CASH Campaign and Consumer Action strengthen family economic stability

The CASH (Creating Assets, Savings and Hope) Campaign of Maryland has been a Consumer Action partner since the group began its CASH Academy in 2009. The CASH Academy is a clearinghouse of free or very low-cost fact-based financial education classes across the state. CASH promotes economic advancement for low-to-moderate-income individuals and families in Baltimore and across Maryland, and partners with a variety of organizations to offer its free personal finance classes. It accomplishes its mission by operating a portfolio of direct service programs, building organizational and field capacity and leading policy and advocacy initiatives to strengthen family economic stability.

Consumer Action’s Audrey Perrott (AP) caught up with Sue Rogan (SR), CASH’s director of strategic partnerships, to learn more about the CASH Campaign of Maryland. (Rogan also is a member of Consumer Action’s board of directors.)

AP: Who is CASH’s target audience?

SR: While anyone is welcome to attend our financial education classes, our target audience is low-to-moderate-income individuals in the state of Maryland.

AP: Has your staff used Consumer Action publications in your education, counseling, coaching and outreach program?

SR: CASH uses many of Consumer Action’s publications in our financial education classes and promotes your materials to our partners to order for their classes as well. CASH recently used A Guide to Finding the Right Job Training School, for instance, to train local stakeholders. We love that the publications are free and convenient!

AP: Does your staff use Consumer Action publications in languages other than English? If yes, which languages?

SR: We have ordered and distributed publications in Spanish to meet the needs of our many local Spanish-speaking participants. It’s certainly helpful that you offer publications in so many languages.

AP: Has your staff attended Consumer Action training events?

SR: CASH staff has attended many of Consumer Action’s trainings, including the annual National Consumer Empowerment Conference, and, recently, the Insurance in the Sharing Economy and Finding the Right Job Training School trainings. The trainers and the content are always first-rate, well delivered and helpful.

AP: What best practices can you share for using Consumer Action’s publications or attending our trainings?

SR: Consumer Action materials are important to a financial education program because not only are they up-to-date, they are not biased. Participants trust the material because it is not promoting any products or services. It’s helpful to order materials in the winter and summer in order to have enough available for the spring and fall when there seem to be many local outreach events. When attending a training, community-based organizations should plan beforehand for how the content will be used (i.e., will your organization host a workshop with the material and, if so, when?).

AP: Is there anything else that you would like to share about how partnering with Consumer Action has enhanced your financial education, counseling or coaching programs?

SR: Partnering with Consumer Action is an important part of our financial education programs. The trainings and publications contain relevant, non-judgmental, fact-based concepts and education. The newsletters always contain tips that we use to raise awareness of consumer issues. We truly appreciate the advocacy work conducted by Consumer Action to protect consumers, especially the most vulnerable.