Knowledge and Skills: Where the Path Begins

Starting with basic education
http://www.literacydirectory.org
(to locate local adult basic education program)

http://www.careeronestop.org
(to locate local one-stop center)

Accessing basic education
http://www.workforcealliance.org/who/platform_wia.shtm
(Workforce Investment Act fact sheet)

http://www.clasp.org/publications/ita_preliminary_report_may_2001.pdf
("Implementation of Individual Training Account Policies Under the Workforce Investment Act: Early Information from Local Areas")

Getting the knowledge and skills to advance
http://www.bls.gov/oco/home.htm
("Occupational Outlook Handbook" on training and qualifications necessary for different jobs, what they pay, and the outlook for job growth)

http://www.aacc.nche.edu/Content/NavigationMenu/AboutCommunityColleges/
CommunityCollegeFinder1/Community_College_Finder.htm
(Community College Finder for general information about community and technical colleges)

Opportunities to get the knowledge and skills to advance
http://www.cbpp.org/5-18-01wel.htm
(opportunities for TANF parents to better prepare for work)

http://www.benton.org
(opportunities for public access to computers and training in their use)

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Exploring your choices for assistance to pay for college
http://www.petersons.com
(financial aid for college)

http://www.studentaid.ed.gov/PORTALSWebApp/students/english/publications.jsp
(Federal Pell Grants)

http://www.finaid.org
(government student grants and loans)

Accessing financial assistance for education and training
http://www.futureworks-web.com/pdf/Held%20Back%20report.pdf
("Held Back: How Student Aid Programs Fail Working Adults" for ideas on how to improve student aid programs to better assist adult learners)

Applying what you know to starting your own business
http://www.ncced.org/associations/index.html
(to locate local community development corporation)

http://www.microenterpriseworks.org
(to learn about microenterprises)

http://www.sba.gov/starting/
(local training opportunities and helpful startup tools, checklists and resources) \

Preparation to run a business
http://www.microenterpriseworks.org/services/policy/
(to learn about the federal Small Business Administration's Program for Investment in Microentrepreneurs)

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Jobs Plus: A Path to More Than a Paycheck

Finding a job and the benefits that go with it
http://www.collegeview.com/careers/index.html
(to match your interests and skills to job areas)

http://www.careeronestop.org
(to locate a local one-stop career center)

http://www.thebeehive.org
(searching and applying for a job)

http://www.managingmymoney.com
(searching and applying for a job)

Gaining other benefits based on employment
http://www.cbpp.org/eic2002/index.html
(to learn about and apply for EITC)

http://www.irs.gov
(search under "Child Tax Credit" to learn about recent changes)

http://www.nwlc.org
(to access "Credit Where Credit Is Due" to check eligibility for federal tax credits)

http://www.taxadmin.org/fta/link/link.html
(to check out state tax credits)

http://www.dol.gov/elaws/flsa.htm
(government rules on basic job protection)

Increasing the value of a job and helping with expenses
http://www.cbpp.org
(to find out more about making work pay through the EITC)

http://www.nwlc.org
(to learn more about childcare tax provisions)

Protecting the lowest paid workers
http://www.epinet.org
(boosting earnings through the minimum wage)

Getting by when your earnings are limited

http://www.hud.gov/faqs/faqrenting.cfm
(to see if you may qualify for a federal rental assistance program or to locate a housing counseling agency)

http://www.nlihc.org
(to see if you may qualify for a federal rental assistance program or to locate a housing counseling agency)

http://www.dol.gov/dol/topic/health-plans/cobra.htm
(COBRA coverage)

http://www.cms.hhs.gov
(Medicaid and SCHIP programs)

http://www.acf.dhhs.gov/news/welfare/stlinks.htm
(Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF) services and contacts)

http://www.dol.gov/esa/regs/compliance/owcp/wc.htm
(Workers' Compensation benefits and rules)

Sustaining income between jobs
http://www.nelp.org
(for information about choices the federal government and the states have made and might make about unemployment compensation)

Insuring against major health care expenses
http://www.statehealthfacts.kff.org
(to find out about health care coverage)

Supplementing low earnings
http://www.spdp.org
(TANF policies)

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Managing your money

http://www.consumerreports.org
(guidance for buying a vehicle)

http://www.consumer-action.org/English/library/credit_cards/index.php
(how to use a credit card and its costs)

http://www.equifax.com
http://www.experian.com
http://www.transunion.com
(sites through which you can check your personal credit record)

http://www.consumerfed.org/knowyourscore.pdf
(explains how to interpret your credit score)

http://www.thebeehive.org
(how to manage your money wisely)

http://www.managingmymoney.com
(how to manage your money wisely)

Savings and Investments: Advancing Along the Path

Starting simple: Saving
http://www.consumerfed.org/66ways.pdf
(different ways to save)

http://www.bankrate.com/brm/rate/atm_chk_home.asp
(to compare available savings accounts, checking accounts and other financial services available)

http://www.eta-find.gov
(Electronic Transfer Account (ETA))

http://www.ustreas.gov/firstaccounts/grantawards.html
(Federal Government's First Account program)

http://www.bankrate.com
(Certificates of Deposit (CDs) and Money Market Accounts (MMAs))

http://www.idanetwork.org
(to find out if there is a local IDA program)

Improving connections with financial institutions
http://www.brookings.edu/metro/capitalxchange/article10.htm
(to get connected to financial institutions)

http://www.brookings.edu/metro/capitalxchange/article4.htm
(to get connected to financial institutions)

Removing "asset test"barriers to saving
http://www.cbpp.org/9-20-00tax.htm
("Building Retirement Savings Can Cause Low- And Moderate-Income Working Families To Lose Means-Tested Assistance In Times Of Need")

http://www.cbpp.org/4-13-01wel.htm
("Asset Tests And Low Saving Rates Among Lower-Income Families")

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Encouraging saving
http://gwbweb.wustl.edu/csd/
(ideas about IDAs)

http://www.cbpp.org/4-12-01hous.htm
(Family Self-Sufficiency (FSS) program)

Saving for the Long Haul: Investing in a Home
http://www.ginniemae.gov/1_learn/h_i_c.asp?Section=YPTH
(federal home ownership programs)

http://www.hud.gov/buying/localhomebuy.cfm
(local down payment assistance programs)

http://www.fanniemae.com/index.html
(list of mortgage products)

http://www.ginniemae.gov/rent%5Fvs%5Fbuy/rent%5Fvs%5Fbuy.asp
(buying vs. renting)

http://www.ncsha.org/section.cfm/4/39
(to contact state housing finance agency)

http://www.hud.gov/buying/index.cfm
(homeownership process)

http://www.stopmortgagefraud.com
(predatory lending)

Saving for the Long Haul: Investing in Other Ways
http://www.sba.gov/starting
(business startup costs and start-up loans for micro-enterprises)

http://www.sba.gov/financing/frmicro.html
(micro-loans)

http://www.sec.gov/investor/tools/quiz.htm
(tools to test investment savvy)

http://www.icief.org
(how to invest for success)

http://www.ssa.gov
(Social Security)

http://www.dol.gov/ebsa/publications/wyskapr.html
(pension rights and protections)

http://www.bankrate.com
(Individual Retirement Accounts (IRAs) and Self-Employment Retirement Plans (SERPs))

http://www.collegesavings.org
(529 savings plans)

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Saving for the next generation's future
http://gwbweb.wustl.edu/csd/Publications/2001/ResearchBackground_01-6.pdf
(saving for the next generation's future)

http://www.cfed.org/focus.m?parentid=2&siteid=288&id=2220
(Children's Savings Accounts)

Saving for retirement
http://www.pensioncoverage.net/otherstudiesandstatistics.html#generalwealthstats
(increasing saving for retirement)

http://www.brook.edu/views/testimony/iwry/20030630.pdf
(jump-starting contributions)

http://www.econop.org/WVA/WVA-ProposalForUniversalPensionAccess2002.pdf
(making it easier for small employers to offer pensions)

Managing Savings and Investments Wisely
http://www.aarp.org/finance/home.html
(how to make a financial plan, set goals, evaluate your financial resources, and come up with financial strategies)

http://www.dallasfed.org/htm/ca/pubs.html
(how to make a financial plan, set goals, evaluate your financial resources, and come up with financial strategies)

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