It may involve setting up a spending plan in which the client cuts down on living expenses such as food, transportation, telephone or utilities. It may involve debt reduction planning. The counselor meets with the individual families as needed, usually once a week at first. Once a plan of action has been developed, meetings may be less frequent. The Financial Education programs' goal is to make clients financially independent.
Cases usually are closed within six months.
This does not mean that the clients are debt free in this time, but that they are on the road to financial independence. The volunteer financial counselors receive extensive and ongoing personal finance training. Training course topics enable counselors to assist families in managing credit, analyzing insurance coverage, budgeting, record keeping and they learn counseling techniques. Currently, several counselors have been trained and are working with client families. More counselors are needed as clients continue to call and request this service.