Financial Realities and the Demands on Families

If you experienced an emergency, such as an unexpected hospitalization or illness, a car accident, or a sudden loss of employment, do you have enough money saved to survive? For many families, all it takes is one emergency to spiral into a financial crisis, which can have long-term effects. As an HSPP, it is important to be aware of the financial hardships that families face, the impact of those hardships, and the programs and services available to help families recover and thrive again. It is also important to understand that some programs and services may present unintended financial burdens to families. For example, a temporary financial assistance program that requires numerous in person meetings may be cost prohibitive to family members who have to take time off work or pay for transportation or childcare.

In this Discussion, you explore the importance of being sensitive to a familys financial needs when providing services. You also consider the unintended financial burdens that a family might experience when participating in a program or receiving services.

To Prepare
Review your course announcements for possible information related to this weeks Discussion and Assignment.
Review the Learning Resource on budgeting.
Complete the following pre-Discussion activity: Jot down a list of everything you spend money on each month and compare it to the income you receive. Reflect on this list and any financial challenges you and your family have encountered. Think about how your own financial challenges might make you more sensitive to the financial needs of families.
Review the Learning Resources on financial burdens associated with receiving services. Consider the unintended financial burdens that families may experience when participating in programs or receiving services and how to minimize those burdens.
By Day 4
Given what you have learned about your own financial challenges from completing the pre-Discussion activity, post a response to the following questions:

Why is it important to be sensitive to the financial needs of families when providing services?
What is one example of an unintended financial burden that a family might experience when participating in a program or receiving services? How would you minimize the burden?

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