Promoting Financial Literacy in Homeless Teens Through a Leisure-Based Occupational Therapy Program

Abstract

Date Presented 4/20/2018 This quasi-experimental pilot investigation used goal attainment scaling as the outcome measure to determine the effect of a leisure-based occupational therapy intervention on the money management skills of adolescents living in a homeless shelter. Primary Author and Speaker: Winifred Schultz-Krohn Additional Authors and Speakers: Ivana Ang-Asuncion, Kenya Carter, Jessica Cone, Lauren Crane, Lynne Eduvala, Katy Entrekin

Evaluation of a financial skills training programme for vulnerable young people at risk of homelessness

“…Significantly, Thomas et al's (2011) systematic review of occupational therapy interventions with homeless people highlighted money management as a need in 85% (n ¼ 6) of them, and Schultz-Krohn et al 2018showed the beneficial impact of a leisure-based occupational therapy group intervention on money management skills for four homeless adolescents. Notably, both Helfrich et al (2006) and Schultz-Krohn et al (2018) cited abusive and/or neglectful families and inadequate adult mentorship as contributory factors in homeless teenagers' poor financial literacy and problematic transition to adulthood.…”

Financial Acumen Improves After Financial Literacy Training in Individuals With Substance Use Disorder

“…The study had a limited sample size, but the participants reported that the two skills they gained included creating a monthly budget and prioritizing necessary versus optional spending (Gardner et al, 2019). Leisure-based activities were used by occupational therapists in two quasi-experimental studies to help 12- to 17-year-old homeless adolescents acquire financial literacy skills, four in one study, and five in another (Schultz-Krohn et al, 2018; Shaver et al, 2019). Participants in these low-powered studies demonstrated improvement in financial acumen following participation in an OT group as measured using the Goal Attainment Scale (Schultz-Krohn et al, 2018; Shaver et al, 2019).…”

“…Leisure-based activities were used by occupational therapists in two quasi-experimental studies to help 12- to 17-year-old homeless adolescents acquire financial literacy skills, four in one study, and five in another (Schultz-Krohn et al, 2018; Shaver et al, 2019). Participants in these low-powered studies demonstrated improvement in financial acumen following participation in an OT group as measured using the Goal Attainment Scale (Schultz-Krohn et al, 2018; Shaver et al, 2019). These low-powered studies provided initial evidence of gains in financial literacy following participation in OT group sessions that provided initial instruction in financial literacy skills (Schultz-Krohn et al, 2018; Shaver et al, 2019).…”

“…Participants in these low-powered studies demonstrated improvement in financial acumen following participation in an OT group as measured using the Goal Attainment Scale (Schultz-Krohn et al, 2018; Shaver et al, 2019). These low-powered studies provided initial evidence of gains in financial literacy following participation in OT group sessions that provided initial instruction in financial literacy skills (Schultz-Krohn et al, 2018; Shaver et al, 2019).…”