The nonprofit Maryland CASH (Creating Assets, Savings, and Hope) Campaign has received grants totaling over $739,000 from the Maryland Department of Disabilities to develop and implement a financial education and coaching component to the PROMISE (Promoting the Readiness of Minors in Supplemental Security Income) Initiative, a service model that promotes positive outcomes for children who receive Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and their families. Maryland is one of five state awarded funding through the US Department of Education. For the next four years, Maryland CASH will work with its partners statewide to offer financial education and coaching to youths with disabilities and their families. Maryland is the only state in the nation to include a financial education component to its PROMISE Initiative program in its application. The goals of the program include:
- Graduation from high school ready for college and a career
- Completion of post-secondary education and job training
- Obtaining competitive employment in an integrated setting
The primary focus of the PROMISE Initiative is to support improved coordination of various services, such as those available through the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, the Vocational Rehabilitation State Grants program, Medicaid health and home and community based services, Job Corps, Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), and Workforce Investment Act programs. PROMISE also seeks to facilitate the increased use of such services, ensuring that families are tied into programs for which they might be eligible, but are not yet participating.
Jodie Zisow-McClean has been named Maryland CASH’s new Program Manager for the PROMISE Initiative. Ms. Zisow-McClean will coordinate provision of financial education, coaching and free tax preparation for youth with disabilities and their families across the state through the Maryland CASH Campaign.
“The Maryland CASH Campaign is proud to be a part of the PROMISE Initiative,” comments Robin McKinney, Director of Maryland CASH. “Our focus and that of our statewide partners has always been to provide financial education and coaching to Marylanders in order to increase the financial security of individuals and families. We look forward to deepening our services with the PROMISE Initiative with Maryland CASH’s partners across the state and also welcome Jodie to our team."
ABOUT THE MARYLAND CASH (Creating Assets, Savings and Hope) CAMPAIGN:
The Maryland CASH Campaign is a statewide network of organizations that promotes programs, products and policies that increase the financial security of low-to moderate-income individuals and families across Maryland. Maryland CASH advocates on behalf of these families, as well as provides financial education programs such as the Maryland CASH Academy at http://www.mdcashacademy.org/. Their partner organizations provide free tax preparation sites offering access to appropriate financial services and benefits screening. For more information, contact Ms. Robin McKinney, Director of the Maryland CASH Campaign, at robin@mdcash.org or 443-692-9422. www.mdcash.org
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mdcashacademy Twitter: @Maryland_CASH @MDCASHAcademy
