Training Social Workers and Human Service Professionals to Address the Complex Financial Needs of Clients

ABSRACT

In social work and other community-based human services settings, clients often present with complex financial problems. As a need for more formal training is beginning to be addressed, evaluation of existing training is important, and this study evaluates outcomes from the Financial Stability Pathway (FSP) project. Designed to prepare professionals with the knowledge, attitudes, and skills to effectively assess and respond to clients’ financial problems, we evaluated the FSP using a one-group pre-, post-, and follow-up design. Results suggest that with training and ongoing booster sessions including peer support, professionals’ preparedness and confidence increased, which strongly predicted the use of practice behaviors learned during training. Implications for professional education and training are discussed.

Funding

We acknowledge and thank the Maryland CASH Campaign and the Annie E. Casey Foundation for funding this study. The original version of this paper was presented during the Financial Capability and Asset Building Convening hosted by the Center for Social Development at Washington University in St. Louis and University of Maryland’s School of Social Work, May 12–15, 2015. Support was generously provided by Wells Fargo Advisors, The Arthur Vining Davis Foundation, and The Woodside Foundation.

Additional information

Funding

We acknowledge and thank the Maryland CASH Campaign and the Annie E. Casey Foundation for funding this study. The original version of this paper was presented during the Financial Capability and Asset Building Convening hosted by the Center for Social Development at Washington University in St. Louis and University of Maryland’s School of Social Work, May 12–15, 2015. Support was generously provided by Wells Fargo Advisors, The Arthur Vining Davis Foundation, and The Woodside Foundation.

Notes on contributors

Jodi Jacobson Frey

Jodi Jacobson Frey is associate professor, Karen Hopkins is associate professor, Christine Callahan is Research Assistant Professor, and Sally Hageman is a doctoral student at University of Maryland, Baltimore. Philip Osteen is assistant professor at Florida State University. Jungyai Ko is assistant at Hallym University.

Karen Hopkins

Jodi Jacobson Frey is associate professor, Karen Hopkins is associate professor, Christine Callahan is Research Assistant Professor, and Sally Hageman is a doctoral student at University of Maryland, Baltimore. Philip Osteen is assistant professor at Florida State University. Jungyai Ko is assistant at Hallym University.

Philip Osteen

Jodi Jacobson Frey is associate professor, Karen Hopkins is associate professor, Christine Callahan is Research Assistant Professor, and Sally Hageman is a doctoral student at University of Maryland, Baltimore. Philip Osteen is assistant professor at Florida State University. Jungyai Ko is assistant at Hallym University.

Christine Callahan

Jodi Jacobson Frey is associate professor, Karen Hopkins is associate professor, Christine Callahan is Research Assistant Professor, and Sally Hageman is a doctoral student at University of Maryland, Baltimore. Philip Osteen is assistant professor at Florida State University. Jungyai Ko is assistant at Hallym University.

Sally Hageman

Jodi Jacobson Frey is associate professor, Karen Hopkins is associate professor, Christine Callahan is Research Assistant Professor, and Sally Hageman is a doctoral student at University of Maryland, Baltimore. Philip Osteen is assistant professor at Florida State University. Jungyai Ko is assistant at Hallym University.

Jungyai Ko

Jodi Jacobson Frey is associate professor, Karen Hopkins is associate professor, Christine Callahan is Research Assistant Professor, and Sally Hageman is a doctoral student at University of Maryland, Baltimore. Philip Osteen is assistant professor at Florida State University. Jungyai Ko is assistant at Hallym University.