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JS clients learn about financial literacy at Life Skills class
Jennifer Harman life skills 2025
Jennifer Harman, standing at left, and her colleague, Daniela Reyes, both of BMO Bank in Larned, lead a financial-literacy discussion. The class was part of the Juvenile Services Life Skills program.


While participants in a recent Life Skills class said they had no financial goals when they first arrived, they left with plans to follow up on some advice from an area banker.

“They mentioned starting a savings account, and setting long-term goals for buying a car or house someday,” reported Laura Mason, community case manager at Juvenile Services (JS). “They learned about the 50/30/20 rule, which refers to spending 50 percent of your income on needs and 30 percent on wants, while setting aside 20 percent for savings and/or debt repayment.”

This finance class is one of numerous Life Skills sessions that JS organizes and hosts throughout the year.

“We want to provide our JS clients with tools to build confidence, become more independent and navigate the challenges of adulthood,” Mason explained. “My colleagues and I want to see our youth succeed in life and become productive members of society.

“This financial-literacy course can play a role in achieving success throughout life,” she added. “It teaches crucial skills for managing money, budgeting, saving and investing, which empower people to make informed decisions and achieve personal goals.”


Jennifer Harman

Jennifer Harman, bank manager/assistant vice president at BMO Bank in Larned, addressed the recent class and echoed many of Mason’s comments about the importance of financial literacy.

“It’s incredibly important for young people to develop financial literacy early on,” Harman commented. “This helps them build strong habits that put them on the path to success and make informed decisions today and later in life.”

Harman’s topics included: comparing types of bank accounts; exploring the importance of creating and maintaining a budget; examining the differences between wants and needs; and setting goals for spending, savings and debt repayment.

BMO Bank offers this finance-related program to groups “as part of our commitment to build stronger, more inclusive communities and help people achieve long-term financial success,” Harman said.

Goals are to: empower youth and underserved communities; promote financial confidence and resilience; and advance economic inclusion.


20th Judicial District Juvenile Services empowers youth in Barton, Rice, Ellsworth, Stafford and Russell counties to achieve positive outcomes by offering Juvenile Intake & Assessment, Immediate Intervention, Intensive Supervised Probation, Case Management, Journey to Change, Life Skills, All Stars and Youth Crew. Parents and guardians also are offered The Parent Project. Visit 1800 12th in Great Bend or call 620-793-1930.