Author: Jayden Toomer

Webinars for Professionals working with Military Connected Students

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OneOP (formerly Military Family Learning Network) is offering four webinars for professionals who work with military connected students:

Identifying Key Collaborators for School Services for Military-Connected Students

Improving Military Student Outcomes Through Effective Professional Collaboration

Conflict Happens:  Anticipating and Overcoming Challenges

Collaborations During Changes and Transitions for Military Students

Continue reading Webinars for Professionals working with Military Connected Students →

Paid Research Opportunity for Military Teens

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Canines Providing Assistance to Wounded Warriors at Florida Atlantic University is looking for military teens to participate in a study consisting of three online 30-minute surveys over the course of 9 months.

Their study is titled “Pet Dogs, Resilience, and Well-being in Military Adolescents.” The project hopes to use the viewpoints of military teens to study the relationship between resilience and well-being for military teenagers who do or do not own a pet dog.

A $20 gift card is provided after the completion of each survey, for a total of $60 after completing all three surveys.

Qualifications to participate are:

  • Be 12-18 years old
  • Have a parent or guardian provide parental permission to participate
  • Either own a pet dog or not
  • Have a parent or guardian in active duty or a Veteran parent/guardian
  • Have access to a tablet, computer, or smartphone with Wifi.

 

Stay tuned to our Facebook and blog where we will publish the link to the study when it becomes available.
For more information about this study, contact cpaww@health.fau.edu.

Lead with Voice – 4-H Military Partnership

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This February brings an exciting opportunity for military-connected youth to Lead with Voice!

Community conversations will bring teens (8-12th grade) together in conversations led by their peers.

Schools, 4-H clubs, and military services youth programs may select one military-connected teen to participate in conversations. Participants will practice public speaking and decision-making skills in peer-led virtual conversations.

After the conference participants will receive tools to continue working together and a certificate.

Information, including marketing materials, frequently asked questions, and registration links, are available at www.4-Hmilitarypartnership.org.

Filling out the FAFSA

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What is the FAFSA?

FAFSA stands for Free Application for Federal Student Aid. It is a way for students at two- or four-year universities to apply for student loans and grants through the Department of Education.

Why is it important?

Federal student loans almost always have significantly lower interest rates than private student loans and can make accessing a college education much easier.

There are two types of loans offered, and you may qualify for one or for both. The first type of loan is a subsidized loan. The federal government will pay the interest on a subsidized loan while a student is still in school at least half-time. This means that when you graduate and are ready to start repaying your loan, you will owe the same amount that you borrowed. Subsidized loans are based on financial need and your school will determine how much you can borrow. Unsubsidized loans are loans where the interest is not covered by the government and begins to accrue immediately. This means that if your loan was for $12,000 and you accrued $1,000 of interest during school, you will owe $13,000 when you graduate. Unsubsidized loans are available to all students regardless of their financial need and can be used for both undergraduate and graduate level studies.

Finally, completing the FAFSA determines your eligibility for a Pell Grant. As a grant, this money does not have to be repaid. Pell Grants are need-based and their amount can vary. During the 2022-2023 school year the maximum awarded was $6,859 and the minimum was $692.

How it works:

The FAFSA uses the income of yourself and your guardian(s) to calculate a number called the EFC – the expected family contribution. This is the dollar amount that the government expects your family to be able to reasonably contribute to college per year. This value is not permanent – students must complete the FAFSA every year to be eligible for loans and grants, and your EFC may change based on updated information.

You can complete your FAFSA here: https://studentaid.gov/h/apply-for-aid/fafsa

Need more information?

Visit the link above to learn more about the FAFSA. Additionally, the Ohio Department of Higher Education and 4-H have teamed up to host a virtual event for students and their parents/guardians to ask questions and learn more about the FAFSA.

The virtual event is scheduled for January 12, 2023, from 6-7 p.m. Registration available here: https://go.osu.edu/fafsa4u

Winter Weather Driving

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Being prepared for cold weather:

Keep a cache of winter gear in your car. Consider including:

  • An extra coat
  • Blankets
  • Food & Water
  • Medications
  • A shovel
  • Cat litter or sand

Check tire inflation and tread levels.

 

Driving in the snow/ice:

Stay home if possible. Even if you consider yourself to be a skilled driver, the more people on the road the more possibilities there are for an accident.

  • Avoid using cruise control when driving on ice or snow.
  • Build inertia before going uphill instead of powering up the hill.
  • Drive slowly & increase your following distance, especially at higher speeds.
  • Accelerate and decelerate slowly.

 

If you get stuck in snow:

  • Stay with your vehicle, it will be a temporary shelter and make it easier for you to be found.
  • Clear snow from in front of, behind, and next to your tires and tailpipe.
  • Place cat litter, sand, salt, or car/carpet mats in front of and behind your tires.
  • Utilize your lowest gear and AWD/4WD if available.

 

Managing Debt

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Lines of credit can be useful financial tools. They can empower you to make large purchases without digging into your savings, provide some emergency relief, and give you the opportunity to secure an education you otherwise wouldn’t have been able to afford.

But what happens when the debt becomes overwhelming? When your minimum payments each month are eating up more than you can afford?

According to a study by credit bureau Experian, debt levels increased 5.4% in 2021. The Generation Z population (18-24) owed an average of $20,803 while Millennials (25-40) owed an average of $100,906. These numbers consist of auto loans, student loans, credit card debt, mortgages, and personal loans.

https://www.experian.com/blogs/ask-experian/research/consumer-debt-study/

If you are struggling to manage your debt, you are not alone – and there are resources to help.

If you are unable to make your next payment, contact your financial institution to see if payment deferral is an option. Missed payments strongly impact your credit score. Depending on the type of credit, deferring a payment may move it to the end of the term (like a lease) or to the next month (like credit cards). Be aware, there is usually an extra fee associated with deferring your payment.

Contact a Credit/Debt Counselor

Credit counselors can help you to create a Debt Management Plan (DMP) that may lower your monthly payments. Often, they can work with your lender to lower your interest rate. Most counselors offer free consultations to determine whether or not they will be able to help with your situation. Banks pay debt counselors because they help them to recover money owed to them, but debt counselors are not employed by the banks. Because of this unique partnership, debt counseling services are often offered for free or at a low cost.

Your credit counselor should be accredited by the National Foundation for Credit Counseling (NFCC) and/or the Financial Counseling Association of America (FCAA). You can visit these organizations websites to find counseling services and schedule a remote consultation, or you can search for accredited counselors near you if you prefer to meet in person.

If a debt counselor finds that they are unable to help you, many banks offer payment and hardship programs. However, this programs usually come with higher fees or do not lower interest rates as much. For example, Discover’s Financial Hardship Program . Many banks offer this option, but do not publish details on their websites. Contact your bank by phone or email to find out if a hardship program may be available.

There are two important things to consider when working with a debt counselor or deciding to use a financial instructions hardship program. 1) Access to credit. Utilizing either of these options will typically result in your credit cards being frozen or cancelled. 2) Credit Score. Working with a debt counselor is not reported to credit card bureaus. However, using a banks hardship program sometimes is. This does not always directly impact your credit score, but the note on your account may decrease trust from future lenders.

Military Service Members

Active-duty service members have additional support from the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (SCRA). Similar to contacting a debt counselor, this act may reduce interest rates on mortgages and credit card debts. Significantly, this act can offer protection from eviction and delay civil court (like bankruptcy, or divorce proceedings.) Contact your local Armed Forces Legal Assistance office to see if you qualify.

Debt Consolidation

Debt consolidation involves taking out a loan which can cover the amount of the rest of your debt. Ideally, this new loan will have easier monthly payments and a lower interest rate.

Bankruptcy

If you are unable to pay your creditors, and do not think you will be able to do so for an extended amount of time (years) a fresh start is available through filing for bankruptcy. However, bankruptcy information stays on a credit report for 10 years. This can make it very difficult to get credit in the future, to buy a home, and even to get life insurance or a job. Because of this, bankruptcy should only be considered after exhausting all other options.

Bankruptcy is a very detailed and lengthy process, which includes court fees. A ‘straight bankruptcy’ involves liquidating all of your assets – including a house or a car. For more detailed information, visit www.usa.gov/debt .

Healthy Study Snacks

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For many students, final exam season is right around the corner. But with late night study sessions comes late night cravings. A good study snack is one that is filling without making you feel sluggish, and ideally, they are easy to prepare and clean.

Here are our top 5 study snack recommendations:

1) Dried Fruit

Dried fruit is a great snack for those with a sweet tooth. Being a natural source of sugar, fruit is a healthier option to satisfy your cravings.

Some popular dried fruits include apple, mango, pineapple, cranberries, and bananas. Take it a step further by mixing in some nuts, popcorn, or coconut chips to make your own trail mix!

2) Popcorn

Popcorn is an amazing light and airy choice for someone who likes to snack while studying. While microwavable popcorn may not be the healthiest, there are other options which can still leave you satisfied and full.

Try making your popcorn on the stove with some olive oil and salt, or buying POPPED Chips. If you’re craving a sweeter version, try Boom Chika Pop’s Light Kettle Corn.

3) Smoothies

Smoothies! If you’ve attended one of our camps before you may have had the opportunity to make some amazing smoothies with Theresa. Good news – you can make smoothies at home or in the dorms too!

Mix the fruits & veggies of your choice with some milk or yogurt, and add in some protein powder for a bit of an extra kick and you are good to go! For a chunkier smoothie, try using frozen fruit or adding in some ice. Spinach and Kale are also great additives to increase your snack’s nutritional value without changing the great taste.

3) Veggies and Hummus

No sweet tooth? No problem! Slice and dice fruits & veggies of your choice and enjoy with hummus. Hummus is a good source of protein and will help keep you full for hours to come.

4) Coffee & Milk

Coffee can definitely boost your energy, and comes with even more benefits when you mix in some milk or a plant based alternative. Personally, I love to mix in some almond or coconut milk with a dark roast!

While coffee can be a powerful aide, it is important to consider how it may impact your sleep. Be careful fueling you late night study sessions with coffee – it is still important to get some sleep before your exam!

5) Edamame

Seeking the tactile joy of m&ms and other candies? Look no further! Edamame is a super healthy snack that will keep your fingers busy too – without getting them sticky.

You can find steam-able bags of frozen edamame in most stores, and some may even offer pouches of pre-shelled roasted edamame.