financial Fridays

The Career Learning Center is teaming up with the Statewide Family Engagement Center to bring financial tips, tools, and resources to a virtual audience through Facebook Live. Simply visit the CLC Facebook Page at noon MT / 1 PM CT to view the weekly presentation. Videos and resources will be archived here after the event.

April 17

What Now? Financial Tips and More to Help You Navigate COVID-19

Tracy Palecek, BHACF

Tracy Palecek is a Licensed Professional Counselor and Human Services professional who also has a passion for supporting and encouraging those brave souls in the helping professions.  She understands that working with people means dealing with complex problems and complex emotions. Tracy has many years of experience working with trauma and is also an Adverse Childhood Experiences Master Trainer and Fellow.  She is passionate about helping people overcome tough circumstances on their journey to healing. Tracy states, “I have been blessed to work in Human Services for over 20 years. I have a passion for helping people reach their goals and I have been lucky enough to do this as an advocate, program developer, disaster relief responder, community organizer, mental health therapist, and mentor.   I love to work within systems to create change and help those in our community find meaning and purpose in their work. I am so grateful to be in my hometown, working with a community of dedicated professionals, to help make this a place of hope and prosperity.”

April 24

How to File an Unemployment Insurance Claim

Kevin Dary, SDDLR

Kevin Dary is an Employment Specialist with the State of South Dakota working in the Rapid City Department of Labor Office.  Kevin has worked for the State of South Dakota for a little over 10 years. Kevin has worked various programs like SNAP, writing Job Orders for Business, WIA and WIOA.  Kevin has a passion working with young adults to help them obtain careers. Since the Covid 19 virus, the South Dakota Department of Labor Rapid City office has been taking Unemployment phone calls, answering questions about unemployment and filing new claims.  The Pierre Central Office and the Aberdeen UI Department has provided trainings so that the Rapid City Local Office and guide individuals who are in need of Unemployment Benefits.

Reemployment Assistance (Unemployment Insurance)

COVID-19: Reemployment Assistance Eligibility Determinations. The Department of Labor and Regulation’s proposed scenario interpretations regarding Reemployment Assistance eligibility.

Reemployment Assistance Legislation in Response to Coronavirus Disease 2019. Senate Bill 187, an Act to revise certain provisions regarding reemployment assistance benefits in response to Coronavirus Disease 2019 and to declare an emergency, was signed into law by Governor Kristi Noem on Tuesday, March 31, 2020. The provisions go into effect immediately. See summary, provisions and what it means.

WORKER RESOURCES – REEMPLOYMENT ASSISTANCE

Eligibility Checklist for state unemployment benefits and PUA.

Unemployment Claims: Tips for Workers

Video: How to File a UI Claim. Video walks through the steps on filing a reemployment assistance (unemployment insurance) claim online at raclaims.sd.gov.

Video Filing a Weekly Request for Payment. Video walks through the steps on filing a weekly request for payment on line.

Video: Frequently Asked Questions. Video shows claimants where to find commonly asked questions and find frequently accessed quick links concerning unemployment claims.

BUSINESS RESOURCES – REEMPLOYMENT ASSISTANCE

COVID-19 and Reemployment Assistance (Unemployment Insurance) Guidance for Businesses.

Employer Bulk Claims.We are now accepting bulk unemployment claims related to COVID-19 from any employer laying off over 50 workers. The employer can file on behalf of the individuals. This means individuals do not file an initial claim, but must complete the weekly request for payment.

Unemployment Claims: Tips for Businesses

Webinar: Unemployment Insurance and COVID-19. Secretary Marcia Hultman presents information for employers regarding Unemployment Insurance/Reemployment Assistance and COVID-19.

May 1

Steps You Can Take to Weather This Financial Emergency

Bonnie Spain, CCCSBH

Executive Director/CEO of the Rushmore Consumer Credit Resource Center (RCCRC), a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization. Rushmore Consumer Credit Resource Center has two divisions:  Consumer Credit Counseling Service of the Black Hills (CCCS/BH) and the American Center for Credit Education (ACCE).  The agency is COA accredited, HUD approved, NFCC member affiliate, SDHDA HERO member, and a United Way member agency. Bonnie has been with the organization for over 30 years. Bonnie received her degree from the University of South Dakota. Under Bonnie’s direction, the organization has received numerous awards for its work in financial education and has published ten national financial literacy programs reaching over 1.7 million consumers.       

 Bonnie was a columnist for the Rapid City Journal for seven years.  She has served on the Advisory Council, the Member Services Council, the Membership Subcommittee, and the Outcomes Task Force for the NFCC, the nation’s largest and longest-serving national nonprofit credit counseling network. Bonnie has testified before the United States Senate Banking Committee.

May 8

The CARES Act: What You Need to Know

Congressman Dusty Johnson

Dusty Johnson brings an energetic and optimistic style to Washington as South Dakota’s lone voice in the U.S. House of Representatives. A “policy guy,” he works hard to be a knowledgeable and value-added member on issues related to his two primary committee assignments: Agriculture, Education & Labor.

In 2004, Dusty was elected statewide to the South Dakota Public Utilities Commission.  He worked with his colleagues to maintain a fair and reasonable regulatory environment, facilitating the investment of hundreds of millions of dollars into rural energy and telecommunications infrastructure.  In 2010, Governor Dennis Daugaard asked Dusty to serve as chief of staff, the chief operating officer for much of state government.  In that role, Dusty oversaw many of the Governor’s top projects and initiatives, especially those related to infrastructure and public safety.

Dusty grew up in a large working-class family in central South Dakota.  He has degrees from the University of South Dakota and the University of Kansas.  Dusty has been an active community volunteer, having served as a Sunday School teacher, adjunct faculty member at Dakota Wesleyan University, and president and board member of Abbott House, an agency serving abused and neglected children. He lives in Mitchell with his wife and three sons.  As a family, they enjoy hiking, camping, hunting, and reading.

May 29

Dealing with Economic Crisis in Your Business

Matt Stone, Small Business Development Center

Matt Stone is a Business Consultant with the South Dakota Small Business Development Center located at the West River Business Service Center.  Matt works with entrepreneurs to help them realize their dreams of business ownership and assists existing businesses in their efforts to remain competitive.

May 15

Steps You Can Take to Weather This Financial Emergency Part 2: Q & A

Bonnie Spain, CCCSBH, Part 2 Q&A

Executive Director/CEO of the Rushmore Consumer Credit Resource Center (RCCRC), a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization. Rushmore Consumer Credit Resource Center has two divisions:  Consumer Credit Counseling Service of the Black Hills (CCCS/BH) and the American Center for Credit Education (ACCE).  The agency is COA accredited, HUD approved, NFCC member affiliate, SDHDA HERO member, and a United Way member agency. Bonnie has been with the organization for over 30 years. Bonnie received her degree from the University of South Dakota. Under Bonnie’s direction, the organization has received numerous awards for its work in financial education and has published ten national financial literacy programs reaching over 1.7 million consumers.       

 Bonnie was a columnist for the Rapid City Journal for seven years.  She has served on the Advisory Council, the Member Services Council, the Membership Subcommittee, and the Outcomes Task Force for the NFCC, the nation’s largest and longest-serving national nonprofit credit counseling network. Bonnie has testified before the United States Senate Banking Committee.

May 22

Stimulus Payments and Unemployment: The Effect on Other Benefits

Barry Gravatt, SDBSN

Barry has been a Certified Work Incentives Coordinator for six years. He serves people in western South Dakota and is based out of Rapid City. He recently became a part of the SD Benefits Specialist Network last summer but prior to that, provided benefits counseling to youth and families on his caseload through the ASPIRE project. For the last 36 years he has provided case management services in the disability field. Barry has a lot of experience working with transition-aged youth and is very knowledgeable about ABLE accounts. Barry has also completed training through the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau as a Financial Literacy Trainer and has been providing that service as part of the Statewide Family Engagement program.