Conference & Learning Academies Materials

Creating, Maintaining, Expanding Partnerships with Financial Institutions

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.

Moderator: Meg Flippin, AFI Resource Coordinator, Office of Community Services

Presenters:
Brendan Wilbur, Alternatives Federal Credit Union
Dawn Hix, Choctaw Nation
Lekeshia Frasure, Office of Outreach, Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, Community Affairs Branch

Materials

• Alternatives FCU and the Credit Path
• Creating, Maintaining and Expanding Partnerships with Financial Institutions

Leveraging Resources and Partnerships for Microenterprise

In this session, participants will learn tips for maximizing business development opportunities for IDA participants. They will learn about the types of information micro-lenders want to see in business plans. They will also learn about how AFI grantees can become micro-lenders to support their IDA savers. Finally, participants will hear about model projects for enabling IDA participants to use their savings to start childcare businesses and to support young entrepreneurs.

Moderator: Meg Flippin, AFI Resource Coordinator, Office of Community Services

Presenters:
Twyla Gable, CAA of Oklahoma City/Canadian County
Devin Alpine, Opportunity Fund
Gerard (Jerry) Flavin, Office of Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships, Small Business Administration

Materials

• Presentation 1
• Presentation 2

Leveraging Resources and Partnerships for Postsecondary Education Savers

More families are choosing to use their IDAs to save for higher education. Participants in this session will learn strong strategies for partnering with educational institutions for both matching funds and recruitment, coordinating with Federal financial aid, and helping participants make the best educational choices to achieve self-sufficiency.

Moderator: Anne Yeoman, AFI Resource Center

Presenters:
Thomas Jensen, Community and Shelter Assistance Corporation of Oregon,
Rene Bryce LaPorte, Aspen Institute
Scott Hess, Office of Vocational and Adult Education, U.S. Department of Education

Materials

• Presentation 1

Leveraging Resources and Partnerships in Today's Housing Market

Recent changes in the financial industry are affecting access to affordable housing. Nevertheless, there are opportunities to coordinate with housing and economic development programs at the local and state level to link prepared IDA savers with first homes. Manufactured housing also represents an important avenue to homeownership that may be overlooked. Presenters will address these topics and discuss other ways to continue supporting homeownership as an AFI asset goal.

Moderator: Vicky Liu, AFI Resource Coordinator, AFI Resource Center

Presenters:
Kasey Wiedrich, Corporation for Enterprise Development
Louellen Brumgard, Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development
José Páiz, Virginia Housing Development Authority
Robert C. Peterson, Community Planning and Development Specialist, Office of Block Grant Assistance, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development

Materials

• Presentation 1
• Presentation 2

Linking Asset Building and Benefits Coordination: State and Local Innovations

Helping individuals and families to build assets is an important strategy for financial empowerment, but it is not a silver bullet. Many families that qualify for AFI IDAs also qualify for a range of other social service benefits. Connecting families with these benefits helps to support asset building and, at the same time, the systems that deliver these benefits represent an infrastructure that can help scale up asset building.

Moderator: Carl Rist, Corporation for Enterprise Development

Presenters:
Mary Dupont, Division of State Service Centers, State of Delaware
José Quiñonez, Mission Asset Fund

Materials

• Presentation 1
• Presentation 2

Managing Your Project's Data to Improve Outcomes

This session will describe effective data collection and management techniques to ensure your organization is collecting and monitoring the right data elements to maximize your AFI project’s impact.  Topics will cover data management best practices and how to use the AFI Performance Management Framework to set achievable goals for your project.  The session will include a specific focus on using program planning and enrollment information to maximize the use of AFI grant funds.  A portion of this session will focus on using the AFI² project management system to manage cost data. 

Moderator: Julia Lyskawa, AFI Resource Center, Office of Community Services

Presenters:
James Thurston, AFI Resource Center, The Lewin Group
Jonathan Spader, AFI Resource Center, Abt Associates

Managing Nonfederal Contributions: From Deposit to IDA Asset Purchase

Tracking project funds from commitment -- from deposit, to obligation to savers, and 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.

Presenters:
James Thurston, AFI Resource Center, The Lewin Group
Sharon Henderson, Prosperity Works

Materials

• Managing Non-Federal Contributions: From Deposit to IDA Asset Purchase

Overview of AFI² Program Management Tool

This session will focus on using the AFI² system to increase project efficiency and simplify AFI grant reports. Participants will learn to develop a data plan that will be helpful for managing AFI projects.

Presenter:
James Thurston, AFI Resource Center, The Lewin Group

Materials

• Overview of AFI² Program Management Tool

Tips for Data Collection and Data Maintenance

This session will focus on tips for using the AFI² program management system to plan data collection and maintenance to minimize effort and maximize results.

Presenters:
James Thurston, AFI Resource Center, The Lewin Group
Evelyn Zoldak, North Carolina Department of Labor
Dana Eckhart, Brazos Valley Community Action Agency

Materials

• Tips for Data Collection and Data Maintenance

Using AFI² System Reports

The AFI² system provides several standard reports that display core data for reporting and project management. In this session, participants will learn about these reports and how to use them.

Presenters:
James Thurston, AFI Resource Center, The Lewin Group
Pha Chia Yang Moua, Lutheran Social Service of Minnesota

Materials

• All About AFI² System Reports

Asset-Building in Native American Communities

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

Moderator: Rondelle Clay, Native American Management Services, Inc.

Presenters:
Sherlynn Herrera, Four Bands Community Fund
Sarah Dewees. First Nations Development Institute
Richard Glass, Administration for Native Americans, Administration for Children & Families
Jennifer Medina, AFI Resource Coordinator, Office of Community Services
Sharon Henderson, Prosperity Works
David White Bull, The Lakota Fund

Federal Partnerships Supporting Asset-Building for People with Disabilities

A significant number of individuals with disabilities in the U.S. are unbanked and living below the poverty line. This session will feature a panel of Federal representatives and information on innovative strategies their agencies are using around asset development. The speakers will highlight several new policies and regulations that are on the horizon, and where there are opportunities for partnerships around asset development.

Moderator: Jennifer Medina, AFI Resource Coordinator, Office of Community Services

Presenters:
Effie George, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
Christopher Button, Office of Disability Employment Policy, U.S. Department of Labor
Steve Fear, Social Security Administration
Ophelia McLain, Administration on Developmental Disabilities, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

Asset Building for Families in the Child Support System

One in four children in the U.S. 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.

Moderator: Angelica Gutierrez, AFI Resource Coordinator, Office of Community Services

Presenters:
Margret Miley, Midas Collaborative
Elizabeth Morgan, Center for the Support of Families
Sam Elkin, AFI Resource Center, The Lewin Group
David Stillman, Washington State Division of Child Support, Department of Social and Health Services

Materials

• Asset-Building for Families in the Child Support System

Providing AFI Services to Refugees Communities

This session will highlight the benefits of serving refugee communities. Panelists will discuss strategies for designing projects that serve multicultural savers and that generate successful asset purchases among these groups. Representatives from the AFI Resource Center will outline resources, such as webinars, conference calls and technical assistance that are available to grantees on recruiting, retaining and graduating refugee participants.

Moderator: Jennifer Medina, AFI Resource Coordinator, Office of Community Services

Presenters:
Amy Shir, AFI Resource Center
Loan Hanlon, Boat People SOS
Debra Carr, Institute for Social and Economic Development
Marijana Abobovic, Institute for Social and Economic Development
Jon Vosper, IRC Phoenix

Materials

• Providing AFI Services to Refugee Communities

Bringing Asset building and Related Services to Families with Young Children

This session will highlight promising practices that connect the asset-building and early childhood communities – including Head Start and Child Care providers. Panelists will describe efforts made by AFI grantees and others to build bridges between these fields, such as co-located asset-building and early childhood programs. Participants will also learn about research on the importance of family financial stability in early childhood.

Moderator: Stefanie Whorton, AFI Resource Coordinator, Office of Community Services

Presenters:
Anupa Bir, AFI Resource Center, RTI International
Kathrine Latta, CAP Riverside
Julie Riddle, Family Conservancy
John Florio, PNC Bank

AFI Financial Education Training Toolkits

This session will provide participants with an overview of the 10-module series of AFI Resource Center training toolkits that supplement the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation’s Money Smart financial literacy education curriculum. Participants will receive an overview of the Resource Center series, and will get tips on how best to incorporate the exercises and information into their financial education classes. You do not need to be currently using Money Smart curriculum to attend the session.

Moderator: Vicky Liu, AFI Resource Coordinator, AFI Resource Center

Presenter:
Inger Giuffrida, AFI Resource Center
Kimberly Zimmerman Rand, AFI Resource Center

Materials

• AFI Financial Education Training Toolkits

Assessing Participants’ Financial Skills:
Tools AFI Grantees Can Use

Assessing knowledge, skills, attitudes, and behavior change as a result of financial education is a key part of showing AFI project outcomes. Participants in this session will learn about an assessment tool developed by the AFI Resource Center. The tool is designed to assist grantees in understanding their participants’ competency gains in key financial education areas.

Moderator: Anne Yeoman, AFI Resource Center

Presenters:
Michael Collins, University of Wisconsin-Madison
Maximillian Schmeiser, University of Wisconsin-Madison
Inger Giuffrida, AFI Resource Center

Materials

• Assessing Participants Financial Skills: Tools AFI Grantees Can Use

Financial Education for Underserved Populations

AFI projects are beginning to reach out to new types of participants, including some with particular challenges such as victims of intimate partner violence, people with disabilities, youth transitioning out of foster care, and many more. This session will feature AFI grantees and others that have learned to effectively serve some of these markets.

Moderator: Vickie Oldman-John, First Nations Oweesta Corporation

Presenters:
Tiffany Jackson, Redevelopment Opportunities for Women
Deborah Brooks, New York City Administration for Children’s Services

Materials

• Financial Education for Underserved Populations

Financial Education Models: Coaching, Training and Counseling

In this session, participants will learn about several models for creating financial management skills. Presenters will share a brief description of the approaches they use and the rationale for each model.

Moderator: Sierra Solomon, AFI Resource Coordinator, AFI Resource Center

Presenters:
Vicki Van Horn, New Mexico Project for Financial Literacy
Marcia Leithauser, Independent Consultant
Michelle Foster, Kanawha Institute for Social Research and Action

Materials

• Financial Education Models: Coaching, Training and Counseling

Psychology of Money

This session will focus on attitudes and beliefs that people have about money and financial issues. Participants will practice a series of activities, including using “Money Habitude” cards in group or individual settings. Speakers will also highlight important theories of change and how these theories are helpful in working with IDA participants.

Moderator: Meg Flippin, AFI Resource Coordinator, Office of Community Services

Presenters:
Inger Giuffrida, AFI Resource Center
Vicki Oldman-John, First Nations Oweesta Corporation

Materials

• Psychology of Money

Asset-Building Strategies for People with Disabilities

AFI Grantees are doing innovative work to offer asset- development services, using IDAs to serve individuals with disabilities. This session will highlight several strategies being used, 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.

Moderator: Susan O’Mara, AFI Resource Center, Virginia Commonwealth University

Presenters:
Thomas Jensen, Community and Shelter Assistance Corporation of Oregon
Martha Wunderli, Utah IDA Network
Melody Ann Marchese, Belmont Housing Resources
Andrew Riggle, Disability Law Center

Materials

• AFI Grantees Providing Services for People with Disabilities

IDAs Around the World: Learning from International Programs

The asset building field in the U.S. can learn critical lessons from work underway in other nations. In this session, participants will hear about several international asset-building programs. Panelists will discuss how the IDA movement in the United States has influenced asset-building policy development world- wide, and what programs in the U.S. can learn from the global experience.

Moderator: Donna DeMarco, AFI Resource Center, Abt Associates

Presenters:
Payal Pathak, New America Foundation
Andrea Taylor, AFI Resource Center, University of North Carolina School of Social Work
Michal Grinstein-Weiss, AFI Resource Center, University of North Carolina School of Social Work

Materials

• IDAs Around the World: Learning from International Programs
• Asset Building Around the World: An Overview
• Asset Building Innovations in Canada
• Asset Building in Israel: IDA and CDA Initiatives

Innovations in the Field of Asset Building New Initiatives and Directions

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

Moderator: Michal Grinstein-Weiss, AFI Resource Center, University of North Carolina School of Social Work

Presenters:
Caitlyn Brazill, New York City Department of Consumer Affairs
Rachel Page, HOPE Accounts for Women project
Anne St. George, AFI Resource Center, Abt Associates

Materials

• Federal and Non-Federal Asset-Building Programs: New Initiatives and Directions
• Tax Time Savings Innovation: The SaveNYC Account
• HOPE Accounts for Women: Creating Transformational Approaches to Rural Health Disparities

Practicing Your Messages with Corporations and Public Funders

This session builds on information presented at the morning plenary session.

This interactive session will provide opportunities to practice messages that speak to the interests of business leaders and corporate foundations.  The session will cover several key questions, such as: How can grantees tell, show, and communicate the results of asset building in ways that meet the strategic interests of companies and their foundations? What information do we have that “makes the case?” Who are the right messengers?

Moderator: Denise DeVaan, AFI Resource Center

Presenter:
Fraser Nelson, Community Foundation of Utah

• Presentation 1

Practicing Your Messages with Foundations, Nonprofits, and Community Leaders

This session builds on information presented at the morning plenary session.

Leaders of community foundations, family foundations and individual donors are different than elected and appointed officials. While these audiences share the expectation that funding produces results, they differ in how they should be approached.  This interactive session will provide opportunities to practice messages that speak to these audiences.

Moderator: Denise DeVaan, AFI Resource Center

Presenter:
Fraser Nelson, Community Foundation of Utah

• Presentation 1

Boosting Outcomes by Changing Project Design: Why, When, How

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

Moderator: Angelica Gutierrez, AFI Resource Coordinator, Office of Community Services

Presenters:
Rita Bowen, AFI Resource Center
Dena Sherrill, Rural Enterprises, Inc.
Kathy Di Nolfi, Mesa Community Action Network
Roberta Teeto, Penquis Community Action Program

Managing Multiple AFI IDA Projects

The first AFI awards were made in 1999, and some of the organizations that received the initial AFI grants are still operating effective AFI projects. Participants in this session will learn about good practices for managing overlapping AFI grants. 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.

Moderator: Jermaine Burkhalter, AFI Resource Coordinator, Office of Community Services

Presenters:
Rita Bowen, AFI Resource Center
Rebekah Barger, Umpqua Community Development Corporation
Marcy Meyer, New Hampshire Community Loan Fund
Thomas Jensen, Community and Shelter Assistance Corporation of Oregon

• Presentation 1
• Presentation 2
• Presentation 3

Navigating The Asset Purchase Process

Making matched withdrawals is a sign of success, but it is a challenging step for many IDA participants. This session will focus on practices to smooth the purchase process from account holder preparation to program exit. Sample tools and policies will be highlighted and shared.

Moderator: Jermaine Burkhalter, AFI Resource Coordinator, , Office of Community Services

Presenters:
Rita Bowen, AFI Resource Center
Emily Appel, Capital Area Asset-building
Barbara Lopez, Women's Economic Self Sufficiency Team
Jo Ann Garay, Women's Economic Self Sufficiency Team
Pha Chia Yung Moua, Lutheran Social Service of Minnesota

New Tools to Manage Performance: Targets and Tracking

AFI is implementing an overall Performance Management framework that includes goals and key indicators that grantees can use to improve outcomes. Session participants will learn about the framework and about strategies for setting targets and tracking progress. Participants will also learn how use a simple calculator for these purposes.

Moderator: Bridget Shea, AFI Resource Coordinator, Office of Community Services

Presenters:
Rita Bowen, AFI Resource Center
Kate Blunt, AFI Resource Center
Sharon Henderson, Prosperity Works

Materials

• New Tools to Manage Performance: Targets and Tracking

Raising Resources for Your AFI Project

This session will feature several AFI projects that have sustained funding over many years, providing both nonfederal match as well as other resources to support operations. Sources explored will include those providing cash support as well as in-kind contributions.

Moderator: Angelica Gutierrez, AFI Resource Coordinator, Office of Community Services

Presenters:
Rita Bowen, AFI Resource Center
Martha Wunderli, Utah IDA Network
DeForrest Brown, United Way of Central Alabama
Patricia Dorsey-Peakes, Economic and Community Development Institute

Managing AFI Network Projects: Key Management Topics

Successful AFI Network Projects often have strong managers who are focused on results. In this session, a panel of experienced managers of network projects will reflect upon key management issues: coordination, design, capacity, program operation, partnerships, resources, and adding other asset-building tools to the IDA program.

Moderator: Denise DeVaan, AFI Resource Center

Presenters:
Brendan Wilbur, Alternatives Federal Credit Union
Mary O’Doherty, Kentucky Domestic Violence Association
Evelyn Zoldak, North Carolina Department of Labor
Thomas Jensen, Community and Shelter Assistance Corporation of Oregon

Materials

• Asset-Building Opportunities for Survivors of Domestic Violence
• Managing AFI Network Projects: CASA of Oregon

Managing AFI Network Projects: Data, Tools, Performance, Impact

This session will focus on how to use data, monthly reports, feedback loops, and other tools to track and demonstrate results. Seasoned AFI network project leaders will present key lessons followed by interactive sharing among session participants.

Moderator: Denise DeVaan, AFI Resource Center

Presenters:
Brendan Wilbur, Alternatives Federal Credit Union
Sharon Henderson, Prosperity Works

Tax Credits For Savings and Cash Reserves

From $3000 to $12,000 of additional income can come to IDA saver households by accessing available Federal and state tax credits. This session will identify several different types of Federal tax credits, the eligibility criteria, and the processes to secure these credits. Additionally, participants will learn how to connect these refunds to key savings tools.

Moderator: Denise DeVaan, AFI Resource Center

Presenters:
Brendan Wilbur, Alternatives Federal Credit Union
Carol Davis, Nehemiah Gateway Community Development Corporation
Stefanie Whorton, AFI Resource Center

• Community Tax Program (VITA) 2009 Season Summary

Volunteer Tax Assistance: Successful Models and Partnerships

Throughout the U.S., there are partnerships that create VITA sites and campaigns to coordinate tax credit claim-it efforts with other programs that serve low-income, working families. This session will highlight several key partners that are important in this area: the Internal Revenue Service, state departments of revenue or treasury, AFI grantees, financial institutions, cities, counties, and community-based organizations.

Moderator: Stefanie Whorton, AFI Resource Coordinator, Office of Community Services

Presenters:
Beckie Harrell, Internal Revenue Service
Denise Devaan, AFI Resource Center
John Wancheck, Center for Budget and Policy Priorities

Materials

• Volunteer Income Tax Assistance:: Successful Models and Partnerships

IDAs for Young People

There is growing interest in bringing asset-building opportunities to youth, and not just for education. Panelists will offer their insights on the challenges of serving youth and their solutions that lead to successful saving and asset purchase.

Moderator: Bridget Shea, AFI Resource Coordinator, Office of Community Services

Presenters:
David White Bull, The Lakota Fund
Mavis Hill, Tyrell County Community Development Corporation
Jenell Hackley, Boys and Girls Club of Greater Milwaukee
Jacqueline Harris, San Diego Housing Commission

Materials

• The Money Project - Youth Asset Building Program