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You are here: Home / Newsroom / Newsletters / Family Economics News - April 2009

Family Economics News - April 2009

The Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service (CSREES) works with land-grant university partners and others to advance knowledge for agriculture, the environment, human health and well-being, and communities through national program leadership and federal assistance. Among the agency’s goals is to support increased economic opportunities and quality of life in rural areas. Family economics aligns with this goal by focusing on how individuals and families obtain and use resources such as money, time, human capital, material resources, and community services; by exploring the relationship between individuals and families and the larger economy; and by studying the impact of public issues, policies, and programs on family economic well-being.

Research/Program Evaluation

  • Self-Confidence in Searching for Information

  • First Accounts Report

Education/Extension

  • Financial Literacy Month
  • News About eXtension: Personal Finance Chats

  • When Your Income Drops

Resources

  • New Journal of Extension Site
  • FDIC: Tips to Help Consumers Manage Their Money
  • Financial Evaluation Tool

  • One-Time Economic Recovery Payments from Social Security

Opportunities

  • Call for Papers:

    • Journal of Consumer Affair
    • Journal of Personal Finance
    • Journal of Financial Counseling and Planning
    • The Journal of Youth Development
    • Journal of Family and Economic Issues
    • W.K. Kellogg Foundation/Family Income and Assets
    • Journal of Family and Consumer Sciences
    • AFCPE 2009 Annual Conference
    • The Individual Finance and Insurance Decisions
    • The Journal of Consumer Affairs - Special Issue
    • Family Relations - Special Issue
    • Eastern Family Economics and Resource Management Association

    • Journal of Family and Economic Issues, Family Business

  • Funding:

    • Grants.gov
    • National Endowment for Financial Education®
    • FY 2009 AFRI RFA
    • Beginning Farmer and Rancher Program RFA
    • MMI Financial Education Foundation

    • U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

Calendar

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Consumer behavior is often driven by confidence consumers feel about their decisions, which frequently hinge—especially in high-stakes situations—on their information search. This article examines a multidimensional self-confidence concept to explore how consumer self-confidence influences information search. Findings of a mail survey document reveal that high-confidence consumers engage in more intensive search activities and that demographic patterns shape consumer self-confidence scores. The findings empirically support a multidimensional measurement of self-confidence to predict search behavior and suggest avenues to enhance the self-confidence needed to produce positive marketplace experiences. Read about this research in the Spring Issue of the Journal of Consumer Affairs.

CSREES, the federal partner in the nationwide Cooperative Extension System, will highlight its Financial Security program at the 2009 Financial Literacy Day, April 30, at the Cannon House Office Building on Capitol Hill, Washington, DC. Honorary co-hosts include Senators Daniel Akaka (Hawaii) and Michael Enzi (Wyoming) and Representatives Ruben Hinojosa (Texas) and Judy Biggert (Illinois). Convening organizations are the Jump$tart Coalition, JA Worldwide, and the Council for Economic Education (formerly the National Council on Economic Education). Exhibitors include a mix of government, not-for-profit, and corporate organizations that promote financial literacy across the country. Financial Literacy Day on Capitol Hill is part of Financial Literacy Month. The financial education work of eXtension also will be highlighted.

For additional information regarding the Montana Extension FCS program, contact Michael Vogel, program leader, at 406-994-3451.

The eXtension Financial Security for All Community of Practice (COP) hosts a series of informational chat sessions. During a chat session, you can ask your own questions and get answers from extension personal finance experts. The March Chat focused on Federal Income Tax Planning; the topic of the April 23 Chatwill deal with Banking and Unbanked. There are monthly personal finance chat sessions scheduled through November 2009. Visit eXtension to view the records and transcripts of recent chat sessions and get information about upcoming chat sessions.

When Your Income Drops

A team of Georgia agents and specialists has developed a new program, When Your Income Drops, to replace the Surviving Tough Times fact sheet series.  The new program revolves around a PowerPoint presentation (including several activities) and seven new fact sheets.  The program is for people who have recently lost their jobs or otherwise experienced a reduction in income.  You can use the PowerPoint for a short program (45-60 minutes) or incorporate activities for a longer program or workshop series. View all the program components here.

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New Journal of Extension Site

There is a new Journal of Extension Web site. The Journal of Extension (JOE) is the official refereed journal of the Cooperative Extension System. JOE expands and updates the research and knowledge base for extension professionals and other adult educators to improve their effectiveness. In addition, JOE serves as a forum for emerging and contemporary issues affecting extension education. JOE is written, reviewed, and edited by extension professionals, sharing with their colleague's successful educational applications, original and applied research findings, scholarly opinions, educational resources, and challenges on issues of critical importance to extension educators. When you visit the site, under "Journal Content," you will see a place for free subscriptions. Once you subscribe, you will receive e-mail notifications when a new journal edition is published.

FDIC: Tips to Help Consumers Manage Their Money

The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) has issued tips to help consumers spend less, save more, protect against fraud and borrow wisely at any time, but especially during a difficult economy. The advice was published as a special edition of the FDIC Consumer News (the Winter 2008/2009 issue), entitled "Managing Your Money in Good Times and Bad."  To order up to two free paper copies, consumers can use the online form or call the Federal Citizen Information Center toll-free at 1-888-8-PUEBLO (1-888-878-3256), ask for Department 92, weekdays from 8 a.m.–8 p.m. Visit the FDIC Web site to subscribe.

Financial Evaluation Tool

Financial distress can cost an organization over $2,000 per employee per year. Now there is a free tool for employees to evaluate their finances and determine an appropriate solution.   

One-Time Economic Recovery Payments from Social Security

In May 2009, Social Security will distribute a one-time payment of $250 to Social Security and Supplemental Security Income beneficiaries nationwide. The payments are provided under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. Contact Lauren Hawkins at 410-965-8726 for printed copies of the online leaflet.

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  • Grants.gov is your source to find and apply for Federal government grants. There are more than 1,000 grant programs offered by all Federal grant making agencies.

  • National Endowment for Financial Education (NEFE®)
    The NEFE® Grants program deadline for the October 2009 grant cycle is June 2, 2009. To learn more about the NEFE® Grants program, visit the NEFE® Web site  and click on the Grantmaking section.

  • FY 2009 AFRI RFA Deadline September 30,2009. Visit Grants.gov to see the Synopsis and application package.

  • Beginning Farmer and Rancher Program (BFRDP) RFA
    Visit the CSREES Web site to view the CSREES Funding Opportunity, and the Grants.gov Web site for the application package. More information about the BFRDP program and resources for writing grant applications will continue to be developed and CSREES will make them available. Please note that all applications must be submitted electronically. You will need to be registered ahead of time with Grants.gov to submit an application and the registration process can take a few weeks.  Visit the CSREES Web site for more information about submitting applications. Contact National Program Leaders Suresh Sureshwaran or Janie Hipp for more information.

  • MMI Education Foundation
    The foundation uses its resources to serve the public interest and strengthen the communities where we live and work. The foundation provides periodic announcements and grant guidelines.

  • U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
    Grantees provides financial literacy training to enable low-income individuals and families achieve economic self-sufficiency.

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2010

Back issues of Family Economics News are available.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination in all its programs and activities on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, and where applicable, sex, marital status, familial status, parental status, religion, sexual orientation, genetic information, political beliefs, reprisal, or because all or part of an individual’s income is derived from any public assistance program. (Not all prohibited bases apply to all programs.) Persons with disabilities who require alternative means for communication of program information (Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.) should contact USDA’s TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TDD).  To file a complaint of discrimination, write to USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, S.W., Washington, DC 20250-9410, or call (800) 795-3272 (voice) or (202) 720-6382 (TDD). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

Mention or display of a trademark, proprietary product, or firm in text or figures does not constitute an endorsement by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and does not imply approval to the exclusion of other suitable products or firms.
 Questions? Comments? Last Updated: 04/02/2009