FINANCIAL
HEALTH
Education and promotion that builds economic confidence. We equip young people with the financial literacy skills that schools do not teach, delivered by peers who understand the journey. This is how we instill confidence and inspire possibility.
FINANCIAL STRESS IS A health issue
Financial instability drives anxiety, limits opportunity, and deepens health disparities. In Arkansas, where financial literacy ranks last in the nation, young people need more than advice. They need tools, training, and each other.
50th
Arkansas ranks dead last in the U.S. for financial literacy
Source: WalletHub / KUAF, 2024
Grade: D
Arkansas received an overall D grade for financial literacy education across savings, credit, and retirement readiness
Source: Champlain College Center for Financial Literacy
54%
of young adults ages 18–25 report feeling anxious about their financial situation
Source: Young Invincibles Financial Well-Being Survey, 2022
21%
of Arkansas children live in poverty, well above the national average
Source: KIDS COUNT® Data Book, 2025
WHY PEER-TO-PEER WORKS
Financial literacy resonates differently when it comes from someone your age who is navigating the same challenges. Traditional financial education feels disconnected from the reality of young people in underserved communities. Our peer coaches speak the language, understand the struggle, and make financial wellness feel accessible rather than academic. When a 20-year-old teaches budgeting using Cash App instead of spreadsheets, it sticks. Youth are not just learning; they are leading. That is how we instill confidence and inspire possibility.
IT IS NOT JUST ABOUT money
Financial stress does not stay in your wallet. It affects sleep, relationships, mental health, and the ability to dream beyond survival. For young people in underserved communities, building economic power is a public health intervention.
WHAT DRIVES THE GAP
Financial illiteracy among young people is not a personal failure. It is the result of systemic gaps and generational barriers:
- No required financial literacy education in most Arkansas schools
- Predatory lending and financial products targeting vulnerable communities
- Generational poverty that limits exposure to wealth-building strategies
- Financial stress linked to anxiety, depression, and decreased academic performance
- Lack of culturally relevant financial role models and mentors
When we talk about youth financial health, we must also talk about equity, access, systemic change, and economic justice.
OUR EMPOWERMENT APPROACH
Village Public Health does not just teach budgeting. We build the economic confidence and agency young people need to take control of their futures.
Training peer financial coaches who speak the language of their communities
Using real-world tools. Cash App, Venmo, credit apps, not textbook theory
Connecting financial wellness to mental health and overall well-being
Building entrepreneurial thinking and generational wealth strategies
Creating pathways from financial literacy to economic mobility
"Financial literacy is not an end in itself, but a step-by-step journey to economic empowerment."
— CONSUMER FINANCIAL PROTECTION BUREAU
WHAT WE offer
FINANCIAL FOUNDATIONS WORKSHOP
Interactive workshop series teaching budgeting, saving, and spending basics through real-world scenarios. Designed for youth ages 16–24, using peer-led activities and digital tools they actually use.
CREDIT & DEBT LITERACY
Demystifying credit scores, student loans, and debt management. Youth learn to navigate the financial system with confidence, from understanding a credit report to avoiding predatory lending.
ENTREPRENEURSHIP & ECONOMIC ELEVATION
Introducing youth to entrepreneurial thinking, side hustles, and strategies for recognizing and building economic power. From business plan basics to understanding generational wealth building.
FINANCIAL WELLNESS IN PUBLIC HEALTH
Connecting the dots between financial stress and health outcomes. This training helps youth-serving professionals understand how economic instability impacts the communities they serve.
BE PART OF THE solution
Recognizing your economic power starts with one person deciding to share what they know. Lead the change, earn service learning hours by utilizing your voice, and inspire possibility.
Financial Peer Coach
Complete training to help your peers create budgets, set savings goals, and navigate their first financial decisions with confidence.
Workshop Facilitator
Lead financial literacy workshops in schools, youth programs, and community centers using our curriculum and your lived experience.
Economic Elevation Ambassador
Champion financial wellness in your community by organizing events, creating content, and connecting peers to resources.
Youth Policy Advocate
Use your voice to advocate for financial literacy education requirements and economic equity policies at the local and state level.