In addition, the plight of young children and youth at risk are National Initiatives with a resource management component involving families with children of various age groups. Further, when unemployment rates rise, resulting in a decreasing opportunity to earn money, families with fewer resources are usually affected first and feel the impact longest. Management skills can make a difference in how well families cope with unfavorable economic conditions.
Stressors can include being a single-parent household, or having a chronically ill parent or child.
Financial management skills can also help families with sufficient resources who have a temporary decrease in income. Extension agents are in a position to help such families if they have the necessary financial management knowledge and skills themselves. This study was designed to determine the importance and self- perceived ability of agents to teach in seven areas of family financial management. The population for the study was 96 home economics Extension agents in Pennsylvania. Eight sections were included in the questionnaire to collect data in the areas of financial planning, credit, retirement, insurance, estate planning, investments, legal issues, and demographic characteristics.