Washington Asset Building Coalition Blog http://www.washingtonabc.org/blog Blog for the Washington Asset Building Coalition Thu, 27 Oct 2011 02:53:52 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.4 WABC’s Fall Meeting: Oct 24th in Federal Way http://www.washingtonabc.org/blog/2011/10/13/wabcs-fall-meeting-oct-24th-in-federal-way/ http://www.washingtonabc.org/blog/2011/10/13/wabcs-fall-meeting-oct-24th-in-federal-way/#comments Thu, 13 Oct 2011 23:31:28 +0000 rebeca http://www.washingtonabc.org/blog/?p=753 Continue reading →]]> Please join us in Federal Way on October 24th for a day of learning, networking, and discussion about asset building in Washington State. Highlights of the day include:

  • Samples of new EITC outreach materials on display
  • Panel discussion on foreclosure mediation
  • Information about SB 5921 – Revising Social  Service Programs and HB 2082 – Making Changes to the Disability Lifeline Program and how these bills will impact your work
  • Exploring partnership opportunities with the Northwest Credit Union Association, the Division of Child Support, the College Bound Scholarship Program, and Bank On Washington
  • How to support asset building for people with disabilities
  • Gathering input for WABC’s 2012 policy agenda

The meeting is free with onsite, free parking, and lunch is included, thanks to our sponsor Express Advantage. We only ask that you register so that we have enough food, seating, and materials for everyone. Please go to the registration page where you will also find directions. We hope to see you on October 24th!

]]> http://www.washingtonabc.org/blog/2011/10/13/wabcs-fall-meeting-oct-24th-in-federal-way/feed/ 0 Kindergarten to College: A First-in-the-Nation Initiative to Set All Kindergarteners on the Path to College http://www.washingtonabc.org/blog/2011/09/27/kindergarten-to-college-a-first-in-the-nation-initiative-to-set-all-kindergarteners-on-the-path-to-college/ http://www.washingtonabc.org/blog/2011/09/27/kindergarten-to-college-a-first-in-the-nation-initiative-to-set-all-kindergarteners-on-the-path-to-college/#comments Tue, 27 Sep 2011 19:59:15 +0000 rebeca http://www.washingtonabc.org/blog/?p=727 Continue reading →]]> In the Spring of 2011, the City of San Francisco automatically opened college savings accounts for over 1,000 San Francisco Kindergartners. The City also “seeded” every account with an initial deposit of $50. The account openings marked the official launch of San Francisco’s Kindergarten to College initiative, or “K2C.” This initiative, the first of its kind in the nation, aims to improve the odds for San Francisco Kindergartners and set all San Francisco public school children on a path to college, from the very first day of school. The New America Foundation released a new paper which chronicles the development of an innovative policy and presents an informative and instructive case study.This case study provides an overview of K2C, why city leaders started it, and how it works. To access the paper, click here.

]]> http://www.washingtonabc.org/blog/2011/09/27/kindergarten-to-college-a-first-in-the-nation-initiative-to-set-all-kindergarteners-on-the-path-to-college/feed/ 0 Webinar – Coming Up with Cash in a Pinch: Emergency Savings & Its Alternatives http://www.washingtonabc.org/blog/2011/09/27/webinar-coming-up-with-cash-in-a-pinch-emergency-savings-its-alternatives/ http://www.washingtonabc.org/blog/2011/09/27/webinar-coming-up-with-cash-in-a-pinch-emergency-savings-its-alternatives/#comments Tue, 27 Sep 2011 19:57:54 +0000 rebeca http://www.washingtonabc.org/blog/?p=730 Continue reading →]]> The Center for Financial Security (CFS) is hosting a webinar on Tuesday, October 11, 2011 from 11am to noon (Pacific time) about emergency savings. Emergency savings serves as a form of insurance against non-routine expenditures such as medical bills or car repair.   Discussants for the webinar, J. Michael Collins, CFS Faculty Director; Pamela Chan of New America and Mae Watson Grote of The Financial Clinic. To register for the webinar, click here.

]]> http://www.washingtonabc.org/blog/2011/09/27/webinar-coming-up-with-cash-in-a-pinch-emergency-savings-its-alternatives/feed/ 0 October 7 Webinar: US Household Finance Initiative Prospective Grant Applicant Q&A http://www.washingtonabc.org/blog/2011/09/27/october-7-webinar-us-household-finance-initiative-prospective-grant-applicant-qa/ http://www.washingtonabc.org/blog/2011/09/27/october-7-webinar-us-household-finance-initiative-prospective-grant-applicant-qa/#comments Tue, 27 Sep 2011 19:57:05 +0000 rebeca http://www.washingtonabc.org/blog/?p=732 Continue reading →]]> Innovations for Poverty Action and the US Household Finance Initiative (USHFI) will be hosting a grant application webinar on October 7, 2011 for financial institutions and other organizations interested in submitting a proposal for the Financial Products Innovation Fund.  This webinar will include an overview of the US Household Finance Initiative and the research priorities of this grant competition, as well as a Q&A session with USHFI Director Dr. Jonathan Zinman. To register for the webinar, click here.The full RFP and supporting documents can be found here: http://www.poverty-action.org/ushouseholdfinance/RFP. Proposals are due October 31, 2011. For more information, contact Rebecca Rouse at rrouse@poverty-action.org ]]> http://www.washingtonabc.org/blog/2011/09/27/october-7-webinar-us-household-finance-initiative-prospective-grant-applicant-qa/feed/ 0 Law Quashes Local Payday Lenders http://www.washingtonabc.org/blog/2011/09/27/law-quashes-local-payday-lenders/ http://www.washingtonabc.org/blog/2011/09/27/law-quashes-local-payday-lenders/#comments Tue, 27 Sep 2011 19:55:46 +0000 rebeca http://www.washingtonabc.org/blog/?p=724 The Columbian newspaper’s front page article (9/25/2011) highlighted the effectiveness of the state’s payday lending legislation. Clark County has seen eight payday lenders close shop, leaving nine lenders in business. To read the article, click here.

]]> http://www.washingtonabc.org/blog/2011/09/27/law-quashes-local-payday-lenders/feed/ 0 Washington’s Payday Lending Law is working! Consumers saved $122 million in fees http://www.washingtonabc.org/blog/2011/09/27/washingtons-payday-lending-law-is-working-consumers-saved-122-million-in-fees/ http://www.washingtonabc.org/blog/2011/09/27/washingtons-payday-lending-law-is-working-consumers-saved-122-million-in-fees/#comments Tue, 27 Sep 2011 19:54:41 +0000 rebeca http://www.washingtonabc.org/blog/?p=721 Continue reading →]]> The 2010 Payday Lending Report released by the Department of Financial Institutions (DFI) shows that the law that went into effect on January 1, 2010 has been extremely effective at curbing predatory payday lending. The information, collected from the payday lending industry, shows that Washington consumers paid $122 million dollars less in fees than they did in 2009 when the law was passed. It also showed that payday lending locations decreased by one-third since the new law went into effect. To read the full report, click here.

]]> http://www.washingtonabc.org/blog/2011/09/27/washingtons-payday-lending-law-is-working-consumers-saved-122-million-in-fees/feed/ 0 WABC Recruiting Executive Director http://www.washingtonabc.org/blog/2011/09/27/wabc-recruiting-executive-director/ http://www.washingtonabc.org/blog/2011/09/27/wabc-recruiting-executive-director/#comments Tue, 27 Sep 2011 13:52:42 +0000 rebeca http://www.washingtonabc.org/blog/?p=718 Continue reading →]]> The Washington Asset Building Coalition (WABC) is seeking an Executive Director. WABC is a 501c3 nonprofit organization that is the leading voice for asset building policy advocacy, innovative action, and capacity building for the network of organizations and local asset building coalitions across Washington State. The Search Team will begin reviewing application materials on October 4, 2011. For more information, click here.

]]> http://www.washingtonabc.org/blog/2011/09/27/wabc-recruiting-executive-director/feed/ 0 Helping Parents in the Child Support System Build Assets: How Child Support Agencies Can Partner with and Asset Building Organizations http://www.washingtonabc.org/blog/2011/09/22/helping-parents-in-the-child-support-system-build-assets-how-child-support-agencies-can-partner-with-and-asset-building-organizations/ http://www.washingtonabc.org/blog/2011/09/22/helping-parents-in-the-child-support-system-build-assets-how-child-support-agencies-can-partner-with-and-asset-building-organizations/#comments Thu, 22 Sep 2011 18:14:45 +0000 Rachel Reischman http://www.washingtonabc.org/blog/?p=709 Continue reading →]]> Presentation materials are now available from a recent webinar conducted through the Building Assets for Fathers and Families in Child Support (BAFFCS) initiative, funded by the federal Office of Community Services (OCS), in partnership with the Office of Child Support Enforcement (OCSE). The webinar highlighted partnerships between Assets for Independence (AFI), asset building, fatherhood, and child support programs to help parents in the child support system build assets and ultimately, be able to better provide for their children.  Speakers discussed how helping parents who pay child support build financial strength is part of the new direction of the Office of Child Support Enforcement.  State Child Support Enforcement leaders described ways that child support agencies can help parents – where appropriate – address child support debt and monthly payment amounts so that they are better able to meet child support obligations and save money.

SPEAKERS
Jenn Burnszynski_New Directions in Child Support_9 13, Director, Division of Technical Assistance, U.S. Office of Child Support Enforcement

Michael Hayes_Child Support and Financial Stability_9 13, Director for Family Initiatives, Child Support Division, Texas Office of the Attorney General

David Stillman_Building Assets Presentation for Fathers and Families in Washington State_9 13, Interim Assistant Secretary for the Economic Services Administration, Washington State

]]> http://www.washingtonabc.org/blog/2011/09/22/helping-parents-in-the-child-support-system-build-assets-how-child-support-agencies-can-partner-with-and-asset-building-organizations/feed/ 0 Medical Debt Training http://www.washingtonabc.org/blog/2011/09/19/medical-debt-training/ http://www.washingtonabc.org/blog/2011/09/19/medical-debt-training/#comments Mon, 19 Sep 2011 19:08:59 +0000 Rachel Reischman http://www.washingtonabc.org/blog/?p=701 Continue reading →]]> Why is Medical Debt Training important?
Medical debt has a great impact on so many Americans — Forty-nine million (28 percent) American adults under the age of 65 have medical debt or bills that they are paying off over time. As the staff at a nonprofit organization working on family economic success, you want to be able to find out whether medical debt factors into the lives of your clients; and, you want to be prepared to help them.

After taking the two new medical debt trainings on AssetPlatform.org, Medical Debt Resolution – Screening and Four Basic Medical Debt Strategies, you will be able to:

  • Screen clients for medical debt;
  • Collect the information you need to work the case;
  • Choose a strategy to reduce the debt; and
  • Follow through on that strategy.

Take the trainings today and learn how you can help your clients get out of medical debt! At AssetPlatform.org (on the Debt page) you will also find the first training in this series: Introduction to Medical Debt.

]]> http://www.washingtonabc.org/blog/2011/09/19/medical-debt-training/feed/ 0 FDIC Study to Evaluate Money Smart for Young Adults Curriculum Impact http://www.washingtonabc.org/blog/2011/09/19/fdic-study-to-evaluate-money-smart-for-young-adults-curriculum-impact/ http://www.washingtonabc.org/blog/2011/09/19/fdic-study-to-evaluate-money-smart-for-young-adults-curriculum-impact/#comments Mon, 19 Sep 2011 18:59:01 +0000 Rachel Reischman http://www.washingtonabc.org/blog/?p=695 Continue reading →]]> The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) will be conducting a study to evaluate how the Money Smart for Young Adults curriculum impacts how participants handle money. 

Selected sites will be asked to provide information about their use of the curriculum, and to have their students take pre- and post-training surveys through which we will measure their financial knowledge and behavior. All selected sites will receive a stipend in appreciation for their willingness to help with this important research effort. The results of the study may be used to develop future changes to the curriculum, and will also be disseminated to the financial education community nationwide. 

If you are interested in participating, or would like more information about the study, please submit your information online at http://www.fdic.gov/consumers/consumer/moneysmart/study.html, e-mail communityaffairs@fdic.gov, or call 1-800-287-1581.

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