key resources: instructor training
For participants and instructors alike, values and attitudes toward money and financial institutions can be deeply rooted in family and culture. In addition, every person does not learn in the same way. The resources below can assist instructors in building cultural competence and increasing their knowledge of adult learning styles. As a result, the instructor's ability to relate to participants and help them achieve financial stability is enhanced.
1) The Culture of Money: The Impact of Race, Ethnicity and Color on the Implementation of Asset-Building Strategies
Orson Watson, The Annie E. Casey Foundation
This report provides a new lens for understanding the cultural, historic, and economic factors that impact consumer choice among communities of color. The importance of developing an accurate profile of a program’s target audience before designing implementation strategies is emphasized, and the report provides examples from community-level practitioners and program managers who considered racial and ethnic dynamics when adapting mainstream strategies to their clientele. www.aecf.org. 
2) Building Cultural Competence: A Tool Kit for Workforce Development
Karyn Trader-Leigh, Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies (JCPES)
Trainers, job coaches, and other professionals in the workforce development field may find this publication especially useful. It focuses on assessing and managing cultural competence, both in training programs and with prospective employers. It is available for purchase ($17) from JCPES, www.jointcenter.org, or 202.789.3500.
3) Women’s Institute Economic Empowerment (EEP) Curriculum
Women’s Institute for Housing and Economic Development
EEP has a train-the-trainer resource for financial education instructors, in both English and Spanish. The principles of adult learning and various approaches to popular education are reviewed. Sections on economic realities and other planning considerations for facilitators are offered.
Economic Empowerment Curriculum Introduction.
4) FDIC Money Smart Financial Education Curriculum
Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC)
A brief section on adult learning styles—visual, auditory, and kinesthetic—can be found in the curriculum’s Guide to Presenting the Money Smart Program, Training Tips section. For the full curriculum, go to
www.fdic.gov/consumers.
5) Finding Paths to Prosperity Facilitator’s Guide
Corporation for Enterprise Development (CFED)
The General Training Information section includes adult learning principles and key elements of effective financial education. Initially developed for Individual Development Account Programs, the curriculum’s lessons are transferable to other financial education programs. For the full curriculum, go to www.cfed.org.
6) Focus on Basics: Connecting Research and Practice
National Center for the Study of Adult Learning and Literacy
This web resource was written to enhance traditional adult education programs, but its lessons are transferable to financial education. Relevant sections are available here:
- Adult multiple intelligences, www.ncsall.net
- Adult development, www.ncsall.net
- Modes of delivery/differentiated instruction, www.ncsall.net