F25-3001 Safe and Sound: Protecting Your Clients and Their Money
Total Credits: 3 Category I CEs
- Categories:
- 3000 Financial Social Work | 700 Professional Growth & Development | New
- Instructor:
- Syble Solomon, ME.d
- Course Levels:
- Intermediate
- Duration:
- 3 Hours 15 Minutes
- Target Audience:
- Social Workers, LCPCs, and Psychologists
Description
Many clients don’t realize they are experiencing financial and economic abuse by their partner, and often social workers aren’t listening for it either. Yet, these forms of abuse are more common—and sometimes more devastating—than physical, emotional, or sexual abuse in intimate partner relationships. Once identified, survivors need guidance on protecting themselves, their finances, and how to safely work with banks and credit unions to secure their money and personal information. However, financial institutions can be intimidating; their staff may lack training; and legal barriers can make it difficult to open accounts, secure loans, and build financial stability. We will not talk about finances! Rather, we will explore key indicators of financial and economic abuse, pragmatic strategies to enhance safety, and proven tips to navigate financial institutions effectively. Since financial insecurity is a major barrier to leaving an abusive relationship, this information can be lifesaving and offer a path to security and independence.
This workshop is in accordance with and compliance with the NASW Standards with a focus on service, dignity and worth of the person, importance of human relationships, integrity, competence, and social workers’ ethical responsibilities to clients, in practice settings, as professionals, to the social work profession, to the broader society.
This workshop is in compliance with the Maryland Board of Social Work Examiners’ COMAR 10.42.03.06.A(5) and with the District of Columbia Board of Social Work 17-70-7008.4.
Instructor
Syble Solomon, ME.d Related Seminars and Products
Syble Solomon is a popular invited speaker on the psychology of money. She created Money Habitudes® to help clients talk about money and to support the work of financial and mental health providers to connect the dots between emotions and financial behavior. In recent years she has worked to support victims and survivors of intimate partner violence to safely work with financial institutions. She also works with banks and credit unions to become more aware of the issues these clients face and how financial institutions can be more supportive. She has been quoted in more than 100 publications and was the recipient of the Distinguished Fellow Award by the Association of Financial Counseling (2023) as well as numerous other awards for her pioneering work.
Agenda & Learning Objectives
AGENDA:
11:50 - 12:00 Log on
12:00 - 1:30
-
What is the difference between financial and economic abuse? How can you recognize each, especially when there is intimate partner abuse?
-
Why might clients not be aware that they are experiencing financial and/or economic abuse? What indicators would suggest it is an issue? Why might social workers not want to bring financial issues into the conversation?
-
How to empower clients with do’s and don’ts to protect themselves and their money before and after confronting or leaving an abusive partner.
1:30 - 1:45 Break
1:45 - 3:15
-
How to work with bank or credit union staff to protect the client's personal safety and their money. Strategies to establish safe, confidential accounts, raise awareness of alerts and other ways banks can serve these customers better.
-
Q&A and wrap up
3:15 Adjournment
LEARNING OBJECTIVES:
Upon the completion of this workshop, participants will be able to:
-
Define the difference between financial and economic abuse.
-
Recognize indicators that a client is experiencing these forms of abuse in intimate partner relationships with or without other forms of intimate partner violence.
-
List strategies to prepare and empower clients to work effectively with financial institutions to get the protection they need for themselves and their money.
Bibliography & References
BIBLIOGRAPHY & REFERENCES
Adams, A. E., Greeson, M. R., Littwin, A. K., & Javorka, M. (2020). The Revised Scale of Economic Abuse (SEA2): Development and initial psychometric testing of an updated measure of economic abuse in intimate relationships. Psychology of Violence, 10(3), 268-278. https://doi.org/10.1037/vio0000244
Barnard Center for Research on Women (BCRW). (n.d.). Building Accountable Communities [Video series]. Retrieved from https://bcrw.barnard.edu/building-accountable-communities/
Domestic Violence and Economic Well-being Study Service Provider Report. (2021, April).
Free From. (2022). Before and Beyond Crisis: What each of Us can Do to Create a Long-Term Ecosystem of Support for all Survivors.
Free From. (2021) Prioritizing Financial Security for Survivors: A Plan to Disrupt Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) in the U.S.
Hageman, S. A., & St. George, D. M. M. (2018). Social Workers, Intimate Partner Violence (IPV), and Client Financial Concerns. Journal of Social Service Research, 44(3), 391–399. https://doi.org/10.1080/01488376.2018.1476288
National Consumer Law Center. (2022, August 10). Advising Clients When an Abusive Partner Coerces Debt. Retrieved from https://library.nclc.org/article/advising-clients-when-abusive-partner-coerces-debt
Pelkowitz, L., Crossley, C., Greville, H., & Thompson, S. C. (2023, April 24). Dealing with Intimate Partner Violence and Family Violence in a Regional Centre of Western Australia: A Study of the Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices of Local Social Workers. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 20(9), 5628. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph20095628
Shim, H. (2022). Safety Planning and Intimate Partner Violence: A Toolkit for Survivors and Supporters. Community Justice Exchange. Retrieved from https://survivedandpunished.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/SafetyToolkit_5.2.22.pdf
UK Finance. (2021, December). 2021 Financial Abuse Code. Retrieved from https://www.ukfinance.org.uk/system/files/Financial-Abuse-Code-151221-FINAL.pdf
Course Completion & CE Information
Category I Maryland BSWE Requirement
The Office of Continuing Professional Education at the University of Maryland School of Social Work is authorized by the Board of Social Work Examiners in Maryland to sponsor social work continuing education programs. This workshop qualifies for 3 Category I Continuing Education Units. The Office of Continuing Professional Education is also authorized by the Maryland Board of Psychologists and the Maryland Board of Professional Counselors to sponsor Category A continuing professional education.
ASWB Information
University of Maryland School of Social Work Office of Continuing Professional Education, #1611, is approved as an ACE provider to offer social work continuing education by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program. Regulatory boards are the final authority on courses accepted for continuing education credit. ACE provider approval period: 2/11/2024-2/11/2027.
To receive ACE credit, full attendance is required; no partial credits will be given for partial attendance.
Certificate Access
To access the evaluation and certificate, click on the orange certificate button in your CPE account. Once you complete the evaluation, access to the certificate will be available.
Live Interactive Webinars (Cat I) and Live Webinars (Cat II) - Allow up to 30 minutes post-training for attendance to be verified, then you will be able to access the evaluation and certificate.
In Person Trainings - Please allow five (5) business days post-training for attendance to be verified, then you will be able to access the evaluation and certificate.
Please refer to the tab "Live Interactive Webinar Policies & FAQs" for UMSSW Office of CPE policies regarding all live interactive webinar related matters. Contact our office at cpe@ssw.umaryland.edu for more information.
Evaluation
Participants will have access to the evaluation after attendance has been verified. Evaluations will be available for one (1) week after the workshop has ended.
After one (1) week, participants will no longer have access to the evaluation and will have to contact CPE about reactivation.
Target Audience
Social Workers, LCPCs, and Psychologists
We welcome anyone interested in the topic!
Live Interactive Webinar Platforms
LIVE INTERACTIVE WEBINAR PLATFORMS
The Office of Continuing Professional Education hosts Live Interactive Webinars through Zoom. This platform offers a high quality and user-friendly webinar platform for our registrants.
System Requirements:
- Operating Systems: Windows XP or higher; MacOS 9 or higher; Android 4.0 or higher.
- Internet Browser: Google Chrome; Firefox 10.0 or higher.
Our system is not compatible with the Safari web browser.
- Broadband Internet Connection: Cable, High-speed DSL and any other medium that is internet accessible.
**Please have your device charging at all times to ensure that your device does not lose power during the webinar.
Course Interaction Requirements:
To participate in Live Interactive Webinars, you MUST have a device that allows you to view the presentation on screen and hear the instructor at all times. We do not allow participants to call-in from their phones or mobile devices and solely listen to the presentation. Participation in Live Interactive Webinars is mandatory.
Our webinar policies can be found on our website by clicking here.
Webinar Policies & FAQs
Click The Link to View The Webinar Policies & FAQs
https://umbsswcpe.ce21.com/Page/live-interactive-webinar-procedures-policies-4129
Code of Conduct
The Office of Continuing Professional Education at the University of Maryland School of Social Work adheres to the NASW Code of Ethics. This policy is to ensure that the training environment for social work professionals remains respectful, productive, and conducive to learning. Disruptive behavior that interferes with the learning process, disrupts the training experience for others, or undermines the integrity of the program will not be tolerated.
Expectations for Participant Engagement:
In alignment with the NASW Code of Ethics and the University of Maryland Baltimore Code of Conduct, participants are expected to demonstrate professionalism, which includes respecting confidentiality, maintaining a collaborative and respectful tone, and contributing positively to the group dynamic. Disclosures made during the training (e.g., case studies or personal reflections) must be handled with care and in accordance with ethical and legal guidelines.
All participants in the training program are expected to:
- Engage actively in the learning process and show respect for the opinions and contributions of others.
- Demonstrate professionalism in both attitude and behavior, maintaining respect for instructors, peers, and the training environment.
- Maintain open communication by expressing concerns or disagreements constructively and respectfully.
- Follow the guidelines and expectations provided by instructors and facilitators.
- Support a collaborative learning environment where all participants feel valued and safe to contribute.
Instructors and CPE staff reserve the right to dismiss participants who do not adhere to ethical/professional principles and standards. If removed, CEs will be adjusted to reflect the time attended, unless otherwise specified.
ADA Accommodations
If you are requesting ADA accommodations, please contact our office via email at least two weeks prior to the workshop date. Requests after that date may not be fulfilled.
Our email address is cpe@ssw.umaryland.edu.
Late Fees and Refunds
The base price is $70, which includes CE credit.
Late Fee: On 11/07/25, a non-refundable late fee of $20 is added to the base price. Late fees cannot be refunded or applied to account credit.
Cancellations: **ALL cancellations will be subjected to a $35.00 administration fee.** To be eligible for a refund or CPE account credit, cancellations must be made at least 24 hours before the workshop.
For more information, please read the general policies on our website.