Emma Lockwood, Prevention Specialist from TCN Behavioral Health, will be the facilitator for this training. Emma has a passion for the LGBTQ+ community and is excited to share this training with those living and working in Logan and Champaign Counties.

When:

• April 4th from 1pm-3pm
• April 5th from 6pm-8pm

There are two training sessions being offered. Participants are welcome to select training sessions that best suits their schedule.

Where:
TCN Behavioral Health- West Liberty location, 1521 N. Detroit St., West Liberty, OH 43357

RSVP to Cecilia Yelton at [email protected] or by calling 937-465-1045.

There will be approximately 325 students that will come through between 10:30am and 1:00pm. They will have a table and chairs set up for participants.

For questions, contact Christina Flowers at [email protected].

Ticket prices are $10 for adults and $8 for students and seniors. Contact Rusty Myers at [email protected] to purchase tickets.

The program includes classroom lesson(s) to prepare students to assume the role of a 27-year-old adult who is the primary income provider for a family. They receive an occupation, monthly salary, and the number of children they are raising. Students learned to subtract savings, taxes, and other deductions from their monthly income. The amount of money left over is what they spent during the simulation activity. Students spent their money at booths staffed by community volunteers on items typically found in a monthly budget including housing, utilities, groceries, insurance, childcare, and transportation. Throughout the activity, the students kept track of their finances and attempted to complete the simulation with a positive balance.

This program is a product of The Ohio State University and was organized for the community by Extension Program Assistant Kiley Horn in collaboration with DECA students Laken Ridgwell, Justin Rutan, and Grace Ullom and their advisor, Thomas Russell.

While there were many surprises for the participants, childcare costs were one with the biggest financial impact. Some students were shocked to see that monthly childcare cost could potentially be over half of their monthly net income. Scenarios like this directed students to the Financial Advice booth who assisted in getting the student on the right track after they realized that “giving the children back” was not a viable option.
Volunteers noted that the students were never struggling to understand the task, but that they were struggling with the difficult choices they had to make based on their budget available.

A very special thank you to our community partnerships that make programs like this possible for our youth: Jim Arter, Urbana City School Board Member; Audra Bean, CRSI; Joe Buckalew, Paint By Panda and local photographer; Tim Cassady, Champaign County Commissioner; Allison Cox, Urbana parent; Eugene Fields, former Urbana City Council Member; Sabrena Haynes, Champaign County 4-H Advisor and local small business owner; Robin Henry, Junior Achievement; Mandy Hildebrand, Urbana City Schools Treasurer; Marissa Horn, OSU Student; Nancy Martin, Erie Insurance; Kim Snyder, Urbana Chapter of Daughters of the American Revolution; Elaina Thomas, Urbana graduate; Melinda Vincent, Edward Jones Financial Advisor: Christy Wilhelm, Urbana parent; and Staci Wisma, Champaign Works along with Extension staff: Kellie Lemley, Jenni Nott, Melinda Ryan, and Kathy Tutt.

If you would like more information about the Real Money Real World program, please contact Kiley Horn at the Champaign County Extension Office at [email protected] or 937-772-6013.