ECNV's Monthly Spotlight: Independent Living Skills Training
One of ECNV’s core services is independent living skills (ILS) training. Whether it is exploring different techniques to complete daily routines, working on planning nutritious meals and shopping for them, or learning how to navigate the local transportation system, ILS training helps individuals live as independently as they would like in their own homes and in their communities.
ECNV provides an array of ILS training and this month we are highlighting financial literacy & financial management. Our training not only helps individuals learn and understand money concepts, but it also helps them put that knowledge into action.
Financial literacy and financial management are key components to living independently. Not only does it equip individuals with the knowledge and skills needed to manage their money responsibly and make informed decisions, but it also helps individuals cover their basic needs, plan for their future, and handle unexpected expenses without relying on others.
By developing strong financial habits and confidence in money management, individuals are better prepared to maintain stability, achieve personal goals, and sustain long-term independence.
Our Money Matters 101 class covers very basic financial concepts – what is money, how you can use money to pay for things you need, and how to decide what things are important to pay for. Participants learn to do basic budgeting through identifying financial wants, needs, and obligations. They also learn how to protect themselves and their money by identifying and avoiding scams and financial abuse. Although the class is offered virtually 4 times a year, arrangements can be made to offer the curriculum in other ways. For more information, please visit the Money Matters landing page.
For those who have already have a basic understanding of money, ECNV will be offering their inaugural session of Money Matters 201. This class is a hands-on personal finance class that teaches participants how to manage their money in real life by creating and using a budget. Participants learn how to plan, spend, and save their money wisely so they can meet their needs and reach their financial goals.
The overall goal is to help consumers feel more confident handling everyday financial decisions, such as paying bills, saving regularly, and avoiding unnecessary debt.
This class will take place April 20th – 24th from 6pm – 7:30pm. For more information, please contact Starr Robertson starrr@ecnv.org.
ECNV is also excited to announce the launch of Money Moves: An active camp for financial education. This camp will be offered in-person during students’ spring break from school (March 30th – April 3rd) and provide various financial skill-building activities aimed to keep students engaged, work as a team, and practice budgeting and spending in hands-on, real-world scenarios. At this time, the camp is only offered to Pre-Employment Transition Services (Pre-ETS) students and all referrals must come from the Department for Aging and Rehabilitative Services (DARS). For more information, please contact your DARS counselor or Paul Whitney paulw@ecnv.org.
