Introduction to Financial Social Work with Adults

September 21 and 28, 2021, 1 – 4:15 p.m. ET
Instructor: Sara Johnson, M.S.W.
Level: Intermediate
CEs: 6 CEs are available for $10 fee
Review CE accreditation and approvals for this course.

Financial capability and financial well being can contribute to overall well being in clients by decreasing stress and increasing efficacy skills. Social workers use a broad range of interventions that support their work with individuals and families to improve lives and reduce harm. These interventions often include mental health counseling, parenting programs, substance abuse counseling, and sometimes, job training. What is missing from these interventions is a social workers’ ability to address the financial and economic vulnerability that continues to create instability and leads to families falling back into crisis. This financial social work course approaches financial capability from an economic justice framework. Materials and lectures include the historical legacy of racial, gender and social economic policies that have created and maintained the racial and gender wealth gap. The course seeks to dismantle the framework of personal responsibility as the core tenet of building financial capability for individuals, families and communities. Students are challenged to identify root causes and real-life solutions to address these disparities inherent in our financial system.

This workshop will provide a framework for social workers and other practitioners to examine their role in advancing the economic stability of individuals, families and communities. Participants will gain a foundation in techniques, tools and resources available to help clients build financial stability. Through a series of exercises and discussions, practitioners will understand the origin of the current race and gender wealth gap and gain insights about how values, habits and beliefs about money affect financial behaviors and impact client well-being. Participants will also learn practical skills like how to help clients create a budget, build credit and how to set and stick to a financial goal.