Lehigh Valley Health Network Pocono Launches Partnership to Help New Moms Build Personal Financial Skills

HARRISBURG, Feb. 10 - The Pennsylvania Department of Banking and Securities (DoBS) and Lehigh Valley Health Network Pocono Region’s Nurse-Family Partnership (NFP) has announced a virtual series that will help first-time mothers build strong personal financial skills as part of a voluntary support program.

NFP provides free support, guidance and education to low-income, first-time moms in the Pocono region through visits to help promote healthy pregnancies and healthy, school-ready children. The department will present a nine-part virtual series to NFP participants on a variety of financial topics, including credit, avoiding fraud and scams, budgeting and spending plans, and saving and investing for long- and short-term goals.

“Being a first-time parent can be overwhelming for a number of reasons, not least of which may be tied to financial decisions,” said Katrina Boyer, DoBS Investor Education Coordinator. “Being able to make informed choices with trustworthy information can help families take crucial steps to build strong financial foundations.”

The nine sessions will run through May 2022 and will be voluntary for the participants currently enrolled in the program. Each virtual session will be 45-60 minutes long and will be recorded and made available to participants who are unable to attend.

“NFP-LVH Pocono saw a need in the moms we serve. One of the goals of NFP is self-sufficiency. Finding employment is only one part of the puzzle. Many clients face challenges because they have poor credit, and many do not have a checking account. We want to help our clients break the cycle of poverty,” said Theresa Zuba, Manager, NFP-LVH Pocono. “Partnering with PA Department of Banking and Securities Investor Education is an outstanding way to meet this goal. We are extremely excited for this collaboration.”

The program is also being supported by the Pennsylvania Insurance Department and Pennsylvania Treasury. Participants that attend all sessions will receive a financial incentive, funded by local non-profits, and will also have the opportunity to hear about additional personal financial programs including the Keystone Scholars program administered by the Pennsylvania Treasury.

NFP has served more than 300,000 first-time parents and is ranked as the gold standard of home visiting programs. Individuals interested in applying for the program can contact NFP at 570-426-1688 or nursefamilypartnership_lvh-poc@lvhn.org.

DoBS Investor Education and Consumer Outreach staff work with state and local government agencies, service providers, community and trade organizations, the General Assembly, the military community, schools, and other partners to help Pennsylvanians across the commonwealth become well-informed about the financial marketplace.

Learn more about the free, non-commercial programs and presentations available or contact us to request a program tailored to your specific needs.

Visit the department's calendar of events to find an event near you. Consumers and community groups can call 1-800-PA-BANKS or email informed@pa.gov for more information. To learn more about the Consumer Financial Protection Initiative, follow the department on Twitter and Facebook.