Success StoryIt's Your Reality



It's Your Reality

Author: Melissa Schenck

Planning Unit: Washington County CES

Major Program: 4-H College and Career Readiness (8-12 Grade Only)

Plan of Work: Increasing life skills education for youth and families

Outcome: Long-Term Outcome

The 2019 Community Needs Assessment emphasized the a desire for life skills training and career readiness for youth in Washington County. These life skills included money management, life decision making, and personal financial understanding. The It's Your Reality program was re-introduced to Washington County as a potential solution for these priority issues through a partnership with the public and parochial schools in Washington County. 

In the It's Your Reality program, youth assume the role of the financial provider of the home and are tasked with making critical decisions about lifestyle and budget choices, similar to those that they will be required to make in the future. A task force within the community was assembled to plan, promote, and facilitate the 2020 program as it reentered Washington County. The team marked features of the program they appreciated as well as identified areas for improvement. They determined the program would be provided to all 141 8th grade Prior to the simulation the team provided financial management classes during school instructional time to insure a base knowledge of personal finance was grasped by the participating youth. This team engaged the expertise of 23 volunteers for the program from vast areas of the county. From financial lenders to religious leaders, volunteers managed booths where youth might spend money in the future. 

141 youth participated in the program this year from Washington County Middle, North Washington Middle, and St. Dominic schools. Following the simulation youth were provided a survey to complete. The results were as follows:

  • 67% Report a greater knowledge of budgeting their money
  • 67% Report a greater knowledge of making wise financial choices
  • 60% Report a greater knowledge of how credit card debt will impact future financial choices
  • 58% Report a greater knowledge of how student loan debt will impact future choices
  • 56% Report a greater knowledge of the link between career choice and lifestyle
  • 73% Report a greater knowledge of what it costs to maintain a household
  • 65% Report a greater knowledge of what it costs to raise a child
  • 64% Report a greater knowledge of how the amount of money maid will influence their lifestyle
  • 63% Report a greater knowledge of how to save for future economic goals. 





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