Simulated Money Management Training for At-Risk Youth

描述(由申请者提供)：我们建议为处于风险中的青少年开发一个全面的、交互式的理财多媒体课程。这个名为《巴克博士的赚钱技巧》的项目将成为Vstreet.com网站的重要组成部分。Vstreet.com是西北传媒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。为问题青年提供服务的机构努力让他们重新融入社会，主要是通过工作世界。因此，理财技能是最重要的，但很少有项目真正考虑到这些年轻人的情况和心态。VStreet在其覆盖范围和内容方面都有所发展，现在准备纳入拟议中的想法。这包括开发一个完整的理财互动课程，并在网站上模拟一个互动环境，向用户展示要求他们使用理财技能的现实世界条件和意外情况。整个课程将由三个单元组成，涵盖预算、智能购物和银行等各种主题。在第一阶段，我们将开发预算编制课程单元，并为模拟编写设计文档(技术蓝图)。我们将评估该计划在提高知识、能力和理财态度方面的能力，该计划将与太平洋西北地区的一群就业培训人员一起进行。还将制作CD-ROM和DVD的课程组成部分，加入通过VStreet开发的一整套独立课程产品。在第二阶段，我们将制作剩下的两个课程单元，并在VStreet上加入模拟的互动环境。参与这个项目的高危青年将获得重要的理财信息和技能，这可能会帮助他们更成功地过渡到独立生活。当他们从军队中解放出来时，这些年轻人往往没有准备好养活自己，特别是保留可行的工作。对于这些年轻人来说，拥有管理金钱的必要技能和态度是为自己创造一个实际、稳定和健康的结果的首要条件。

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.