:45 pm

Budgeting

Provide participants with information about teaching budgeting in ways that engage participants and set them up for a habit of using budgeting skills.   

1:45 pm – 3:00 pm

Credit

Provide participants with information about teaching credit with a focus on both content and process for teaching participants about getting, using and taking care of credit. 

3:00 pm – 3:15 pm

Burning Issues Wrap Up and Evaluation

3:15 pm – 3:30 pm

Closing Activity

9:00 am – 9:10 am

Welcome

Provide an introduction to the training.

9:10 am – 9:30 a.m

Opener

Provide an active and participatory way to focus on core topics of the training.

9:30 am – 9:45 am  

Introductions and Training Overview

Provide an overview of the training, develop learning covenants, and elicit burning questions.

9:45am – 10:45 am

Principles of Saving and Investing

Provide an in depth discussion of principles of saving and investing in the new economy.

10:45 am – 11:00 am

Break

11:00 am – 12:15 pm

Overview of Credit Scoring

Provide an overview of credit scoring, implications of new Credit CARD Act and conduct a credit score simulation.

12:15 pm – 1:15 pm 

Lunch

1:15 pm – 1:30 pm

Financial Education Energizer

A fun exercise participants can incorporate into their own financial education courses.

1:30 pm – 3:00 pm  

Asset Protection Carousel

Provide an in depth explanation of the levels of asset protection and key strategies and products.

3:00 pm – 3:15 pm 

Break

3:15 pm – 3:30 p.m.

Energizer

A fun exercise that participants can incorporate into their own financial education courses.

3:30 pm – 4:45 pm

Media Literacy and Young People

Provide ideas for introducing media literacy to children.

4:45 pm – 5:00 pm   

Closing of Day 1

9:00 am – 9:45 am     

Behavioral Economics

Provide an overview of behavioral economics and strategies to apply core concepts to financial education program design.

9:45 am – 10:30 am

Keeping Participants Motivated

Provide an overview of theories of motivation and how to apply the concepts to keep program participants involved and encouraged to complete the program.

10:30 am – 10:45 am

Break

10:45 am – 12:00 pm

Consumer Rights and Responsibilities

Provide a review of consumer protections including what is allowed and not allowed in debt collection.

12:00 pm – 1:00 pm

Lunch

1:00 pm – 1:15 pm 

Energizer

A fun exercise participants can incorporate into their own financial education courses.

1:15 pm – 2:45 pm

Life Cycle – Life Stage Financial Education

Provide a review of life cycle budgeting  - a process that takes into consideration an individual’s age, family status, values and life events.

2:45 pm – 3:00 pm

Closing Activity