State Treasurer's Office Partners with Credit Unions
- Working together to teach invaluable financial management skills to young adults in need

FROM THE OFFICE OF THE STATE TREASURER

June 20, 2008

Contact: Jenalea Randall, Spokesperson
(785) 296-3342 (Office)
(785) 213-2515 (Cell)
jenalea@treasurer.state.ks.us


(TOPEKA, Kan.) - Kansas State Treasurer Lynn Jenkins, CPA and the Capital Chapter of Credit Unions are partnering together to teach the Money$mart Financial Management Seminar to 18 to 21 year olds participating in the Kansas Youth Conservation Corp (KYCC). The day-long seminar will be held on Friday, June 20 at the Topeka Shawnee County Public Library from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. KYCC provides work experience for low income Kansans, foster children, youth living in group homes, high school dropouts, and individuals lacking basic living and working skills.

"Understanding money, credit, and budgets are vital to the success for our state's citizens and it must begin with our youth," said State Treasurer Jenkins. "Money$mart is a perfect way to bring this invaluable financial management information to young people so they can begin to understand how to make responsible decisions with their money."

During the all-day seminar, students will engage in specific workshops regarding topics such as Money & Choices, Budgeting, Interest, Saving/Goal-Setting and Tips on How to Read a Paycheck Stub. The program materials will be taught by Karen Fink, Chris Gurske and Daylene Whitman, volunteers from local credit unions, and Michelle Kaberline with the State Treasurer's office. Money$mart was developed in partnership with the Kansas Credit Union Association.

"These young adults, who are living and working in our community, will be able to immediately apply what they learned in the seminar to their every day lives," State Treasurer Jenkins said.

In addition to Money$mart, Treasurer Jenkins has instituted several other financial education opportunities to encourage Kansans to take a pro-active approach in handling their finances. Statewide programs offered include "MoneyWise," a free monthly financial newsletter and "Save@School," a savings program at local elementary schools. Visit http://www.KansasStateTreasurer.com and click on "Get Smart about Money" to learn more about the Financial Literacy programs available to Kansans.

The Kansas Youth Conservation Corp program operates a year round curriculum with a core work experience piece over the summer months. Participants will gain valuable work and life experiences through completion of the following program components: 10 weeks of full time employment over the summer; conservation projects; participation in job readiness training; daily living skills training; healthy choices training; career development services; academic, vocational, and employment placement assistance; financial management; and conflict resolution/positive communication techniques.

Jenkins, a former State Representative and Senator from Topeka, was re-elected to her second term as Kansas State Treasurer on Nov. 7, 2006. During her time as Treasurer, Jenkins has expanded investment options in Learning Quest and oversaw the re-bidding of the program, returned an average of $9 million a year in unclaimed property to Kansans, initiated multiple financial literacy programs, and eliminated the reliance on state general fund dollars to operate the office. She is a Certified Public Accountant and former small business owner.