Simulated Money Management Training for At-Risk Youth

简介（由申请人提供）：我们建议为有风险的青少年发展一套全面、互动的多媒体理财课程。这个名为“巴克博士的理财技巧”的项目将成为Vstreet.com的一个组成部分。Vstreet.com是西北媒体公司开发的一个网络虚拟社区，致力于帮助年轻人向独立过渡。服务问题青年的机构主要通过工作世界努力使他们重新融入社会。因此，资金管理技能是最重要的，但很少有项目真正考虑到这些年轻人的情况和心态。Vstreet在拓展范围和内容方面都有所发展，现在准备将提议的想法纳入其中。这包括在网站上开发一个完整的关于理财的互动课程和一个模拟的互动环境，向用户展示现实世界的情况和需要他们使用理财技能的突发事件。整个课程将包括三个单元，涵盖预算、智能购物和银行等各种主题。在第一阶段，我们将开发预算课程单元，并编写模拟的设计文档（技术蓝图）。我们将与太平洋西北地区的一群就业团学员一起评估该项目在提高理财知识、能力和态度方面的能力。该课程还将制作CD-ROM和DVD，加入通过Vstreet开发的整套独立课程产品。在第二阶段，我们将制作剩下的两个课程单元，并在Vstreet上加入模拟互动环境。参与这个项目的高危青少年将获得理财的重要信息和技能，帮助他们更成功地过渡到独立生活。当他们从服务中解放出来时，这些青年往往没有准备好养活自己，特别是保留可行的工作。拥有必要的理财技能和态度对这些年轻人来说至关重要，这样他们才能为自己创造一个实际、稳定和健康的结果。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): We propose developing a comprehensive, interactive multimedia program for at-risk youth on managing money. The program, titled Dr. Buck's Money Skills, will become an integral part of Vstreet.com, a virtual community on the web developed by Northwest Media, Inc. dedicated to helping youth make the transition toward independence. Agencies serving troubled youth strive to re-integrate them into society primarily through the world of work. Money management skills, therefore, have the highest priority, but few programs truly take into account the circumstances and mind-set of these youth. Vstreet has evolved both in terms of its outreach and its content, and is now poised to incorporate the proposed idea. This involves developing a full-length interactive curriculum on managing money and a simulated interactive environment on the site that presents users with real-world conditions and contingencies requiring them to use money management skills. The overall curriculum will consist of three units, covering a variety of topics on budgeting, smart shopping, and banking. In Phase I, we will develop the curriculum unit on budgeting and also write the design document (technical blueprint) for the simulation. We will assess the program's ability to improve knowledge, competence, and attitudes on managing money with a group of Job Corps trainees in the Pacific Northwest. The curriculum component will also be produced for CD-ROM and DVD, joining the suite of stand-alone curriculum products developed through Vstreet. In Phase II we will produce the two remaining curriculum units and incorporate the simulated interactive environment on Vstreet. At-risk youth participating in this project will gain important information and skills about managing money that may help them make a more successful transition toward independent living. When they emancipate from services, these youth are often ill prepared to sustain themselves and, especially, to retain viable work. Having the necessary skills and attitudes for managing money is paramount for these youth to create a practical, stable, and healthy outcome for themselves.