Relevance

Kentuckians have experienced incredible physical, mental, and financial stressors due to the overdose epidemic. In 2022, 2,135 Kentuckians died to drug overdose. Individuals in recovery are particularly susceptible to return to use during early stages of recovery. This increased risk is due, in part, to financial stress (e.g., debt, poor credit, limited employment opportunities) that people in recovery from substance use disorder often encounter. The existing paradigm for treating addiction has proven woefully inadequate, as people with opioid addiction require an average of seven treatments to achieve sustained recovery and still exhibit relapse rates of about 40 to 60%.

Response

Recovering Your Finances (RYF) is an 8-lesson educational curriculum designed to reduce the financial stress that may mitigate return to use by building financial skills in individuals. This research-based curriculum was developed as an FCS Extension educational intervention to improve the financial capacity of individuals in recovery, thereby reducing factors that lead to relapse (e.g., financial stress). RYF is tailored to meet the unique needs of the intended audience. It can be taught using little technology, it does not require internet, it can conform to facility safety and security standards, and the implementation cost is low. The curriculum was created by Kelly May, Senior Extension Associate in Family Finance and Resource Management.

In late 2023, the entire RYF curriculum was thoroughly revised, to continue to promote use of this resource and to ensure that it remains current. A few additional supplementary materials were created and added to the curriculum. Recently, PROFIT (Promoting Recovery Online through Financial Instruction and addiction Training) was created to train future trainers on utilizing the RYF curriculum, along with sharpening trainer awareness of language/stigma via Addiction 101 and Cultural and Rural Competency. Those who complete PROFIT receive the complete RYF curriculum in addition to training on how to use it effectively. 

PROFIT is funded by a NIFA grant and the team is comprised as follows: (PI) Nichole Huff, Ph.D., Assistant Extension Professor for Family Finance and Resource Management; (Co-PI) Alex Elswick, Ph.D., Assistant Extension Professor for Substance Use Prevention and Recovery; (Co-PI) Omolola Adedokun, Ph.D., Assistant Extension Professor for Program Evaluation; (Co-PI) Jennifer Hunter, Ph.D., Assistant Extension Director, Family and Consumer Sciences; Kelly May, Senior Extension Associate for Family Finance and Resource Management; and Leslie Workman, Extension Specialist for FCS/NEP.

Results

The numbers reported by agents indicate that the two most popular units of RYF this year are Unit 1 Money Style (585 participants) and Unit 2 Budgeting (644 participants). The other units have been shared with the following numbers of participants: Unit 3 Credit 232, Unit 4 Credit Report 233, Unit 5 Priorities 251, Unit 6 Banking 16, Unit 7 Payroll/Earnings 13, and Unit 8 Saving 239. Counties reporting include: Lee, Lincoln, McLean, Livingston, Grayson, Harrison, Spencer, Pulaski, and Rowan.

Additionally, FCS agents have reported 124 program participants this program year in Recovering Your Finances, as reported under “Substance Use Prevention and Recovery General.” Specifically, the following numbers were reported by counties: Owen 75, Butler 32, McLean 12, Spencer 4, and Grayson 1.

PROFIT matriculation numbers include 97 total participants, 55 of whom have completed the entire course. These participants represent 64 Kentucky counties via agents and NEP assistants. There are currently 21 external partners participating, including some from other state Extension services.

Public Value Statement

There is a need for resources to assist those in substance use recovery and Recovering Your Finances is one such curriculum that may be meeting that need in a unique way.