NORTHBROOK, Ill., July 24, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Long after the
physical bruises of domestic violence fade, the ones caused by an
often overlooked aspect of violent relationships linger—those
caused by financial abuse. A common tactic used by abusers to
control their victim, financial abuse involves a range of behaviors
including controlling their victims' access to money, destroying
their credit, and interfering with their employment.
Today, The Allstate Foundation and National Network to End
Domestic Violence (NNEDV) released the results of a study conducted
by Rutgers University proving financial
education helps survivors improve their financial management skills
and their quality of life, while also helping ensure that they have
the economic stability needed to live free from violence.
A total of 457 survivors were selected to participate in the
study based on their involvement and use of the Moving Ahead
through Financial Management curriculum. Participants showed
significant improvements in key financial behaviors by between
42-103 percent after learning the curriculum. Additionally, they
reported less hardship, less financial strain, and a 10 percent
increase in quality of life ratings.
Notable stats reported by survivors after completion of the
curriculum include:
- 86 percent knew how to set financial goals and
experienced a 30 percent increase in identifying their own
financial goals for the future
- 90 percent learned how to create a budget and
experienced a 31 percent increase in actually following
their weekly/monthly budget
- 72 percent understand how to improve their credit
rating, compared to 20 percent pre-curriculum
- 71 percent know how to invest in savings through bonds,
mutual funds, and stocks, compared to 17 percent
pre-curriculum
- There was an 18 percent increase in the number of
survivors using a bank account post curriculum.
"The scars caused by financial abuse can last more than a
decade," said Vicky Dinges, senior
vice president of corporate responsibility at Allstate. "This
research validates what we've heard from social service providers
for years. Financial empowerment works and is one of the most
important ways to help survivors obtain long-term security and
safety for themselves and their children."
The research conducted by Rutgers
University sought to understand the effectiveness of
financial education, and specifically the Moving Ahead through
Financial Management Curriculum developed by The Allstate
Foundation and NNEDV. The curriculum is the most widely delivered
financial education package for survivors and domestic violence
service providers across the country. It includes information on
how to disentangle financial relationships with an abusive partner,
work through past misuse of financial records, and address safety
concerns, all while working toward long term financial
empowerment.
"The study demonstrates survivors of domestic violence need
targeted financial tools and resources to help them recover from
abuse," said Dr. Judy Postmus,
director of the Rutgers University
Center on Violence Against Women & Children and lead researcher
on the study. "More funding and initiatives should promote the
financial stability of survivors, and The Allstate Foundation and
NNEDV should be commended for their focus in this area."
For more information about the research and financial
empowerment programs from The Allstate Foundation, please visit
www.ClickToEmpower.org.
About The Allstate Foundation
Established in 1952, The Allstate Foundation is an independent,
charitable organization made possible by subsidiaries of The
Allstate Corporation (NYSE: ALL). Through partnerships with
nonprofit organizations across the country, The Allstate Foundation
brings the relationships, reputation and resources of Allstate to
support innovative and lasting solutions that enhance people's
well-being and prosperity. With a focus on teen safe driving and
building financial independence for domestic violence survivors,
The Allstate Foundation also promotes safe and vital communities;
tolerance, inclusion, and diversity; and economic empowerment. For
more information, visit www.AllstateFoundation.org.
About The National Network to End Domestic Violence
(NNEDV)
NNEDV is a social change organization dedicated to creating a
social, political and economic environment in which violence
against women no longer exists. As the national network of the 56
state and territorial domestic violence coalitions and their nearly
2,500 member programs, NNEDV serves as the voice of millions of
women, children and men experiencing domestic violence.
NNEDV works with federal policy makers as well as state and
local domestic violence advocates to identify and implement
policies and best practices to end domestic violence and assist
survivors and their families. NNEDV is a leading voice for
survivors and their advocates, and was instrumental in the original
enactment and subsequent reauthorizations of the Violence Against
Women Act, as well as each iteration of the Family Violence
Prevention Services Act. NNEDV currently chairs or leads a number
of national initiatives related to women's economic justice,
appropriations, housing, technology safety, HIV and domestic
violence, and appropriations for domestic violence services.
For more information about NNEDV, visit www.nnedv.org.
About the Center on Violence Against Women and Children at
Rutgers University, School of Social
Work
The mission of the Center on Violence Against Women and Children
is to strive to eliminate physical, sexual and other forms of
violence against women and children and the power imbalances that
permit them. This mission will be accomplished through the use of a
collaborative approach that focuses on multidisciplinary research,
education and training that impacts communities and policy in
New Jersey, the U.S., and
throughout the world. For more information, visit
socialwork.rutgers.edu.
SOURCE The Allstate Foundation