From Surviving to Stable
A 10-week, trauma-informed financial literacy program that replaces money shame with confidence — and ends with a real budget, a real bank account, and a real plan.
Reentry Is Expensive. We Teach the Math.
ID fees, transportation, security deposits, child support arrears, restitution, court fines, and a credit history frozen in time — all hitting at once, often with no checking account to land a paycheck in. Most people aren't bad with money. They were never taught it, and the system is built to penalize anyone who learns it late.
This program teaches money the way we wish someone had taught us — plainly, patiently, and without shame. By week 10, participants leave with a budget they actually trust, a bank account they actually use, a credit plan, a filed tax return, and a written savings goal.
Enroll TodayWhat Participants Walk Away With
Real artifacts, not worksheets — the stuff that actually moves a life forward
A Working Budget
A zero-based monthly budget you'll actually follow — paper, app, or cash envelopes, whatever sticks for your life.
An Active Bank Account
A second-chance checking account opened on your behalf, with ChexSystems cleanup if you've been locked out of banking before.
A Credit-Building Plan
Secured credit card or credit-builder loan, written 12-month plan, and free weekly credit-report monitoring built in.
A Filed Tax Return
Free filing through VITA partners, every eligible credit claimed (EITC, CTC), and refunds direct-deposited into the new account.
A Debt Strategy
Prioritized list of court fines, restitution, child-support arrears, and medical debt — with negotiation scripts and a real payoff path.
A 5-Year Plan
Written 1-year, 3-year, and 5-year financial goals — housing, retirement basics, and the first step toward generational stability.
The Five-Phase Curriculum
10 weeks. Real numbers. Real accounts. Real plans.
Money Mindset & Foundations Weeks 1–2
Reset the relationship with money. Name and unpack money shame, separate needs from wants without judgment, read a paystub line by line, and understand cost-of-living for your zip code. Outcome: participants can read a paystub and explain where every dollar goes.
Budgeting That Actually Works Weeks 3–4
Build a zero-based budget you'll actually follow. Start an emergency fund ($500 first, then $1,000), choose cash envelopes, an app, or a paper notebook, and plan for irregular income. Outcome: participants leave with a written monthly budget they trust.
Banking, Credit & ChexSystems Weeks 5–6
Open a second-chance checking account, clean up your ChexSystems record, pull and read your credit report (free, every week), and start a secured card or credit-builder loan. Avoid payday traps and cash-advance apps for good. Outcome: participants have an active bank account and a written credit-building plan.
Debt, Taxes & Court-Ordered Obligations Weeks 7–8
Negotiate court fines, restitution, and child-support arrears. Decide what medical debt to pay, dispute, or ignore. File taxes through free VITA sites and claim the EITC. Learn your rights around wage garnishment and bank levies. Outcome: participants leave with a prioritized debt list and a tax return filed or scheduled.
Building & Protecting Wealth Weeks 9–10
Save for housing (first month, last month, deposit). Understand 401(k) employer match (free money), IRAs, and insurance plainly explained. Protect yourself from scams and identity theft. Write a 1-, 3-, and 5-year financial goal. Outcome: participants leave with savings started and a written long-term plan.
Industry Benchmarks We Aim to Match or Beat
Targets drawn from the NFCC, Prosperity Now, and the Financial Health Network
Program Completion
Target completion rate for trauma-informed financial coaching programs.
Bank Account Opened
Open a checking or second-chance account during the program.
$500 Emergency Fund
Hit the starter savings goal within 6 months of graduation.
Credit Score Improvement
See a credit score increase within 12 months — NFCC reports an avg 70-point lift.
Tax Returns Filed
File a return and claim eligible credits like the EITC and Child Tax Credit.
Who Can Participate?
The Financial Literacy Program is for anyone who has ever felt locked out of the financial system — no credit, no bank account, and no judgment required.
Formerly Incarcerated Adults
Returning citizens managing first post-release paychecks, restitution, fines, or arrears.
At-Risk Youth (ages 16–24)
Young adults working a first job, aging out of foster care, or being targeted by predatory apps.
Adults Rebuilding
Single parents, workers re-entering the labor force, anyone recovering from medical or eviction debt.
Reentry Program Participants
Already enrolled in case management — this is the money arm of that work.
Stability Starts With a Budget
Whether you want to take the program, teach in it, or fund it — there is a way in. Financial stability is how reentry actually sticks.