“Because folks out of work often have financial problems, we initiated a credit-counselling program. We are able to do debt management plans (we negotiate a payment plan with all creditors…most times eliminating interest owed and we manage the payment for the client), assist with bankruptcy if required, and do general credit-counselling awareness workshops. The creditor makes a percentage of repayment a donation to our agency.”
In the process of integrating programs, it is crucial to be aware of the capacity of staff and resources to handle increased and diverse responsibilities. There is a point where the efficiencies and effectiveness of program integration is nullified by over-extension of resources and the overwhelming of staff. A commitment to ongoing monitoring and program evaluation is necessary, and it is also important to encourage and respond to staff input and have them directly involved in program design. The primary driver of program design must be quality and impact of programs, not cost savings.
