Final report for EW14-017
Project Information
We did a needs assessment at the Intertribal Agriculture Council. We did a focus group and interview of Federally Recognized Tribal Extension Program agents (FRTEP) and written evaluation from FRTEP and conference participants. From that we decided to create 2 sets of modules (one on basic personal finance and one on business management).
Between when we applied for the grant in October 2013 and when we received the grant FRTEP started doing their own professional development meetings. So instead of holding 2 3.5 day meetings, we had shorted focused meetings as part of other professional development events. We did 2-hours as part of the FRTEP meetings in October 2016. At those meetings people indicated they did not need a follow-up ingeneral, but there was interest in doing something local in Arizona.
Finalize Performance Plan: We have decided that we need to change how we deliver the material. The summary above explains why and what we want the delivery plan to be. We worked with other groups to present materials. We also expanded the curriculum development portion of the project.
Develop Curriculum. We did the focus group study and surveyed existing materials. We came up with outlines for 2 sets of modules for FRTEP agents and others to use to deliver programs. The first set is personal basic finance (the top issue from the focus group) and the second set is for business evaluation and management. Each module is intended for a 2 hour session, but the curriculum can be used in a variety of ways. The list of modules for each are below.
The Personal Finance Modules are listed below.
|
Module |
Topic |
|
Intro |
Introduction |
|
Module 1 |
Record Keeping and Cash Flows |
|
Module 2 |
Loans and Credit Cards |
|
Module 3 |
Loan Process,5 C's of Borrowing |
|
Module 4 |
Credit Reports and Credit Score |
|
Module 5 |
Savings and Budgeting |
|
Module 6 |
Personal Finance |
|
Module 7 |
Creating Your Financial Plan |
|
Module 8 |
Presentation of Plans, Review Plans, and Additional Topics |
The business Management Modules are listed below.
|
Module 1 |
Developing Your Idea |
|
Module 2 |
Market Assessment– estimating market size, pricing |
|
Module 3 |
Introduction to Budgets and Financial Statements |
|
Module 4 |
Financial Analysis |
|
Module 5 |
Introduction to American Indian Land Tenure |
|
Module 6 |
Ownership, Liability and Risk |
|
Module 7 |
Tax Issues for Farmers and Ranchers |
Each module has a guideline with teaching notes, power point file and optional exercises, handouts, etc. The modules will be finalized in 2016.
Conduct Promotional Program. We did this through other groups programs.
Deliver Seminars. The way we will train FRTEP agents and others to deliver the materials needs to be modified from the existing methods. A summary of the reasons is in the summary section above. We worked with other groups to present information and also did stand alone meetings in Arizona.
Cooperators
Education
The education approach was to develop curriculum on money and business management that would be appropriate for Native American participants. Originally we had proposed holding stand alone workshops for Federally Recognized Tribal Extension Agents and others. However, between apply for and getting the grant FRTEP had started their own professional development training. So instead our approach was to reach the same number of people. However, we traveled to and presented at other workshops and conferences. We also did smaller meeting with local groups.
In the end, we had a more extensive curriculum development (two sets of modules rather than one) and less extensive workshops, while still reaching the same numbers.
Education & Outreach Initiatives
Provide information, curriculum and training on providing education about money management, assessing new business ideas, and developing business plans in a way that is accessible and appropriate for American Indian farmers and ranchers.
In a needs assessment of needs for materials and education for American Indian farmers and ranchers money management and basic financial education came out as the top priority. This objective is to provide tools and materials and also education about teaching these topics in an accessible way.
In addition other topics included business plans, assessing new ideas, etc. So information that includes topics unique to American Indian farmers and ranchers such as Indian Land Tenure and tax issues and examples appropriate is provided.
Over 60 professionals were provided information and training on this subject. It was used in educational programs undertaken by them to reach over 90 participants. This provided those individuals with materials and knowledge to make training on this subject easier.
Informal feedback indicated that these were useful materials and appropriate for the target audience.
Educational & Outreach Activities
Participation Summary:
Learning Outcomes
Project Outcomes
Accomplishments
A focus group was conducted at the IAC meetings. Results were summarized both from FRTEP agents and from the broader meeting participants. Those results were used to outline the modules developed.
Money Management Curricula was created to be accessible to American Indian farmers and ranchers.
Business Management curricula was developed to educate about assessing new ideas and creating business plans.
American Indian farmers used the education about financial analysis in their own operations. Several indicated it was helping them make financial decisions.