Capacity Building and Training

Maryland CASH wants human service practitioners to have the knowledge and skills necessary to assist clients in moving towards financial stability. We provide or coordinate workshops and trainings throughout the year to increase knowledge and bring creative new ideas to the field of asset building.

The Maryland CASH Campaign is assisting the University of Maryland, Baltimore, School of Social Work with the Financial Social Work Initiative (FSWI). Maryland CASH researched asset building and financial education literature written by social workers, and multidisciplinary approaches for working with clients around finances. This research should reveal gaps in financial services currently provided by practitioners to determine the social workers role in working with people around financial matters.

Maryland CASH Director Robin McKinney will be teaching a course titled "Financial Stability for Individuals and Communities" at the UMB School of Social Work during spring semester 2010. The course will involve a comprehensive approach to examining social programs, financial products, and policies that can move individuals and communities along the asset building continuum.

The FSWI is hosting a continuing education workshop titled "Introduction to Financial Stability for Clients" in the upcoming months. The cost is $50 and social workers can receive 6 CEUs for attending. The workshops are being held in Baltimore, Hagerstown, and Washington DC. Please click here for more information.

A Financial Stability Toolkit is available to assist practitioners in their work with clients. The toolkit provides an overview of significant financial topics, and lists resources clients can use to seek additional information. The topics are not meant to be exhaustive, but to provide a snapshot of concise content information that practitioners can refer to.

There is also a Credit Cafe Toolkit available that provides information for practitioners on how to integrate credit report reviewing into their services. Credit report reviewing is becoming one of the most sought after forms of financial education that organizations can provide. Organizing a Credit Cafe is an efficient method practitioners can use to help multiple clients access their free credit report, and to assist clients in improving their credit scores.

The Maryland CASH Campaign is currently planning for the 2nd Common Cents Conference to take place August 31st - September 1st, 2010! The conference is designed to address unique financial issues and programs in Maryland, DC, Virginia, and West Virginia. To find out more information about last year's conference, check out the website at http://commoncentsconference.mdcash.org