ADULT EDUCATION

The United States Bankruptcy Judges sitting in the Second Circuit, along with practicing attorneys and financial experts, are available to provide educational programs to adult learners of all ages regarding financial responsibility and empowerment.

Our Programs
  1. Financial Literacy and Empowerment
    Teams of judges, attorneys, and financial experts are available to partner with schools, religious organizations, and community-based organizations to arrange interactive presentations on financial literacy and empowerment. Understanding the basics of credit and awareness of one’s financial obligations and rights is critical for each and every one of us. We are particularly focused on the needs of senior citizens, veterans, victims of domestic violence, students, persons with intellectual challenges, and persons newly arrived in the United States and those who tend to face the most significant financial challenges. To arrange a program, please contact the Clerk of Court at any of the Bankruptcy Courts within the Second Circuit using the following links:

  1. The CARE Program: Credit Abuse Resistance Education
    CARE logo CARE is a national nonprofit, community service financial education outreach program that provides bankruptcy and other financial professionals to schools and community organizations to teach young adults the basics of financial literacy and the fundamentals of sound financial management. It was founded by now-retired Bankruptcy Judge John Ninfo of the Western District of New York.

Topics covered include Budgeting and Saving; Credit and Debt; and Understanding Student Loans. Presentations are supplemented with a content rich website, Credit Abuse Resistance Education (CARE) Program

Model Lesson Plan

To the Presenter: Many young adults use credit cards and fail to appreciate the added expense of buying on credit and the short- and long-term consequences of bad credit. The goal of this presentation is to teach students about the true costs of credit, the consequences of credit abuse and ways to avoid credit abuse.

This outline is a suggested lesson plan for an approximately 45-minute class and is primarily in a Q&A format to facilitate an interactive session. We bracketed some non-essential sections that the presenter might skip for the sake of time.

The presenter should feel free to adapt the presentation to his or her own style and to introduce additional materials. Further resources may be found at care4yourfuture.org. Additionally, we strongly recommend that the presenter leave time to answer questions about the practice of law. Mentoring is an important part of the CARE Program!

I. – Introduction: Provide Brief Overview of Presenter’s Background
II. – What is Credit?
III. – Example Scenario
IV. – The Dangers of Abusing Credit
V. – Steps To Avoid Credit Abuse
VI. – Bankruptcy
VII. – Conclusion

  1. Consumer Bankruptcy
    The Pro Se Law Clerk for the United States Bankruptcy Court of the Eastern District of New York is available for presentations on the topic of Consumer Bankruptcy, primarily chapter 7 bankruptcies. Topics such as types of bankruptcies, various consequences of filing for chapter 7 bankruptcy, the automatic stay, discharge, and the process and procedures of filing a chapter 7 case are discussed. The Pro Se Law Clerk may field general questions about these topics and may give procedural advice, but may not dispense legal advice. Often, the Pro Se Law Clerk presents as part of a panel of other attorneys and/or financial advisors called upon to discuss related topics on consumer debt and management of personal finances. Presentations have been given at local bar associations, law schools, and at the Manhattan VA. Presentations may be scheduled by calling the Pro Se Law Clerk at (347) 394-1738.
Learn More

Smart about Money
Free financial literacy courses.

My Retirement Paycheck
Explore retirement decisions.

Consumer Information From the Federal Trade Commission
Learn about money and credit, protecting your identity, scam alerts, how to file a complaint, and how to get a free credit report.

My Money
Resources about personal financial management from the Financial Literacy and Education Commission.

Financial Empowerment
Resources about personal financial management from the Financial Literacy and Education Commission.

Jump$tart Coalition for Personal Financial Literacy
great clearinghouse of all manner of financial education materials and resources.

FDIC
FDIC offers an extensive financial literacy curriculum for students, adults and older adults.

Additional Resources (by Category)

General

    • Sources
      • Hathaway, I. & Khatiwada, S. (2008). Do financial education programs work? Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland Working Paper No. 08-03.
      • CARY SIEGEL, WHY DIDN’T THEY TEACH ME THIS IN SCHOOL: 99 PERSONAL MONEY MANAGEMENT PRJNCIPLES TO LIVE BY (2013)
      • ROBERT T. KIYOSAKI, UNFAIR ADVANTAGE: THE POWER OF FINANCIAL EDUCATION (2015)
    • Tools
      • C.A.R.E. – “It’s a matter of life or debt.”: Credit Abuse Resistance Education – C.A.R.E. – is the brainchild of a now retired bankruptcy judge in New York and is now overseen by Executive Director Anna Flores, under the auspices of the American Bankruptcy Institute. This financial literacy outreach program has grown to almost all 50 states. The site has links to pages for students, parents, educators, and professionals: The information available on each page includes handouts, articles, and videos on topics such as budgeting, credit card information, buying a car, minimizing debt, and predatory lending. The site includes a couple of Spanish language handouts.
      • Money Smart for Adults: The FDIC developed the Money Smart program to help low- and moderate-income individuals understand basic financial services, develop money management skills, and learn how to use banking services effectively.

Financial Literacy for Persons with Disabilities

Youth Financial Literacy

    • Sources
    • Tools
      • Money Smart for Young People: The FDIC developed the Money Smart program to help youth understand basic financial services, develop money management skills, and learn how to use banking services effectively.
      • Personal Money Skills for Life: This 22-lesson curriculum tackles saving, credit, budgeting, banking, and more. Lesson topics are listed here.
      • How to talk to your Kids About Money
      • FoolProof ®: Billed as C.A.R.E. ‘s financial literacy partner and endorsed by the National Association of Consumer Advocates, FoolProof ® provides online modules and videos (over 100) for all age groups: middle and high school students, parents, college-age students, young adults, and adults.

Elderly

Court Education