Financial Counseling Program
Dr. Jinhee Kim
Dr. Kim received a grant from the Maryland State Department of Human Resources to provide trainings to their staff in 2002. The Financial Counseling Program increases the capacity of human services providers in the community to increase low-income individuals and families' economic sustainability. Participants in the program learn how to establish a client-counselor relationship, gather client data and clarify counseling goals, analyze the client's financial status and identify financial problems, generate alternative solutions, and develop and evaluate financial plans. A needs assessment, program evaluation, and three month follow-up evaluation were completed and results were used to strengthen financial counseling programs.
Food Resource Management Program
Dr. Jinhee Kim
Dr. Kim and Family Science graduate students developed food resource management teaching materials and studied the effectiveness of the program. The goal of the project was to increase the food security of low-income families in Maryland. Funding for this project was provided by the U.S. Department of Agriculture through the Maryland Department of Human Resources.
Food Stamp Nutrition Education Program Evaluation
Dr. Bonnie Braun
The goal of this project is to help the Food Stamp program more effectively improve the diet of participants and the systems that affect their lives. Dr. Braun and Family Science graduate students collect data from Food Stamp eligible individuals about their attitudes and behaviors relating to use of the Food Stamp program, including views of the program and its operations. They also conduct an evaluation of the Maryland Food Stamp Nutrition Education Program each year. The funding for this project is provided by the U.S. Department of Agriculture through the Maryland Department of Human Resources.
Impact of Workplace Financial Education on Financial Well-being
Dr. Jinhee Kim
The purpose of this study was to examine the impact of the Cooperative Extension Service Education program, Prescription for Financial Wellness, on a selected group of state employees. Specifically, the study assessed the effects of the program on employees' financial well-being, health, and workplace behavior as a function of employee gender and income level. A pre-test/post-test design was utilized, with participants administered measures of financial knowledge, financial attitudes, financial behavior, financial well-being, physical health, psychological well-being, and workplace behavior before and after an intervention program. Dr. Kim received a University of Maryland Research Board Summer Award in 2002 to support this research.
Microeconomic Analysis of Russian Households
Dr. Manouchehr Mokhtari
Dr. Mokhtari conducted a microeconomic analysis of Russian household behavior under the condition of transition to a market economy. This study investigates important microeconomic issues using a longitudinal survey of 4,090 Russian households. Cross-sectional data sets provide information about household decision-making in the emerging economies of countries formerly in the Soviet Union. Dr. Mokhtari applies a variety of mathematical and quantitative methods to model and analyze economic issues and international investigations of household behavior.
