Defining the Roles and Contributions Defining the Roles and Contributions of Social Workers in the of Social Workers in the

Advancement of Economic Stability Advancement of Economic Stability and Financial Capability of and Financial Capability of

Vulnerable PopulationsVulnerable Populations

Jodi M. Jacobson, PhDJodi M. Jacobson, PhD

University of MarylandUniversity of Maryland

School of Social WorkSchool of Social Work

AcknowledgementsAcknowledgements

University of Maryland, Financial Social University of Maryland, Financial Social Work InitiativeWork Initiative Steering CommitteeSteering Committee Research SubcommitteeResearch Subcommittee

Additional Contributors and SupportersAdditional Contributors and Supporters Dr. Cathy Born, Dr. Susan Roll, Dr. Dr. Cathy Born, Dr. Susan Roll, Dr.

Shoshanna Ringel, and Carole Alexander, Shoshanna Ringel, and Carole Alexander, MSWMSW

The Woodside FoundationThe Woodside Foundation

Introduction to Social Work and Introduction to Social Work and Financial CapabilityFinancial Capability

Finances are integrally related to child, family and Finances are integrally related to child, family and community wellbeing – critical to working with vulnerable community wellbeing – critical to working with vulnerable populationspopulations

Social Work is uniquely situated to address the Social Work is uniquely situated to address the Person-in-Financial-EnvironmentPerson-in-Financial-Environment

Strengths-based, ecological systems approachStrengths-based, ecological systems approach Integration and interrelation of multiple levels of practice and Integration and interrelation of multiple levels of practice and

interventionintervention Core values of profession address poverty, commitment to Core values of profession address poverty, commitment to

vulnerable populations, and strive for social and economic justicevulnerable populations, and strive for social and economic justice Behavior change requires support to be sustained at all levelsBehavior change requires support to be sustained at all levels

Social Work SettingsSocial Work Settings

Social workers are employed in a wide range of public Social workers are employed in a wide range of public and non-profit organizations, including schools, and non-profit organizations, including schools, hospitals, shelters, non-profit organizations, government hospitals, shelters, non-profit organizations, government settings, employee assistance programs (EAPs), mental settings, employee assistance programs (EAPs), mental health & substance abuse programs, programs for older health & substance abuse programs, programs for older adults, courts, military, and moreadults, courts, military, and more

Social workers serve a diverse Social workers serve a diverse clientele, focusing on vulnerable clientele, focusing on vulnerable and at-risk individuals, families and at-risk individuals, families and communitiesand communities

Social Work’s Role in Financial Social Work’s Role in Financial CapabilityCapability

Social Workers:Social Workers: Understand the financial barriers Understand the financial barriers

faced by communities and their residentsfaced by communities and their residents Reach out to existing financial institutions to engage Reach out to existing financial institutions to engage

them around financial education with low-cost, them around financial education with low-cost, appropriate productsappropriate products

Participate in local asset building coalitionsParticipate in local asset building coalitions Give a voice to disadvantaged and disenfranchised Give a voice to disadvantaged and disenfranchised

peoplepeople Identify policy barriers to financial security and Identify policy barriers to financial security and

advocate for changeadvocate for change

Relevant Social Work Education Relevant Social Work Education Accreditation StandardsAccreditation Standards

In addition to our Code of Ethics, Schools of Social Work In addition to our Code of Ethics, Schools of Social Work adhere to the Council on Social Work Education, adhere to the Council on Social Work Education, Accreditation Standards that require teaching social Accreditation Standards that require teaching social workers to strive for:workers to strive for:

Social and economic justiceSocial and economic justice The prevention of conditions that limit human rightsThe prevention of conditions that limit human rights Elimination of povertyElimination of poverty Enhancement of the quality of life for all personsEnhancement of the quality of life for all persons

Standard 2.18 – social workers must “engage in policy Standard 2.18 – social workers must “engage in policy practice to advance social and economic wellbeing and practice to advance social and economic wellbeing and to deliver effective social work services”to deliver effective social work services”

The University of Maryland, School of Social The University of Maryland, School of Social Work (UMSSW): A Case StudyWork (UMSSW): A Case Study

Why UMSSW?Why UMSSW? Social work needs to continue to find ways to address Social work needs to continue to find ways to address

poverty through personal social services now that poverty through personal social services now that income assistance and services are so separateincome assistance and services are so separate

No-, low- and moderate-income individuals can No-, low- and moderate-income individuals can benefit from financial social work—but all individuals benefit from financial social work—but all individuals and communities can also benefitand communities can also benefit

UMSSW is committed to responding to emerging UMSSW is committed to responding to emerging needs in ways that are timely and effective--so FSW needs in ways that are timely and effective--so FSW must be studied as it is developedmust be studied as it is developed

Setting the StageSetting the Stage

Three characteristics about the UMSSW Three characteristics about the UMSSW positioned it to play a leadership role:positioned it to play a leadership role: UMSSW’s dual UMSSW’s dual ClinicalClinical and and Management and Management and

Community OrganizingCommunity Organizing (MACO) MSW tracks (MACO) MSW tracks UMSSW’s Social Work Community Outreach UMSSW’s Social Work Community Outreach

Service (SWCOS) links the Service (SWCOS) links the campus and the community with campus and the community with faculty led field unitsfaculty led field units

Alumni working in asset building field Alumni working in asset building field locallylocally

Creation of the University of Maryland’s Creation of the University of Maryland’s Financial Social Work Initiative: A TimelineFinancial Social Work Initiative: A Timeline

Social workers in the community began to recognize the need Social workers in the community began to recognize the need for additional financial skills in working with clients and for additional financial skills in working with clients and communities (2003/2004)communities (2003/2004)Initial conversations about social work’s role in financial Initial conversations about social work’s role in financial capability increased while the financial and economic crisis capability increased while the financial and economic crisis accelerated accelerated Demand for clinical and community-based services outpaced Demand for clinical and community-based services outpaced the capacity of those with trainingthe capacity of those with trainingAlumni challenged the School to take a leadership roleAlumni challenged the School to take a leadership roleFunders invested in building the UMSSW’s training and Funders invested in building the UMSSW’s training and community-based program capacity community-based program capacity The School responded to media attention regarding The School responded to media attention regarding the financial crisisthe financial crisisThe The Financial SocialFinancial Social Work InitiativeWork Initiative emerged emerged (11/2008)(11/2008)

UMSSW FSWI Steering UMSSW FSWI Steering CommitteeCommittee

Chair: Jodi M. Chair: Jodi M. Jacobson, Ph.D.Jacobson, Ph.D.

Office of the DeanOffice of the Dean

Office of Continuing Office of Continuing EducationEducation

Office of Alumni & Office of Alumni & DevelopmentDevelopment

Office of External Office of External AffairsAffairs

Campus Wellness HubCampus Wellness Hub

UMSSW Board of UMSSW Board of AdvisorsAdvisors

Social Work Social Work Community Outreach Community Outreach Services (SWCOS)Services (SWCOS)

MSW studentsMSW students

Maryland CASHMaryland CASH

Baltimore CASHBaltimore CASH

SEEDCOSEEDCO

Woodside FoundationWoodside Foundation

1) Social Work Education1) Social Work Education

Development of 3-credit course for MSW Development of 3-credit course for MSW studentsstudents

Option for independent research study for Option for independent research study for MSW studentsMSW students

Continuing education training for social Continuing education training for social work practitionerswork practitioners

Publications for social work educators and Publications for social work educators and practitionerspractitioners

Education, Continued: What is Education, Continued: What is Involved?Involved?

Financial education, values and attitudesFinancial education, values and attitudes

Behavioral economics and behavior changeBehavioral economics and behavior change

Access to financial products and resources - Access to financial products and resources - time and skill to navigate systemstime and skill to navigate systems

Federal, state and local policies that impact Federal, state and local policies that impact financial wellbeing – effective advocacyfinancial wellbeing – effective advocacy

2) Social Work Direct Practice2) Social Work Direct Practice

Field PlacementsField Placements Social Work Social Work

Community Outreach Service (SWCOS)Community Outreach Service (SWCOS)Maryland Community FellowsMaryland Community Fellows

Financial Literacy Volunteer InitiativeFinancial Literacy Volunteer Initiative

Neighborhood FellowsNeighborhood Fellows Employee Assistance Program (EAP) Sub-Employee Assistance Program (EAP) Sub-

specializationspecialization Traditional social work agencies and community Traditional social work agencies and community

programsprogramsHouse of RuthHouse of Ruth

DC Rape Crisis CenterDC Rape Crisis Center

Social Work Practice, Social Work Practice, continuedcontinued

Attending to the needs of the broader Attending to the needs of the broader campus and surrounding communitycampus and surrounding community Credit CafesCredit Cafes University Wellness HubUniversity Wellness Hub Money Power DayMoney Power Day Student Interest Groups:Student Interest Groups:

Alliance for Workforce Development and Alliance for Workforce Development and EmpowermentEmpowerment

LASO (Latin American Solidarity Organization)LASO (Latin American Solidarity Organization)

3) Social Work Research3) Social Work Research

Research on IPV/DV and Financial CapabilityResearch on IPV/DV and Financial Capability Dr. Ringel’s rDr. Ringel’s research with the Evangelical and Jewish Orthodox esearch with the Evangelical and Jewish Orthodox

communitiescommunities Dr. Born’s research on family violence prevention programs and welfare receipt Dr. Born’s research on family violence prevention programs and welfare receipt

in Marylandin Maryland Ms. Deborah Svoboda’s (Ph.D. student) research on economic justice for Ms. Deborah Svoboda’s (Ph.D. student) research on economic justice for

survivors of intimate partner violence survivors of intimate partner violence

Additional Research Studies Related to Financial Capability, Additional Research Studies Related to Financial Capability, Workforce Development and Asset BuildingWorkforce Development and Asset Building

Foster Parent Reimbursement: Establishing Adequate and Reasonable RatesFoster Parent Reimbursement: Establishing Adequate and Reasonable Rates Research in Support of Welfare ReformResearch in Support of Welfare Reform Adding ‘Cents’ to Social Work EducationAdding ‘Cents’ to Social Work Education

National communication facilitated through University’s online National communication facilitated through University’s online scholar network and listservscholar network and listserv

4) Social Work Policy4) Social Work Policy

Advocate at the local, state and national levels for Advocate at the local, state and national levels for legislation supporting programs and policies to support legislation supporting programs and policies to support vulnerable populationsvulnerable populations

Job applicant credit checksJob applicant credit checks Employer notification about Earned Income Tax CreditEmployer notification about Earned Income Tax Credit Prevention of landlord discriminationPrevention of landlord discrimination Disclosure of criminal convictions on employment applicationsDisclosure of criminal convictions on employment applications Enhancement of benefits to provide rental assistance, Enhancement of benefits to provide rental assistance,

healthcare and energy assistancehealthcare and energy assistance

Attendance at the Financial Literacy Education Attendance at the Financial Literacy Education Commission and President’s Advisory Council on Commission and President’s Advisory Council on Financial CapabilityFinancial Capability

Next Steps and RecommendationsNext Steps and RecommendationsInfuse financial capability concepts into social Infuse financial capability concepts into social work education and field placementswork education and field placements

Conduct research to identify evidence-based Conduct research to identify evidence-based programs and social work interventions targeted programs and social work interventions targeted to vulnerable populations, including, but not to vulnerable populations, including, but not limited to IPV limited to IPV

As a profession, underscore the relevance of As a profession, underscore the relevance of financial capability when providing assistance financial capability when providing assistance and support to vulnerable populations and and support to vulnerable populations and communitiescommunities

Thank youThank you

For additional information, please contact For additional information, please contact Dr. Jodi Jacobson at Dr. Jodi Jacobson at

jjacobson@ssw.umaryland.edu or or

visit the University’s FSWI website: visit the University’s FSWI website: http://www.ssw.umaryland.edu/fsw/