I-CARE is an initiative of the United States Bankruptcy Court for the District of Idaho with the assistance and support of the Commercial Law and Bankruptcy Section of the Idaho State Bar and the Office of the United States Trustee. Our goal is to facilitate the financial education of Idahoans, particularly high school and college age students, with an emphasis on the wise and responsible use of credit and related skills. Our efforts join with those of Bankruptcy Courts throughout the United States who have sponsored educational outreach programs in conjunction with or inspired by the C.A.R.E. Program developed by the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Western District of New York.

In I-CARE presentations, students will learn about things like:

• The true costs of using credit cards.
• How to control overuse of credit.
• How difficult it is to repay credit card debt incurred to ‘buy stuff” and “do things”.
• The importance of distinguishing between “wants” and “needs” when using credit.
• The difference between “maintaining” debt (making minimum monthly payments) and “affording” debt (paying off balances each month).
• The benefits of living credit card debt free.
• The importance of budgeting and the benefit of accumulating savings for life's inevitable emergencies.
• The consequences of poor use of credit, including impact on jobs, further education, even bankruptcy.

I-CARE presenters are lawyers, judges, trustees and others, who bring real-life perspectives, experiences and insight into the often difficult world of modern personal finance. I-CARE is designed to supplement high school personal finance and economics classroom instruction. It also can serve as a stand-alone program for high school or college students, youth groups, civic groups and others.

I-CARE is not here to replace teachers or other volunteer programs already committed to improving financial skills but is here to support them. I-CARE does so by identifying volunteers throughout the state willing to serve as Presenters. I-CARE also provides access to financial literacy resources and links to other organizations and entities with similar goals through this web site. Whether you are a teacher, school administrator, parent or student, please take a moment to explore our web site, using the menu to the left. And if you are an educator interested in locating an I-CARE Presenter to speak or otherwise assist you, refer to our Presenter List to locate a volunteer in your area who you can contact directly, or submit a Presentation Request and I-CARE will locate a volunteer for you.

A Message from the Court: Those of us who deal in the bankruptcy system -- judges, lawyers, trustees and other professionals -- know all too well the devastating consequences of inadequate financial skills. While bankruptcies are often caused by job loss, medical catastrophe or similar factors, most personal bankruptcy filings contain significant amounts of unsecured debt, often on multiple credit card accounts. In our collective experience -- as lawyers advising people with debt, as trustees administering bankruptcy estates, and as judges hearing bankruptcy cases -- much of this debt reflects, or even directly stems from, an inadequate understanding of basic financial concepts. Credit is readily available to virtually everyone, and obtaining and using credit, through credit cards and in other ways, is a fact of life. When used wisely, credit can be a valuable financial tool. But without a solid understanding of how credit works, it can just as easily harm as help. By providing access to information and resources, and access to our experience, we hope to help raise the level of that understanding. We find the need to be real, especially for high school and college students just starting out in their financial lives. Helping them make wise financial choices is something we believe will pay off, for them and for Idaho.
	Terry L. Myers Chief U.S. Bankruptcy Judge	Jim D. Pappas U.S. Bankruptcy Judge