Progress 09/01/16 to 08/31/19
Outputs
Target Audience: During the entire project reporting period, September 2016 to August 2019, the target audience reached included several Native American groups which include tribal middle school and high school students, Northwest Indian College students including extended campus students, Lummi tribal community members and other tribal community members. Changes/Problems:
Nothing Reported
What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided? During the project we offered two Summer Bridge camp which targets middle school and high school Native America students and we were able to hire (2 student parents) as mentors for our camp. The summer bridge camp also offered (4 summer youth workers) interns or mentors for the program. (2 student interns) Northwest Indian College hosted "Money Habitudes" professional development. Which included 8 participants during the training and participants received another great resource to use in a one-one setting but also a classroom. The concept is using cards when people discuss the difference between them and their spouses in regards to money and it opens up dialogue in regards to each person's "money culture" or values surrounding money. We invited partners from the Lummi community and Chief Dull Knife Community College. (8 participants) NWIC co-hosted a BNC "Train-the-trainer" in collaboration with First Nations Development Institute. During that visit we had FNDI consultant, assist us with the logistics, timeline and children saving account application templates. (14 trainers completed the training) NWIC offered BASIC/ADVANCED tax preparation training for Lummi VITA site volunteers. Six volunteers attended the training and we had six volunteers certify at the ADVANCED level and were able to prepare taxes for free for NWIC students and Lummi Community members. During the grant period we had the opportunity to continue to provide internship opportunities for young parents to gain employment opportunities and the skills needed for the work force. (4 student parents received paid internships) also (3 college students received paid internship) Northwest Indian College co-hosted Positive Indian Parenting Train-the-trainer in partnership with WSU extension Bellingham. We had 16 individuals receive certification and they plan on facilitating classes within the tribal communities they serve. NWIC Financial Literacy Coordinator and Early Learning Faculty member both completed the training. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?
Nothing Reported
What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?
Nothing Reported
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
At the start of the project September 2016 we hosted the planning meeting with Community partners, school and transition counselors, curriculum developers, and teachers at the local Tribal School to develop and deliver financial literacy classes to 7-12 grade students that attend the local Tribal School. During the entire project we reached 7th-12th grade students and we served a total of 414 students which, included weekly classes at the local tribal high school and college preview and Saturday academies that focused on college preparedness. Community partners, school and transition counselor, teachers suggested we offer a Summer Bridge Camp considering the limited time we get to spend with students in the classroom and during workshops. During the entire project we offered a total of two summer camps and served 39 middle school and high school students. The breakdown of students attending the 7th-9th grade middle school camp is 18 students and 21 students attending the 10th-12th grade high school camp. During the camp we capture student input which will assist with improving the upcoming year's camp. One major celebration is that all the students see themselves as college students and are embracing the "college going identity." Many of the students have expressed interest in attending the Summer Bridge Camp next year and have even said they would consider Northwest Indian College as their college choice. Highlights for this year's summer camp activities included going out on the water in the canoe and learning about the cultural importance for Coast Salish tribes and cultural teaching around the canoe. Also both MS and HS visited the Hibulb Cultural Center to see the history (pre-settler contact) of the Coast Salish tribes and the museum displays were showcased from an indigenous lens and the students enjoyed the hands-on paddle necklace activity. Many of our students that attend the summer bridge camp plan on attending college after high school but in regards to specific career paths many students are exploring career choices. During this year's summer bridge camp we started planning career days which highlights specific professions for that day. The H.S. camp visited the UW school of dentistry and had an opportunity to make a filling on a faux front tooth utilizing wax and dentist tools to shape the wax to match the tooth. During the visit the students also had Medical students and Medical doctor in residency assist the students with their stitching skills by giving stitches to a banana peel. The UW also hosted a panel discussion with guest/student speakers that represented gender and every ethnic group that shared their experience in Dentistry school at UW or Medical school experience, as well as types of classes students should be focusing on in high school in preparation for the health/medical field. During camp we wanted to highlight traditional foods cooking demo and the students were honored to have a Lummi elder teach them how to make clam chowder and fry bread through a hands-on cooking demo which was yummy and the students learned about foods that were traditionally harvested and available during each season. During camp the students participated in a campus tour and the HS students met with running start recruiter and advisor and learned about the application process and the importance of studying and making the grade if they plan on attending running start or plan to continue on to college after HS. (Total tribal middle school and high school students served through the project were 414 students which 61 of the students attended the College Preview and Saturday Academies) NWIC VITA site has e-filed 425 tax returns and served 126 families through the Facilitated Self-assistance tax preparation. Families and college students are saving on average $200-$250 in tax preparation fees. The NWIC VITA site has created more interest at the extended campus sites. At the beginning of each quarter the cooperative extension office participates in the new student orientation and we have students break down the cost of their college expenses which include student housing, meal plans, tuition, transportation, books/supplies and other student expenses and compare their expenses to their current funding sources. If there is a gap in funding for total student's expenses then we discuss and explore where to find funds. We have served 69 students through the course of this grant period. Children Savings Accounts were opened for a total of 7 children which equaled 4 families. Staff provided information and applications to two banks they could choose to use for their child's savings account or they could choose to utilize their current bank. Financial Literacy Trainer conducted bi-weekly check-ins with families to see how they are doing and she has created ways to check-in with the families. At the end of the CSA we had 5 parents -(2 couples) and a single parent participate until the end with (7 children under the age of 10 were signed up) each received the $50 seed money. (5 children under the age of 10 met their goal) each received the final $50 matching funds. The students who have participated in the CSA program have discussed how difficult it is to save money and more importantly that they have very little extra money to save. This project is allowing student parents to save money with the incentive that their personal contributions to their children's savings account will be matched. This project initiated the parents opening saving accounts for their children and opened dialogue between parents and children regarding their savings and creates an opportunity for positive financial behavioral change. Staff offered Monthly wellness classes throughout the grant period and we had a total of 280 students participate in a wide range of wellness topics for college students. We facilitated a "Spending Frenzy" to college students and there were topics on health/wellness, self-care/time management and professionalism/personality type. Additional classes we hosted include Cultural Sharing Dinner for NWIC students and they made smudge cubes used for praying and the other activity was teaching students and children how to make cedar rose barrettes and pins. Staff also coordinated Children's Savings Plan night and college students and their children decorated piggy banks , Cooking Fresh & Cutting Costs class at the College for student parents where we discussed eating and cooking healthy food for our families. Topics discussed included grocery shopping on a budget, shared recipes that incorporate vegetables and a balanced diet. Staff honored parents/grandparents and hosted a mother's day make and take and in June we hosted a father's day make and take. Staff also had classes on natural disinfectant sprays, self made detergent, herbal tea with elders, establishing healthy relationships and boundaries, lip balms and healing salves, aromatherapy and candles to manage stress and relaxation. The monthly wellness activities have attracted many students and have been on a variety of topics that interested students. Financial Literacy staff offers monthly 2 day financial literacy classes (10 hours) that utilize the First Nations Development Institute BNC curriculum and throughout the project we were served 104 families. The classes focus on developing a spending plan, checking and savings and review the importance of credit. At the end of the class each participant receives a certificate of completion.
Publications
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Progress 09/01/17 to 08/31/18
Outputs
Target Audience:In year 2 grant period, the Cooperative Extension Financial Literacy Program served Native American tribal members, including middle school, high school student and Northwest Indian College Students on Lummi Campus and at the extended campus sites. During this project we worked directly with Tribal School high school and middle school transition counselors, Lummi Employment Training Center (LETC) Youth Coordinator, LETC Youth Advocate, curriculum developers, NWIC Science Faculty and teachers at the local tribal school. The accomplishments in year two, required that we meet regularly with community partners and Tribal school partners to deliver non-credit classes/workshops, two two-week long summer camps for high school and middle school students, quarterly classes for NWIC students, and mentor new trainers. NWIC program staff worked with community partners to certify community members as volunteer tax preparers for the Lummi VITA site. The goal is to provide professional development training for the volunteers so they are confident and receive certification from the IRS as a certified volunteer tax preparer and in return the volunteers will provide free tax preparation service to community members and college students. A new strategy for NWIC college student parents is to provide social support and financial empowerment to NWIC student parents through bundled social and financial services that improve college retention and educational attainment. Student parents will gain skills and knowledge in a variety of topics offered monthly, including accessing college funding, financial management, positive parenting, family wellness, healthy eating on a budget, work-school-family balance, and access to campus and community resources. Our target audience during the reporting period included Northwest Indian College students, both on campus and extended campuses, middle and high school students, NWIC Student Parents with Young Children and Native Americans throughout the Pacific Northwest. Changes/Problems:The college requested requested a no cost extension because we had carry over money due to securing funds to support the Summer Bridge camp and wellness activities. In the final year we will continue to provide services that were outlined in the original grant proposal and are currently pursuing grant funding to continue the financial education services and classes for college student, community members and youth. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?In December, NWIC offered BASIC/ADVANCED tax preparation training for Lummi VITA site volunteers. Six volunteers attended the training and we had six volunteers certify at the ADVANCED level and were able to prepare taxes for free for NWIC students and Lummi Community members. During the 2017 Tax season, we were able to hire two Lummi VITA greeters utilizing NIFA funds and Native Family Empowerment Program funds. The NWIC VITA greeter was a student parent with young children who is currently working on her two year degree and raising a son and a daughter. Hopefully we will have the opportunity to continue to provide internship opportunities for young parents to gain employment opportunities and the skills needed for the work force. During this grant period we were able to provide two running start students and opportunity to work while balancing high school and college. We also had a NWIC college student and a Summer Youth Worker had an opportunity to gain valuable work experience and earn money as mentors during the Summer Bridge Camp. In June Northwest Indian College co-hosted Positive Indian Parenting Train-the-trainer in partnership with WSU extension Bellingham. We had 16 individuals receive certification and they plan on facilitating classes with in the tribal communities they serve. NWIC Financial Literacy Coordinator and Early Learning Faculty member both completed the training. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?
Nothing Reported
What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?Strengthen existing partnerships within the college. Many student parents are juggling school and raising families and in some cases these parents are also working. These parents have a lot of time constraints and commitments and we would like to create partnerships in an effort to leverage resources and expand current work and build on the foundation that we started. The services and we plan on offering this next year is free tax preparation, coordinate and facilitate activities that celebrate culture and holidays, meal planning and cooking healthy meals, DIY budget friendly themed classes (self-care, canning, gardening, etc) the classes will be open to NWIC students and community members. Through this grant project we are able to offer many opportunities for student parents to come and share a meal, come up with inexpensive gift ideas (all supplies provided), start a savings for their children, file their taxes for free, become aware of the importance of balancing health/wellness. All the different monthly wellness classes are an opportunity to share tips, ideas and information that is last on a busy student parents list to learn. The monthly wellness classes are another service that we will continue to offer and the topics that are offered will continue to be at the request of student and student parent's needs. Many students enjoy peer relationships and peer support which the monthly wellness classes have provided for many students. We continue to provide requests from students from extended campus and we are trying to come up with creative ways to offer services and workshops for that will assist in student retention and support. We have made new partnerships with NWIC departments and staff through this project. It has allowed us to leverage funding and services. This project has provided an opportunity for relationship building that will continue to expand and grow. Sometimes organizations can fragment into departments that focus on their project only. Which with the financial literacy program, we are part of Cooperative Extension and outreach and our work takes us out to the schools and communities. Through this project we have been able to work with staff and departments that we have not engaged with in the past so this is a positive experience and has taught us that developing relationships require time and cultivation. Especially considering we all serve NWIC students, however this grant allowed us to specifically serve and target student parents with young children, who need the most support, advocacy and encouragement. Going into the final year of the project we are looking to our students to help guide some of the work and envision the students' needs that we can meet through continuing education efforts. We have a student who has worked as coffee barista and said we should host a class for DYI learn to make your favorite coffee drink on a budget. Also there are many requests for classes to include making regalia, baby boards and also offering resume writing, preparing for an interview, time management and organization skills for college student/ student parents. The project brought together student parents and they enjoyed the time that they had together taking classes/workshops, cooking classes and talking about family responsibilities, resources and they enjoyed being there to encourage one another.
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
Goal 1- At the start of the project September 2016 we hosted the planning meeting with Community partners, school and transition counselors, curriculum developers, and teachers at the local Tribal School to develop and deliver financial literacy classes to 7-12 grade students that attend the local Tribal School. (During year one of grant, 7th-12th grade we served a total of (204 students) and year two of grant, 7th-12th grade we served (154 students) with a total of 358 students served over the past two years. This past summer was the 4th Annual Summer Bridge Camp with 10 students attending the 7th-9th grade middle school camp and 12 students attending the 10th-12th grade high school camp. During year one, we served 11 middle school and 7 high school students for a total of 40 students served over two years of the grant. Highlights for this year's summer camp activities included going out on the water in the canoe and learning about the cultural importance for Coast Salish tribes and cultural teaching around the canoe. Also both MS and HS visited the Hibulb Cultural Center to see the history (pre-settler contact) of the Coast Salish tribes and the museum displays were showcased from an indigenous lens and the students enjoyed the hands-on paddle necklace activity. Many of our students that attend the summer bridge camp plan on attending college after high school but in regards to specific career paths many students are exploring career choices. During this year's summer bridge camp we started planning career days which highlights specific professions for that day. The H.S. camp visited the UW school of dentistry and had an opportunity to make a filling on a faux front tooth utilizing wax and dentist tools to shape the wax to match the tooth. During the visit the students also had Medical students and Medical doctor in residency assist the students with their stitching skills by giving stitches to a banana peel. The UW also hosted a panel discussion with guest/student speakers that represented gender and every ethnic group that shared their experience in Dentistry school at UW or Medical school experience, as well as types of classes students should be focusing on in high school in preparation for the health/medical field. During camp we wanted to highlight traditional foods cooking demo and the students were honored to have a Lummi elder teach them how to make clam chowder and fry bread through a hands-on cooking demo which was yummy and the students learned about foods that were traditionally harvested and available during each season. During camp the students participated in a campus tour and the HS students met with running start recruiter and advisor and learned about the application process and the importance of studying and making the grade if they plan on attending running start or plan to continue on to college after HS. One major celebration is that all the students see themselves as college students and are embracing the "college going identity." One student expressed career change after visiting the UW which is why summer programs are valuable in tribal communities. It allows tribal students to explore career paths but also provides opportunities for MS/HS students to hear the struggles and resilience that students experienced in order to meet their goal. In addition to the classes at the local tribal school and the summer bridge camp, NWIC Financial Literacy program has been co-hosting College Previews are opportunities for students from local high schools to visit NWIC campus and have a college experience at NWIC for the day. This past year we had (5 students) attend in December and (11 students ) attend in January for a total of 16 students attending in year two of grant and a total of 27 students attending in year one of grant which is 43 students in total that attended of the two years of the grant. During College Previews we discussed banks, money management, things to know about choosing college of your choice and played jeopardy giving students chance to demonstrate what they learned but also win incentives. We offered Children Savings Account and in total we had 4 families participate with a total of 7 children opening savings accounts. Regina J., Financial Literacy Trainer checked in with families bi-weekly to see how they were doing and she tracked challenges and successes. Each child under 10 years old received the $50 seed money. (5 children met their goal) each received the final $50 matching funds. The students who have participated in the CSA program have discussed how difficult it is to save money and more importantly that they have very little extra money to save with college expenses and family expenses. This project is allowing student parents to save money for their children with the incentive that their personal contributions to their children's savings account will be matched which leads to positive financial behavioral change. For the 2017 tax filing season we opened the doors to the NWIC VITA site, Monday February 5, 2018 and filed 163 tax returns. We had 6 volunteers including a NWIC student who volunteered as the VITA site greeter. This year $326.957 was returned to the Lummi community through refunds to families, $27,741 refunded to families in Child Tax Credits, $39,342 in Additional Tax Credits and $129,660 in Earned Income Credits. We offered a variety of monthly wellness classes for NWIC students and student parents from October until June and served 105 students. The topics for the wellness classes included Cooking classes, Holiday dinner and cultural activities, DYI gifts for Christmas, Mother's and Grandmother's Appreciation day, Father's day, Self-Care Workshop making bath bombs, body and facial scrubs and we shared the recipe and inexpensive cost associated with making your natural, self-care products. NWIC offers monthly 2 day financial literacy classes that utilize the First Nations Development Institute BNC curriculum. From September 2016 until August 2017 we have had 29 student participants attend the Financial Literacy classes. The classes focus on developing a spending plan, checking and savings and review the importance of credit. WSU Food Sense was a guest speaker at our Lummi community classes and share up the importance of maintaining healthy food choices and share grocery shopping tips to make healthier food choices without breaking the bank. At the end of the class each participant receives a certificate of completion. Year 2 of grant we served 37 participants. In September we offered Cooking Fresh & Cutting Costs class at the College for student parents where we discussed eating and cooking healthy food for our families. We discussed grocery shopping on a budget, food choices for themselves (3 student parents) and their families attended.
Publications
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Progress 09/01/16 to 08/31/17
Outputs
Target Audience:At the start of the project September 2016 we hosted the planning meeting with Community partners, school and transition counselors, curriculum developers, and teachers at the local Tribal School to develop and deliver financial literacy classes to 7-12 grade students that attend the local Tribal School. We will continue to expand on the current curriculum that encompasses hands-on simulation, "Spending Frenzy." This simulation consists of play money and requires the student to pay taxes, cost of living expenses that are annualized for the year. The game provides students an opportunity to learn money management through hands-on activities as opposed to a lecture or textbook-based instruction, the $pending Frenzy provides an opportunity for participants to experience a "trial run" with their Big Money in a casual learning environment. In addition to preparing participants for the multitude of challenges and responsibilities that a young adult consumer must face, the simulation also develops organizational and prioritization habits, hones recordkeeping skills, and teaches techniques for handling and counting cash. It also helps youth practice basic math skills that are associated with financial management and budgeting. NWIC received feedback and input from the Middle School and High School students through surveys. Through these processes NWIC decided to hold their 1st Annual Summer Bridge camp in summer of 2015 and host a week long camp for Middle School and a separate week long camp for High School students. Through year one of the project we continued to co-host college preview days which students from local school districts visited NWIC college campus and we offered a tour, and presentations that provide students with a checklist, important timelines for application dates and college expenses and finding funds to pay for college. Another target audience is to offer mentoring, support and technical assistance for new Financial Literacy trainers because our success depends on developing new trainers who can lead financial literacy programs in their communities, including NWIC extended sites. Over the past two years, the staff began a training of trainers strategy to expand financial education to more tribes in our service area. This includes developing a needs assessment, providing ongoing support and technical assistance, and mentoring new financial literacy trainers as they practice integrating these topics into their financial literacy program activities. This effort is intended to expand the new programming to other tribal areas, including those serving NWIC students. Building on successes of their program, the staff will work closely to assess the needs and capacity of new trainers to sustain programming. NWIC program staff worked with our Lummi Nation community partners to certify community members as volunteer tax preparers for the Lummi VITA site. The goal is to provide professional development training for the volunteers so they are confident and receive certification from the IRS as a certified volunteer tax preparer and in return the volunteers will provide free tax preparation service to community members and college students. We are actively advertising services to student parents and as a result we are also serving many college students that are parents with older children and students that have no children, many that are first time tax filers. A new strategy for NWIC college student parents is to provide social support and financial empowerment to NWIC student parents through bundled social and financial services that improve college retention and educational attainment. Student parents will gain skills and knowledge in a variety of topics offered monthly, including accessing college funding, financial management, positive parenting, family wellness, healthy eating on a budget, work-school-family balance, and access to campus and community resources. The Cooperative Extension Office serves as a central location where students can access social and financial support and services. We will encourage student parents of young children to participate in monthly workshops designed to provide tools or information that will minimize the struggle with managing a work-life-school balance and to make ends meet financially. Staff will encourage and assist NWIC student parents to make use of "bundled services" available at the NWIC and through our Tribal social and financial service partners such as Lummi Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), Lummi Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI), the NWIC Early Childhood Education Center, Sacred Little Ones Project, and behavioral health counseling. Financial services include tax preparation, financial coaching, financial education workshops, Individual Development Accounts (IDAs), Credit Builder Loans and mental and behavioral support through group activities such as talking circles. Changes/Problems:
Nothing Reported
What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?Last summer we offered a Summer Bridge camp which targets middle school and high school students and we were able to hire (2 student parents) as mentors for our camp. This summer bridge camp we were able to offer (2 summer youth workers) interns or mentors for the program. (4 students) September 2016, Financial Literacy Coordinator and Trainer attended the LEAD conference for grantees in Oklahoma and received valuable information in regards to implementing Children's Savings Accounts and offering bundled services. We had a chance to learn about best practices and see what other tribal communities are offering in regards to services that benefit families that are college students, on TANF or young parents. (2 staff attended) In October Northwest Indian College hosted the site visit from FNDI and also hosted the "Money Habitudes" professional development. Which we had 8 participants during the training and we received another great resource to use in a one-one setting but also a classroom. I have used the cards when people discuss the difference between them and their spouses in regards to money and it opens up dialogue in regards to each person's "money culture" or values surrounding money. We invited partners from the Lummi community and Chief Dull Knife Community College. (8 participants) On November 14-16, 2016 we co-hosted a BNC "Train-the-trainer" in collaboration with First Nations Development Institute. During that visit we had FNDI consultant, assist us with the logistics, timeline and children saving account application templates. (14 trainers completed the training) How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?
Nothing Reported
What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?Many student parents are juggling school and raising families and in some cases these parents are also working. These parents have a lot of time constraints and commitments and the last thing they need to worry about is not having enough money to file their taxes, celebrate holidays, meal planning and cooking healthy meals, saving money for their children's future and all the other concerns that come up as Tribal College Students, etc. Through this grant project we were able to offer so many opportunities for student parents to come and share a meal, come up with inexpensive gift ideas (all supplies provided), start a savings for their children, file their taxes for free, become aware of the importance of balancing health/wellness. All the different monthly wellness classes was an opportunity to share tips, ideas and information that is last on a busy student parents list to learn. We discussed important topics such as Child Abuse Prevention, mental health and wellness and introduced students to the NWIC mental health counselor. We also had an opportunity to collaborate with the TRIO Program and they have recently hired TRIO coaches that available for students support and also to advocate for the students. In year 1 & year 2 of the Lummi VITA site we had partners that volunteered from Lummi Housing Authority, Lummi CDFI, Lummi Economic Development and Lummi staff/faculty. This was an opportunity for students to become more familiar with people who work at different places in the Lummi Community and offer direct services to families. This project has created many lasting partnerships and this will allow the financial literacy program to build a foundation for the services that we will continue to offer to students. The monthly wellness classes are another service that we will continue to offer and the topics that are offered will continue to be at the request of student and student parents. Many students enjoy peer relationships and peer support which the monthly wellness classes have provided for many students. The Matched Children's Saving Program is something that we would like to explore more and see if this is something that we can offer in the future. We received a lot of request from students from extended campus but we were not sure how to offer the service considering the banks that many families utilize were local credit unions and I was worried how to keep off campus students engaged in the follow-up activities. I spoke with the single parent that met her savings goals for her two sons. She said she was glad that she had the opportunity to participate in the children savings accounts program and that the initial seed money is what encouraged her and gave her the motivation to open her son's accounts. Alisha also mentioned that the money will be used for her son's education in the future. She said from watching her own mother struggle as a college student and with her own experience raising two sons while in school she could have definitely used an education savings account. She said that she spoke with her mom about it and her mother shared with her that she did have a savings account as a child but her father cashed out the money from her account due to an addiction. Now that she knows what that feels like to have a parent take her money that was set aside for her future she will not do that to her sons. The matching funds for her son's accounts came from her sons collecting coins in their piggy banks. She said it came up to $78.00 and she put it into her oldest son's account and she matched the $78.00 and put that money into her youngest son's account. After they opened the account her oldest son, who is 6 years-old said, "Oh cool, I have my own money account?" She said that it will be an annual thing, where she will have her son's save their coins and cash them in to deposit them into their savings accounts. So they can see their money grow and can learn to save from a young age. She said for the future if we plan on having Children Savings Accounts she suggested a longer period to save and match more than $50 if the grant supports that. The VITA site will continue to grow and this is based on information provided by other Tribal VITA sites. This service will hopefully become the student parent's choice. We are trying to find creative ways to encourage participation in the VITA site without blurring IRS expectation and standards for VITA sites. We have made new partnerships with NWIC departments and staff through this project. It has allowed us to leverage funding and services. This project has provided an opportunity for relationship building that will continue to expand and grow. Sometimes organizations can fragment into departments that focus on their work. Which with the financial literacy program, we are part of Cooperative Extension and outreach and our work takes us out to the schools and communities. Through this project we have been able to work with staff and departments that we have not engaged with in the past so this is a positive experience and has taught me and Regina how to develop relationships. Especially considering we all serve NWIC students, however this grant allowed us to specifically serve and target student parents with young children, who need the most support, advocacy and encouragement. Going into year two of the project we are looking to our students to help guide some of the work. We have a few students who have stepped up and participated in the classes and even offered to teach or facilitate workshops.We have one student parent who has participated in our monthly wellness classes and has taken interest in teaching classes to parents about making regalia, baby boards and also came up with cool organizers for college student parents. She is very crafty and resourceful as a student. She recently graduated but has been willing to volunteer and has expressed interest in continuing to teach parents what she learned. The project brought together student parents and they enjoyed the time that they had together taking classes/workshops, cooking classes and talking about families, resources and being there to encourage one another.
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
Goal 1- At the start of the project September 2016 we hosted the planning meeting with Community partners, school and transition counselors, curriculum developers, and teachers at the local Tribal School to develop and deliver financial literacy classes to 7-12 grade students that attend the local Tribal School. (During 7th-12th grade we served a total of 204 students) This past summer was the 3rd Annual Summer Bridge Camp with 11 students attending the 7th-9th grade middle school camp and 7 students attending the 10th-12th grade high school camp. During the camp we capture student input which will assist with improving next year's camp. One major celebration is that all the students see themselves as college students and are embracing the "college going identity." Many of the students have expressed interest in attending the Summer Bridge Camp next year and have even said they would consider Northwest Indian College as their college choice. One weakness is that we had low number of students that attended the Summer Bridge Camp due to summer school which was not offered in the past couple of years and other summer youth programs such as Pathways Camp. (Summer Bridge had a total of 19 students) In addition to the classes at the local tribal school and the summer bridge camp, NWIC Financial Literacy program has been co-hosting College Previews which students from local high schools come and have a college experience at NWIC for the day. This past year we had (4 students) attend in February, (10 students) attend in April and (13 students) attend in May. We also offered a Saturday Academy which we hosted (12 students) and discussed banks, money management, things to know about choosing college of your choice and played jeopardy at the end to win prizes. Between April and May we offered weekly classes at the Youth Academy and had (2 young women and 3 staff for a total of 5 participants) who completed a series of classes which included; understanding credit, cooking fresh cutting cost, creating a budget, choosing the right college and spending frenzy simulation. All these activities complement the work we are offering during the summer and at the local tribal school and reinforces the pipeline for students to transition from high school to NWIC. (44 participants were served) This year IRS entered into a 5 year contract with a new software company. The software is user friendly but initially was difficult to navigate in regards to setting up the software and training the volunteers how to prepare returns using the software. There were a lot of glitches at the beginning of the tax season and the end of the tax season. For the 2016 tax filing season we had a difficult start. We did open the doors to the Lummi VITA site, Monday February 1, 2017 but it was a little later than planned due to the low number of volunteers. We do not have the numbers in regards to how much money was returned to the Lummi community through refunds, Child Tax Credit or Earned Income Credit since we utilized a new software program. The software did not break down the refunds, EITC, CTC that were returned to the Lummi Community. This is an item that I put on the wish list for the NWIC VITA site. On a positive note we plan on continuing to offer free tax preparation as a result of this grant. We had a Children Savings Plan Night on November 30 with 6 participants in attendance which equaled 4 families. The first family has 3 children, the second family has 1 child and the third family has one child. We provided information and applications to two banks they could choose to use for their child's savings account or they could choose to utilize their current bank. After the event we had a mother who has participated in many of events also sign her two sons up for the children's saving account program. In total we have 4 families and a total of 7 children. Currently Regina J., Financial Literacy Trainer is doing bi-weekly check-ins with families to see how they are doing and she has created ways to check-in with the families. At the end of the CSA we had 5 parents -(2 couples) and a single parent participate until the end with (7 children under the age of 10 were signed up) each received the $50 seed money. (5 children under the age of 10 met their goal) each received the final $50 matching funds. The students who have participated in the CSA program have discussed how difficult it is to save money and more importantly that they have very little extra money to save. This project is allowing student parents to save money with the incentive that their personal contributions to their children's savings account will be matched. This project leads to positive financial behavioral change. We offered Monthly wellness classes from October until June.In October we co-hosted the Trio Day with the Trio Program. We facilitated a "Spending Frenzy" to college students and there were topics on health/wellness, self-care/time management and professionalism/personality type. We had (11 student parents) In November we also hosted a Cultural Sharing Dinner for NWIC students and student parents. We had (31 student parents) attend and the activities were making smudge cubes used for praying and the other activity was teaching students and children how to make cedar rose barrettes and pins. This was facilitated by Lummi Tribal member, Kateri Hillaire, who is also a student parent. In November we offered the Children's Savings Plan night and we had participants decorate piggy banks and we had (5 student parents) attend the session. In March we offered two Cooking Fresh & Cutting Costs class at the College for student parents where we discussed eating and cooking healthy food for our families. All of the parents who attended cooked their own stir fry and we had a wok as a door prize. They were able to pick from a large variety of vegetables, beef and chicken were the protein choices along with noodles or rice. We discussed grocery shopping on a budget, food choices for themselves (3 student parents) and families and the second class we shared recipes that incorporate vegetables without it being noticed. We cooked chicken in a marinade and shredded zucchini in small pieces and cooked it with rice with spices and chicken stalk. Then we combined the chicken and rice/zucchini and baked it in the oven. The meal received rave reviews. (6 student parents) In April we hosted a follow-up for the Children Savings Plan, we shared a meal and had a Do It Yourself Easter Basket activity. All the items came from the dollar store and each participant had an opportunity to create inexpensive baskets for their children. We had (4 student parents) attend. In May we hosted a mother's day make and take (13 students) and in June we hosted a father's day make and take and did not receive a good turnout due to the fact it was finals week which we need to keep in mind in future planning. (1 students) The monthly wellness activities have attracted many students and have been on a variety of topics. We have had a total of 74 participants attend. NWIC offers monthly 2 day financial literacy classes that utilize the First Nations Development Institute BNC curriculum. From September 2016 until August 2017 we have had 29 student participants attend the Financial Literacy classes. The classes focus on developing a spending plan, checking and savings and review the importance of credit. WSU Food Sense was a guest speaker at our Lummi community classes and share up the importance of maintaining healthy food choices and share grocery shopping tips to make healthier food choices without breaking the bank. At the end of the class each participant receives a certificate of completion.
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