April Workshops Explore the Powerful Link Between Mental Health and Money

April was Financial Literacy Month, and NIDC’s Family Support Network (FSN) hosted workshops to help parents and caregivers build healthier relationships with both their minds and their money.

On April 24, FSN hosted a personal and impactful in-person workshop at PS 96 titled Financial Empowerment & Mental Health: The Connection. In a supportive and interactive setting, caregivers explored the ways mental health and financial well-being influence one another, especially how financial stress can affect emotional health and vice versa. The discussion was eye-opening and emotional, with one parent sharing her own challenges with financial trauma. Thanks to the school’s Parent Coordinator, Spanish-speaking attendees were able to fully participate, helping create an inclusive and empathetic space. Parents left with strategies for managing financial stress and resources to continue building healthier money habits.

Just a few days later on April 29, FSN partnered with State Farm and our Community Engagement team to present a virtual follow-up workshop: Money Smarts: Budgeting for Financial Success. Led by Liandry Suarez, a Licensed Sales Producer, the session introduced attendees to real-world budgeting strategies including the 50/30/20 method and zero-based budgeting. Liandry’s personal journey, from battling a terminal illness to regaining his health and financial footing, resonated deeply with participants and opened the door to meaningful dialogue.

Together, these two events painted a fuller picture of financial wellness, one that recognizes both the emotional toll of money struggles and the empowering potential of financial education. FSN remains committed to meeting families where they are, addressing tough topics with compassion, and helping build stronger, healthier futures.