Financial empowerment has long been identified as part of the solution to poverty. But related services—such as tax assistance, consumer protection, and information on financial services—are often missing in programs that aim to help families escape poverty. In many programs, case managers and other frontline staff can play a vital role in connecting families to services that include the many financial empowerment resources available in their communities.
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) has developed Your Money, Your Goals to equip social services programs frontline staff with fundamental financial empowerment principles, an understanding of consumer financial protection, tools and information to help clients take steps to build and apply financial management skills, and a referral guide to link clients to local financial empowerment services.