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“Planning to Stay Ahead” workshop builds skill and hope for those filing bankruptcy

Need:
Individuals and families who have filed for personal bankruptcy often need to build stronger financial skills in order to prevent future financial crises. Beginning in October 2005, the law requires that these individuals participate in a financial education course before their bankruptcy can be discharged.

Response:
Iowa State University Extension developed a 2-hour course which was approved by the U.S. Trustees for those filing bankruptcy. The course focuses primarily on planning and tracking spending, and wise use of credit, and is available throughout the state. It is one of few face-to-face courses available to Iowa citizens – most of the options available are on-line courses.

Impact:
In North Central Iowa, primarily in the Fort Dodge area, 39 individuals participated in three “Planning to Stay Ahead” group workshops during a 4-month period. Workshop evaluations have been overwhelmingly positive, with 100% of participants reporting that they gained tools and ideas that will help them stay in control of their money in the future.

Typical comments have included:
“I wish I would’ve had this class years ago.”
“Everyone should take a class like this.”
One individual whose bankruptcy was discharged months earlier, and who had met the education requirement through an on-line course, took this class anyway because she had found the on-line course frustrating and unhelpful, and had been told the Extension course was very beneficial. These were some of her comments: “I felt your course taught by the ISU Extension was valuable, not only for the information but also for realizing that other people who attended are also going through bankruptcy; that I wasn’t alone and that I was treated with respect and solutions and not made to feel any worse than my self-esteem already does. … (I appreciated) good, solid friendly advice and solutions, as well as knowing I could ask questions, I felt I had really learned some good and helpful ways to manage my money and help to prevent me from making future financial mistakes. Thank you.”

Contact:
Barb Wollan
ISU Extension Family Resource Management Specialist
311 Bank Street, Webster City, IA 50595
Phone 515-832-9597; Fax 515-832-9599
Email bwollan@iastate.edu

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Last update: December 4, 2006  
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