For Communities
The Mississippi Council on Economic Education (MCEE) is delivering a comprehensive, outcomes-driven approach that directly aligns with the goals of the Mississippi Department of Human Services TANF initiative by promoting economic self-sufficiency, strengthening families, and reducing long-term dependency. Through after-school and out-of-school student programs—including the Stock Market Game, Danny Dollar Academy/Econ Reads, and Invest in Girls—paired with Family Financial Fun Nights, MCEE equips youth and their families with critical financial literacy, workforce readiness, and decision-making skills. These programs target TANF-eligible participants in high-poverty communities, emphasizing budgeting, saving, credit, and career exploration while also building essential soft skills such as communication, problem-solving, and goal setting. By engaging both students and caregivers, the initiative reinforces positive financial behaviors, strengthens parent-child relationships, and connects families to community resources, ultimately supporting stable households and creating pathways to long-term economic mobility and independence. The programs are below and clicking on each one will provide additional information.
Danny Dollar Academy
The Danny Dollar Academy program uses engaging, story-based learning to teach students essential financial skills like earning, saving, spending, and goal setting. Through relatable characters and real-life scenarios, students build confidence in managing money and making informed decisions. For families receiving TANF support, Danny Dollar reinforces key outcomes by promoting financial stability, encouraging smart resource management, and equipping students with habits that support long-term economic self-sufficiency—helping break cycles of financial hardship and create pathways to future success.
Family Financial Fun Night
Family Financial Fun Night is an interactive, hands-on program that brings students and their families together to learn essential money skills in a fun, supportive environment. Through engaging stations focused on earning, budgeting, saving, and making smart spending decisions, families build practical knowledge they can immediately apply at home. For TANF recipients, the program strengthens financial stability by improving money management skills, encouraging family communication around finances, and connecting participants to community resources—supporting long-term economic self-sufficiency and stronger, more resilient households.
Invest in Girls
Invest in Girls equips high school girls with the financial knowledge, confidence, and career exposure needed to make informed decisions about their futures. Through interactive lessons on budgeting, credit, interest, taxes, and careers in finance, participants gain practical skills that translate directly to real-world success. For TANF recipients, the program supports key outcomes by promoting financial independence, strengthening workforce readiness, and expanding access to high-growth career pathways—helping young women build sustainable futures and contribute to long-term economic stability for themselves and their families.
Stock Market Game
The Stock Market Game is an engaging, real-world simulation that allows students to invest a virtual portfolio and learn how financial markets work in a risk-free environment. Participants build critical skills in budgeting, decision-making, risk management, and long-term financial planning. For TANF recipients, the program supports economic self-sufficiency by strengthening financial capability, increasing exposure to wealth-building strategies, and developing workforce-ready skills that empower students to make informed financial decisions and pursue upward mobility.