Financial education remains a prevalent need for youth.  The Washington County Family and Consumer Sciences Agent partnered with the Washington County Horticulture Agent and the Washington County School Gifted and Talented Coordinator to plan and lead the Financial Management Day for the Teen Leadership Washington County program.  Teen Leadership was started by the retired Washington County 4-H Agent and the Washington County Community Education Director in 2003 to develop the community knowledge and leadership skills of local youth.  The entire program features a retreat, assignments that strengthen community involvement and leadership knowledge, and days that focus on specific themes like agriculture, industry, law and justice, local government, state government, health and emergency services, and media.  Financial management day was added in 2017.  Since the retirement of the Washington County 4-H Agent, the program carries on under new facilitation.  

The Teen Leadership program continues this year with 23 teens under the leadership of the Washington County Family and Consumer Sciences Agent, the Washington County Horticulture Agent, and the Washington County School Gifted and Talented Coordinator.  Financial Management day began at a local bank with education on checking and savings accounts, debit cards, credit cards, identity theft protection, and credit reports.  A local insurance agent then came to speak about vehicle insurance.  After that, the school guidance counselor discussed college expenses, student loans, and scholarship opportunities.  Following lunch, the Family and Consumer Sciences Agent led activities to teach budgeting for personal finance and tied in leadership lessons.  To challenge the teens to think on a larger scale, they worked in teams to complete a school budget and to design their own festival with budgetary allocations to various components.  The teens then practiced their public speaking skills by presenting their festival ideas to the group.  The day was completed with education on investing for the future by a local financial advisor.  In evaluations, the teens indicated that they learned important lessons from each session with comments like "learned a lot of useful information," "thinking ahead is important," and "if you budget well, you will save money."  The Washington County Extension Service will continue to partner with the community in the development of youth and leadership.