Thank you for your interest in joining the BEPC Financial Literacy Program (FLP).  BEPC volunteers participating in the FLP have found this to be a meaningful experience and we are excited to extend the volunteer opportunity to more BEPC members. 

Volunteer Expectations:

What should I expect as a volunteer?

• Volunteers are committing to co-lead one class (usually lasting 60-100 minutes depending on the program). 
• Each class is co-led by two (2) BEPC volunteers. A member of the Community Engagement committee will reach out at least 2 weeks in advance of your session to pair you with your co-leader.
• Presentation materials will be provided in advance of your session and we encourage you to share your input and suggestions to further enhance and improve the content.
• Please coordinate directly with your co-leader to determine how you will present the material together.
• Have fun! The participants are engaged and ask thoughtful questions. They embrace the opportunity to learn these fundamental financial topics.

Current Volunteer Opportunities: 

We currently have two financial literacy opportunities:

1. Suffolk House of Corrections (SHOC)  - offering in-person volunteer opportunities
2. Tailored for Success – offering virtual volunteer opportunities 
   

Upcoming dates for FLP sessions will be circulated among our roster of volunteers (so make sure to sign up on the volunteer page to join this roster) and within BEPC communications to members. Typically there will be link in these emails to sign up and reserve a volunteer spot for a listed date and time.  

FAQs regarding each program can be found below.

Have any other questions? Please contact the Community Engagement Committee leadership:

• Chair Jennifer Hall
• Vice Chair Brooke Manfredi
• Board Liaison Amy Phelan

FAQs re: Suffolk House of Corrections

Thank you for your interest in joining the BEPC Financial Literacy Program (FLP) at Suffolk House of Correction (SHOC). The below Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) have been created to guide you through the expectations and experience of being a BEPC-SHOC volunteer. If you have additional questions or would like to discuss your questions live, we would be happy to set up a call.

Class Preparation:

1. Class Expectations:

• Class is held in-person at SHOC (20 Bradston Street, Boston) from 9:30-11:00 AM. The goal is to have 10-12 women in attendance at each class. Attendance will vary as women’s cases move through the judicial process.
• Class Structure:
  • Introduction (Individual and Course Topic)
  • Ask the women what they hope to get out of class today (in light of the day’s topic)
  • Teach Class using provided materials – open dialogue and encourage questions
  • Last 5 min: close with post-class survey and, if time, a quick intro to next class topic.

2. Class Dates and Topics:

• BEPC currently hosts four (4) cohorts per year. Classes are held on Thursday mornings and dates are published on an ongoing basis as new cohorts are added to the schedule. Each cohort is composed of the following four (4) classes:
  • Class 1: Income, Expenses, Paycheck Review, and Budgeting
  • Class 2: Borrowing, Credit, and Savings
  • Class 3: Investments, Asset Protection, Risk Management, and Estate Planning
  • Class 4: Professional Development—Resume Creation, Job Interviews, and LinkedIn

3. Class Materials: 

• All class materials will be provided to volunteers, including power point presentations with speakers notes.  These materials are provided to volunteers in advance of their designated class.  Volunteers should bring the following printed materials with them to each class:
  • PowerPoint presentation: We suggest bringing 15 printed copies (double-sided). 
  • Participant feedback survey: Prior to class concluding, pass out and collect back the post-class feedback survey completed by the participants. We suggest brining 15 printed copies of the survey.  Please scan these surveys and email to the FLP administrators following the class. 
  • Attendance sheet:  Please print a copy of the attendance sheet provided to you by the FLP administrators, have the women checkmark their attendance and scan the attendance sheet back to the FLP administrators following the class. 
    • For Class 1, you should have each participant add her name to the attendance sheet and checkmark their attendance at class 1. Please ask participants to print their name legibly as we use this attendance sheet to help complete BEPC Certificates at the end of the program. 
    • For Class 2-4 – simply ask each participant to checkmark the class they are attending that day. 
  • Completion Certificates:  If you are volunteering to lead Class 4, you will be provided Completion Certificates for those students who have (or will after attending Class 4) attended 3 of the 4 classes in a cohort.  These certificates should be distributed at the end of Class 4. 
  • NOTE:  SHOC does not print the materials; it is up to the FLP volunteers to coordinate printing and bringing materials. Please coordinate with your co-lead to determine who may be able to print and bring materials.

Expectations when visiting SHOC:

1. What should I do to prepare for my visit?

• Prior to visiting SHOC, a background check is required, and we will ask you to complete a short CORI form. You will send the completed form and photocopy of your ID directly to the SHOC Women’s Program Supervisor, whose contact information we will provide.
• Day of visit, you must present a Driver’s License. All personal belongings will be placed in a locker in the lobby of SHOC. The only items allowed through security are your locker key, your notes for the class, and a writing utensil for your personal use.
  

2. How should I dress?

• Conservative business casual. If you wear a dress, the length must fall below your knees. Closed toe shoes. Jackets/sport coats/blazers not required.
  

3. Logistics:

• Transportation: We recommend using a rideshare service to travel to and from SHOC on the day of your class. If you must drive, please contact us to discuss parking.
• Arrive 15 minutes before class to get checked in and settled.
  

Additional Information:

1. What are the distinctions between Suffolk County Jail and Suffolk County House of Correction?

• Suffolk County Jail, located at 200 Nashua Street, houses pretrial male detainees.
• Suffolk House of Correction, located at 20 Bradston Street, houses both pretrial and sentenced females and males who have been found guilty of a crime. All inmates at SHOC are serving sentences less than 2.5 years, and the average sentence is 14 months. Sentences of over 2.5 years are served at a prison.
  

2. How should volunteers approach the experience at SHOC?

• It is our hope and belief that all volunteers will share in a spirit of cultural humility as we enter a space that differs from those in which most of us typically work, and seek to serve a population that differs from that of our typical clients. 
We offer here a definition of cultural humility that we have found to be useful for this purpose: Cultural humility: “is a humble and respectful attitude toward individuals of other cultures that pushes one to challenge their own cultural biases, realize they cannot possibly know everything about other cultures, and approach learning about other cultures as a lifelong goal and process.

FAQs re: Tailored for Success 

1. What is the partnership between BEPC and Tailored for Success?

• BEPC has partnered with Tailored for Success to offer a new volunteer opportunity as part of our Financial Literacy Program. This collaboration allows BEPC members to provide financial literacy classes to Tailored for Success clientele, enhancing their skills and knowledge in financial management.
  

2. Who is Tailored for Success?

• Tailored For Success, Inc. is an organization dedicated to empowering job seekers to achieve economic self-sufficiency. They provide essential resources, skills training, and supportive reinforcement to help individuals succeed in the workforce.
  

3. How does Tailored for Success support job seekers?

• Tailored for Success accomplishes its mission through two primary programs:
  • Workforce Development Program: This program focuses on the long-term development of clients, helping them grow and develop over time.
  • Career Closet: This initiative enhances the professional image of job seekers by providing interview suits and clothing necessary for starting new job opportunities.
    

4. What will BEPC volunteers do in this partnership?

• BEPC volunteers will conduct virtual financial literacy classes for Tailored for Success clientele as part of the workforce development program. These classes aim to equip participants with essential financial skills.
  

5. How are the classes structured?

• Classes will be co-led by two BEPC volunteers and will typically last no more than 60 minutes. All class materials will be provided in advance of the scheduled webinars. The content will closely follow the Financial Literacy Program - SHOC curriculum, although some materials may be condensed for efficiency.
  

6. Can you provide an example of class content? 

• Certainly! For instance, a recent webinar for Tailored for Success combined content from:
  o Class 1: Income, expenses, paycheck review, and budgeting
  o Class 2: Borrowing, credit, and savings