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02/04/2011 Networks Financial Institute
Networks Financial Institute
WHAT WE DO:
Networks Financial Institute (NFI) exists to facilitate broad, collaborative thinking, dialogue and progress in the evolving financial services marketplace through three targeted initiatives:
- Develop future financial services industry leaders.
- Improve financial services industry decision making, innovation, and progress.
- Improve financial literacy and decision making of current and future consumers.
With innovative programs and services, NFI provides an unprecedented link among educators, students, professionals, policy-makers and citizens. Launched in 2003 as an outreach of the Scott College of Business at Indiana State University, NFI is made possible through a generous grant from Lilly Endowment Inc., an Indianapolis-based, private philanthropic foundation.
Networks Financial Institute is a not-for-profit organization. It is headquartered on the campus of Indiana State University in Terre Haute, IN, with additional offices in Indianapolis, IN and Washington, D.C.
WHAT WE OFFER:
Networks Scholars Professional Development Program
NFI is committed to developing tomorrow’s dedicated, knowledgeable and respected financial industry professionals through the Networks Scholars program. The program is a four-year scholarship for qualified ISU freshman, who choose to pursue a career in the financial services industry. These students are prepared to excel in their careers through participation in an intensive Professional Development Program.
Research and Thought Leadership in the Financial Services Industry
NFI is a national thought leader working to answer challenges surrounding the financial services industry. Through a network of prominent research fellows, along with its own staff researchers, and faculty of the Scott College of Business NFI continually develops policy briefs, working papers and related research publications. NFI connects the research of thought leaders with those leading change in the financial services industry. Through a series of topic-specific conferences, meetings and publications, NFI facilitates educated, informed leadership in areas of critical importance to the future of the industry.
Kids Count® Program:
- Kids Count on the Road to Financial LiteracyTM is a 15-unit curriculum for the underserved population of grades 3 –5. This curriculum forms the core of the program and offers teacher-tested and student-friendly lessons to acquaint students with the fundamental mechanics of managing money. Free downloadable lessons are mapped to educational standards for all 50 states.
- Kids Count: The Fun Game of Dollars and Sense™ is a unique award-winning board game that offers flexible and fun ways to teach and reinforce key lessons about economics and money management that can be easily used in the classroom or the family room.
- Nickelsburg™, housed in the Kids Count Online Classroom™, is a free web-based resource that provides an interactive field trip to the virtual community of Nickelsburg™ where students practice and apply what they've learned through Kids Count® lessons.
- My Family Counts™ is an activity workbook that presents a way for Kids Count® lessons to follow the student home with tools for families to use to teach and practice responsible money management.
- NFI offers half-day professional development workshops that explore the four curriculum components through hands-on activities and small group interactions. Participants will evaluate their self-efficacy in teaching financial education and learn ways to integrate financial literacy lessons in the elementary classroom. Workshop deliverables include a classroom implementation plan and curriculum materials.
WHAT WE NEED:
It is imperative to start in the early years of children’s lives to impact their future development positively. Basic literacy skills, including financial literacy, are the building blocks of development and self-sufficiency. By teaching students about earning, spending wisely, saving, sharing and investing, they learn to respect money and develop a foundation of understanding and the basic skills needed to care for themselves and others.
Our goal is to build awareness of our complimentary, innovative online and hands-on programs, and increase their use so that the financial literacy of today’s youth can improve. With everyone’s help, this goal can be achieved.
WHAT’S NEW:
Nickelsburg™ online learning community is being enhanced to improve accessibility through the use of an optional audio component for students who read below grade level. The banking transaction module will be enhanced with four new games that will add more budgeting and spending planning. Students will be able to enter the game site and play multiple times, and through their play will be challenged to learn standard financial terms such as budgeting, needs, wants, goals, priorities, mortgage and much more. Enhancements will be complete by May 1, 2011.
NFI continually strives to broaden financial literacy educational efforts within and beyond the classroom as well as promote understanding of personal money management through partnerships with local organizations committed to financial literacy education. NFI also works to expand our financial literacy education offerings to reach adolescents and young adults with particular focus on the Indiana State University and area communities.
CONTACT INFORMATION:
Brittany Greene
Assistant Director, Financial Literacy
812-237-3859
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