Relevance

The University of Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service conducted Statewide Community Needs Assessments in 2019 and 2023 to identify and prioritize community needs, issues, and/or opportunities that could be addressed through targeted educational programming and engagement efforts. “Support for substance use addiction prevention/recovery” was among the top 15 priority issues reported statewide in 2019, and again in 2023.

Undoubtedly Kentuckians have experienced incredible physical, mental, and financial stressors due to the Overdose Epidemic. In 2024, approximately 1,140 Kentuckians died to drug overdose. Individuals in recovery from substance use disorder (SUD) are particularly susceptible to return to use during the early stages of recovery. This increased risk is due in part to the financial stress that people in SUD recovery often encounter (e.g., debt, poor credit, limited employment opportunities). The existing paradigm for treating addiction has proven woefully inadequate.

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 return to use (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, with additional supplementary materials added.

PROFIT: Promoting Recovery Online through Financial Instruction and Addiction Training is a two-hour online training designed to increase the capacity of Extension educators and community-based professionals (e.g., mental/medical healthcare providers) on factors that mitigate SUD reoccurrence, particularly financial stress. PROFIT 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 access to the complete digital RYF curriculum through a Licensure Agreement with the University of Kentucky.

PROFIT launched online in November 2023 (Kentucky) and January 2024 (nationally). Program reach through June 30, 2025, includes 180 participants, 133 of whom completed the course (74%), earning two hours of continuing education credit through the Kentucky Board of Alcohol and Drug Counselors. Participation includes formal licensure agreements with 24 external partners. Additionally, 92 University of Kentucky Cooperative Extension personnel have completed PROFIT representing 71 out of 120 counties across the Commonwealth (59%).

PROFIT was funded by a USDA-NIFA Rural Health Safety Education (RHSE) award (2022-2025). The PROFIT Specialist team includes Dr. Nichole Huff, Assistant Extension Professor for Family Finance and Resource Management (PI); Dr. Alex Elswick, Assistant Extension Professor for Substance Use Prevention and Recovery (Co-PI); Dr. Omolola Adedokun, Assistant Extension Professor for Program Evaluation (Co-PI); Leslie Workman, Extension Specialist for FCS; and Kelly May, Senior Extension Associate for Family Finance and Resource Management.

Results

Retrospective pre-and post-training evaluation surveys were administered after each major program component of the PROFIT course. Results indicated both statistically and practically significant improvements in participant learning outcomes. Summary findings for RYF indicate significant improvement in all learning outcomes, with 92% reporting high/very high progress on understanding the financial issues affecting people in recovery and 90% reporting high/very high progress on understanding the financial resources people need in order to sustain recovery. 

Three-month follow-up surveys are currently being analyzed to learn more about barriers and facilitators to RYF implementation after completing PROFIT. The PROFIT team has presented 16 times at state (5) and national (11) conferences, webinars, and trainings. Before PROFIT was implemented, RYF had been presented four times nationally and multiple times as in-person community and agent trainings. 

After completing PROFIT, at least 22 Family and Consumer Sciences agents in Kentucky also were provided a set of print materials at their request. For example, these were used in Oldham County with a group of individuals who received points for attending that offset their obligation to Drug Court. With an average evaluation response of 8 per class, 100% indicated they increased their understanding of how to prepare a personal budget; identify factors that affect the cost of credit; better know how to improve a credit score over time; are now better able to prioritize debts; and increased confidence in avoiding fees when using a bank account. Survey results indicate respondents were receptive to behavior change.

The numbers reported by agents in the Kentucky Extension Reporting System (KERS) indicate that the two most popular units of RYF this year once again are Unit 1 Money Style (244 participants) and Unit 2 Budgeting (190 participants). The other units have been shared with the following numbers of participants during this reporting year: Unit 3 Credit 74, Unit 4 Credit Report 55, Unit 5 Priorities 132, Unit 6 Banking 81, Unit 7 Payroll/Earnings 22, and Unit 8 Saving 161. Counties reporting include: Spencer, Graves, Nelson, Carlisle, Laurel, Oldham, McCracken, Bourbon, Perry, Rockcastle, Adair, Gallatin, Lincoln, Clay, Simpson.

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.