Youth Education and Services

Filene's COOL Solutions
Jump$tart Coalition
National Youth Involvement Board (NYIB)
NEFE High School Financial Planning Program
Thrive By Five

Filene's COOL Solutions
COOL (Custom-fit, Online, Outrageous and Loyal) Solutions provides guidance, business models, training, products and services to credit unions so they can more effectively attract, engage and serve the 16-29 year old market. Several other COOL Solutions reports have detailed first-time homebuying and new car buying for Gen Y, and credit building. To see more, visit Filene's COOL Solutions page or conduct a "COOL" keyword search.

Jump$tart Coalition
The national Jump$tart Coalition is a group of business and education leaders concerned about the lack of financial knowledge among young people. It conducts a biennial survey of students to assess knowledge, and offers a personal finance clearinghouse of resources to help educate youth.

Also, the SCCUL and member credit unions have been involved in formation of the South Carolina Jump$tart Coalition. Officially established in 2005, the group has voiced its support for statewide financial education legislation and helped the SC Department of Education identify appropriate curricula. SC Jump$tart continues to enhance its work toward assessing and improving knowledge among youth in the Palmetto State.

National Youth Involvement Board
The National Youth Involvement Board is a network of credit union professionals and industry leaders focused on youth financial education and services. At NYIB.org, the organization compiles credit unions' financial education presentations to youth, offers related news, and access to peer programs and information. NYIB also hosts an Annual Conference, which in 2007 will be in San Antonio, Texas. Membership in NYIB is free and includes e-mail access to NYIB peers via listserv.

NEFE High School Financial Planning Program (HSFPP)
Long supported by America's Credit Unions and the Cooperative Extension Service, the National Endowment for Financial Education's High School Financial Planning Program (NEFE HSFPP) is gaining popularity among educators as a comprehensive financial education program. The program's materials--free to schools and organizations regardless of quantity--are geared toward students' perspectives and are matched to South Carolina curriculum standards. A Spanish version and online components are also available.

Credit unions are encouraged to share the material with area schools and community organizations, and to offer available volunteers for instructional support. For more information, contact SCCUL's Brandon Pugh at 800-235-4290, extension 410.

Thrive By Five
CUNA's Thrive By Five is a collection of exercises and resources that can help establish in young minds the basic concepts of money, saving, spending, and alternatives to spending. The materials are also available in Spanish.