Financial Resources for Counselors

Problem:
Financial debt and mismanagement of resources is often a reality for people suffering from addictions such as gambling and substance abuse. Counselors and helping professionals need skills and resources to assist clients with financial challenges including money management and debt repayment.

Response:
In cooperation with the Iowa Substance Abuse Program Director’s Association (ISAPDA), ISUE presented a two-part 10 hour financial counseling training at 4 locations across the state including Council Bluffs in June 2005. Part one of the training included information on values and goals, financial data and tools, credit issues, and financial counseling techniques and was taught by Family Resource Management Field Specialists. Part two was presented by staff from the ISU Financial Counseling Clinic and focused on tangible tools such as the PowerPay Debt reduction computer program. A notebook of resources was provided to participants. CEU’s were also available to participants.

Impact:
At the Council Bluffs location,14 counselors and helping professionals attended the training. The attendees also requested ordering information for a video segment used during the training on Tracking Your Spending. Arrangements were made with ISUE to process orders for the video.

A printed evaluation was provided by the ISAPDA with the following results:

On a scale of 1-5 with 5 being the highest,

• All participants gave a 4 or 5 to the statement – The material presented will be of practical use to me.
• All but one participant gave a 4 or 5 to the statement – The training expanded my knowledge.

When asked what was most helpful from the training, responses included:

• The resource book is awesome!
• Knowing more than one method of tracking spending.
• Many financial resources are out there that I wasn’t aware of!
• Video on different methods of keeping track of expenditures
• Counseling Process and financial activities

An activity at the conclusion of the first training segment asked participants to think about the information and resources they received today and the clients they work with. Then they were asked to write down how they planned to use the information with their clients. Responses included:

• Do more than budget with families; teach them tracking methods, help families understand the importance of credit, give them referrals to resources.
• Counseling skills -- Don’t expect too much and don’t expect client to do things as I would.
• For substance abuse clients, the values information and resources will be helpful in letting them discover their feelings about money vs. how they have been actually using money in the past.
• Find a tracking method that works best for the individual/family—individualize so they are more apt to use it.
• Many of the handouts will be handy in getting them organized and taking a look at their spending habits.
• Help them to prioritize spending, don’t spend what they don’t have, ask self- do I really need to buy this?, don’t buy on impulse, post bills in visible place with dates.
• Assisting people with keeping track of finances, encourage prioritizing expenses, patience with all clients.
• I can use this information with my clients when we are doing their weekly budgets and am very excited about having and sharing the resources.

Contact:
Mary Beth Kaufman
ISU Extension Field Specialist
Family Resource Management
906 6th Street
Harlan , Iowa 51537
Phone 712-755-3104
E-mail mbkaufma@iastate.edu

 

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