Financial

Florida Inmate Training
FIT 100 Hour Curriculum

PART 4: PERSONAL MONEY MANAGEMENT

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This Page: [The Need] [Our Materials] [Format] [Topics]

THE NEED [Top]

Like the rest of us, released inmates will be challenged with the responsibilities of earning a living and managing their money. In a day of downsizing, benefit reductions, inflation, and indebtedness, this is a challenge for nearly everyone. For inmates it is even a greater challenge. They often come out of confinement with little or no resources. Many of them have no ID because some expired while in prison or have been lost for various reasons (try carrying on any kind of financial transaction in our society today!). Other obstacles to getting a job are their record, lack of permanent address (they just got out of confinement), and a lack of funds for today's high cost of getting an apartment (divorces are common for long sentences). Worse yet, many inmates are woefully deficient in effective money management - earning an income, managing it and budgeting.

OUR MATERIALS [Top]

Our materials address the special needs that inmates have. The majority of them have less than a 9th grade education. They sometimes need to be taught advantages of even having a personal checking account before being willing to learn how to balance a checkbook. Special emphasis is put on getting and keeping a job and is customized to prisoners' special needs. Spiritual applications and implications are integrated in a helpful (the FIT Curriculum works in conjunction with professional social services, not in competition with them). The seven lessons are described below and come with separate student and facilitator guides. The facilitator guides are page-by-page replicas of the group member guides with additional helps, guiding questions, and commentaries for each of the group activities and discussions. These materials are appropriate for churches, rehab centers, and prisoner re-entry training. For more information, email info@100hour.org or write Florida Inmate Training, P.O. Box 21411, Bradenton, FL 34204-1411.

FORMAT [Top]

Classes of 20 are "open", meaning that the content is not particularly sensitive and confidential. Therefore the restrictions of closing the group to newcomers after the first session and size limits of 10 prisoners that are found in FIT Parts 2 and 3 are not necessary in this Part.

TOPICS [Top]

FIT PART 4 - PERSONAL FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT
Lesson	TOPIC	SECTIONS	HOURS
1	A CLEAN SLATE	Managing Money is as important as Making Money Take the Long View You have to Problem Solve Friends of the Opposite Sex	2
2	DEBT	Child Support How to Get Out of Debt Acceptable and Unacceptable Debt	2
3	QUALITIES FOR SUCCESS	Proper Attitude Excuses that Hold Us Back Giving Perseverance Honesty	2
4	BUDGETING AND SAVING	How does a Budget Work? Sample Budget Why is Saving Important? What are Some Ways to Save? How can you Save when you Owe More than you Make?	2
5	HOUSING	Making Housing Plans Owning vs. Renting	2
6	GETTING A JOB	Attitude! Attitude! Attitude! What Employers Want Education and Training Overcoming Obstacles	2
7	KEEPING A JOB	Main Reasons to Fail Secrets of Success	2

FLORIDA LEGISLATURE MODULES
MODULE #1	VALUES CLARIFICATION-LIVING AS A LAW-ABIDING CITIZEN
MODULE #2	GOAL SETTING AND ACHIEVING
MODULE #3	PROBLEM SOLVING AND DECISION-MAKING
MODULE #4	JOB HUNTING/PRE-EMPLOYMENT SKILLS
MODULE #5	KEEPING A JOB

Site: [Home] [Background] [Topics] [Objectives] [Staff] [FAQ] [Top] [Parenting] [Personal Issues] [Relationships] [Personal Money Management] [Alternative Topics] [Resources]