ALBANY, N.Y. -- The New York Credit Union Foundation hasrecently hosted a workshop focused on discussing coordinated youthfinancial education solutions.

Twenty representatives from New York credit unions, JuniorAchievement state offices, the Foundation and JA Worldwideparticipated in the partnership event that looked at how theentities could develop a "best practice" statewide strategy thatwould bring sound financial education and economic empowerment toyoung people.

The partnership meeting began with an overview of theparticipating organizations, the National Endowment for FinancialEducation's new High School Financial Planning Program and JA's BizKid$.

Group brainstorming activities on how each organization couldwork together to help achieve their mutual goals followed.Facilitating the workshop was Geoff Wilson from JA Worldwideheadquarters in Colorado.

"The meeting was a very successful first step for thiscollaboration," said Diane LaVigna-Wixted, executive director ofthe Foundation. "We examined how to communicate and promote theNEFE FSFP and JA's Biz Kid$; as well as how to recruit, enlist andretain volunteers. The next step is to bring the meetings to thelocal level with credit unions reaching out to JA representativesin their respective communities."

New York State is one of five pilot states working with JAWorldwide and the NEFE to develop programs geared toward helpingstudents understand personal finance.

The Foundation is among more than 70 foundations, credit unions,leagues and service providers underwriting the JA's production ofBiz Kid$, a PBS financial literacy program aimed at improving thefinancial literacy of elementary and middle school students.

The Foundation is also hosting training programs for the 2007edition of NEFE's School Financial Planning Program, a seven-unitcourse of study that presents basic personal financial concepts, inpartnership with Cornell University Cooperative Extension. JArepresentatives have been invited to speak at these programs toprovide an overview of their educational programs.

The New York Credit Union Foundation, the philanthropic arm ofthe New York State Credit Union League, works to help improve thefinancial literacy and independence of New Yorkers.