Alicia Utke-Becher, Human Development & Relationship Educator

• A social marketing campaign–Money Smart Wisconsin–where Extension educators work in coalition with banks, credit unions, libraries, senior centers, and other community partners to schedule a series of money-themed events during one week in April. Through this, local residents gain knowledge and skills to help them improve their financial wellbeing.
  
  The Money Smart Wisconsin Week Kick-Off event at the Above and Beyond Children’s Museum was a huge success, with over 115 individuals in attendance. Families participated in a variety of financial wellness activities, a book reading, and engaging games, all while exploring the museum. In addition to these activities, participants received UW Extension Financial Security resources and flyers detailing upcoming educational programs and opportunities.
• During the Generations financial wellness event, three fifty-minute sessions were offered by Sheboygan County experts: Identity Theft, Handling Financial Change, and Medicare 101. Feedback from attendees was overwhelmingly positive, with 80% rating the quality of the programming as excellent and 20% rating it as good. Participants reported they would be applying strategies learned during the sessions in the future, including how to safely store documents, budgeting techniques, and scam prevention.
• During Money Smart Wisconsin Week, UW Extension Sheboygan County partnered with Consumer Credit Counseling and Junior Achievement to provide two-hour financial wellness programs over three evenings. Local experts offered a variety of programs, including Retirement Planning 101, Cooking on a Budget, Digital Deception, Money Personalities, and Avoiding Scams with a Sheboygan County Police Officer. Feedback from participants was overwhelmingly positive, with 100% of respondents rating the programming as excellent. Some of the strategies they learned and plan to use in the future include strategies for dealing with inflation, preparing for retirement, and increasing their savings.
• During the Uptown Social financial wellness event, three fifty-minute sessions were offered by Sheboygan County experts: Funeral Planning and Guidance, Retirement Planning, and Personal Finances Greatest Hits. 31 older adults participated in the event. Participants reported they would be applying strategies learned during the sessions in the future, including: reviewing current funeral plans and communicating those plans with family, pre-paying for a funeral, and seeking more information on financial strategies.
• An exchange of emails and a meeting with the Sheboygan County Foster Care Coordinator, where Sheboygan County Foster Care and UW Extension Sheboygan County identified community needs and alignment in programming. The goal was to identify future programs for collaboration that will serve foster families.
  
  Sheboygan County foster families need parenting classes for foster licensing, and some biological families involved in the foster care system have been court ordered to attend parenting programs. UW Extension identified and shared resources and current UW Extension program information and registration materials with the Sheboygan County Foster Care Coordinator. UW Extension Sheboygan County is hoping for increased participation of foster families and biological families in UW Extension parenting programs and resources. Participation in Parenting and Family Relationship programs will improve parenting practices, and increase resiliency in families.