Debt Reduction Services Inc

OUR MISSION IS TO PROMOTE FINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITY IN OUR CLIENTS AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS NATIONWIDE. WE ACCOMPLISH THIS THROUGH EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS, COUNSELING, AND PERSONALIZED SERVICES. WE THUS EMPOWER INDIVIDUALS TO DEVELOP AND USE POSITIVE BUDGETING SKILLS AND EFFECTIVE SPENDING BEHAVIORS, TO USE CREDIT WISELY, AND TO PREVENT, MANAGE, AND ELIMINATE CONSUMER DEBT.

EDUCATIONAL ACCOMPLISHMENTSEVEN BEFORE THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC SHUT DOWN MOST COMMUNITY-BASED OPPORTUNITIES TO OFFER IN-PERSONAL PERSONAL FINANCE WORKSHOPS, DRS HAD BEGUN TO PIVOT OUR WORKSHOPS AND CLASSES TO VIRTUAL OPTIONS. WE NOW PROMOTE FINANCIAL LITERACY AND HEALTHY PERSONAL FINANCE BEHAVIOR THROUGH LIVE VIDEO CONFERENCES WITH CLASSES AND GROUPS AS WELL AS THROUGH ONLINE WEBINARS (PRE-RECORDED OR SELF-PACED) THAT ANYONE CAN ACCESS FROM ANYWHERE AT ANY TIME. AS A RESULT, OUR TOP THREE ACHIEVEMENTS IN FINANCIAL EDUCATION FOR 2021 INCLUDED: 1) THE CONTINUED EXPANSION OF OUR AWARD-WINNING MY LIFE MY CHOICES - STUDENT EDITION COURSE WITH 7,229 ONLINE PARTICIPANTS, 2) THE DESIGN, RECORDING, AND FACILITATION OF OUR MONEY FIT LIVE WEEKLY YOUTUBE VIDEOS AND CHATS (49 VIDEOS, 10,828 VIEWS, AND OVER 849 HOURS OF VIEWING TIME), AND 3) THE PRODUCTION OF THE MONEY FIT SHOW PODCAST STARTING IN JUNE 2021, RESULTING IN 28 WEEKLY PODCAST EPISODES PROMOTING FINANCIAL EDUCATION AND HEALTHY PERSONAL FINANCE BEHAVIORS (810 DOWNLOADS IN ITS FIRST 5 MONTHS).DURING 2021, INCOME RECEIVED, AND EXPENDITURES INCURRED BY THE IN 2021, INCOME RECEIVED AND EXPENDITURES INCURRED BY THE ORGANIZATION SUPPORTED THE SUCCESSFUL IMPLEMENTATION OF THE FOLLOWING SIGNIFICANT FINANCIAL EDUCATION PROGRAMS AND SERVICES:HOUSING COUNSELING - IN 2021, DRS RECEIVED APPROVAL FROM THE US DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT TO OFFER HOUSING COUNSELING AND EDUCATION IN SOUTHWEST IDAHO. DURING THIS FIRST YEAR, WE FOCUSED ON OFFERING CREDIT-BUILDING, BUDGETING SERVICES, AND FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT COUNSELING AND EDUCATION TO PROSPECTIVE HOMEBUYERS, CURRENT HOMEOWNERS, AND RENTERS TO PROMOTE STABLE HOUSING.IDAHO REGION III HOUSING COALITION - DRS CONTINUED TO PARTICIPATE VIRTUALLY IN THIS COALITION OF GOVERNMENT, EDUCATION, NONPROFIT, AND BUSINESS ORGANIZATIONS TO COORDINATE SERVICES THAT PREVENT AND ADDRESS HOMELESSNESS IN SOUTHWEST IDAHO.MY LIFE MY CHOICES - MILITARY TRANSITION EDITION - THIS FREE, ONLINE, INTERACTIVE BUDGETING ACTIVITY FOR ACTIVE MILITARY SERVICE MEN AND WOMEN TRANSITIONING TO CIVILIAN LIFE HELPS THEM CONNECT THEIR PERSONAL CHOICES TO SHORT- AND LONG-TERM FINANCIAL CONSEQUENCES IN A 25- TO 45-MINUTE EXPERIENCE THAT INVOLVES TOPICS FROM BUDGETING AND TAXES TO HOUSING AND CONSUMER SPENDING. IN 2021, 133 INDIVIDUALS COMPLETED MY LIFE MY CHOICES - MILITARY TRANSITION EDITION. LIFE AFTER DEBT WEBINAR - THIS SELF-PACED COURSE TAKES PARTICIPANTS THROUGH THE SEVEN KEY STEPS TO STAYING OUT OF DEBT ONCE YOU'VE PAID IT OFF. THE COURSE TAKES AROUND AN HOUR TO COMPLETE AND IS FREE AND OPEN TO THE PUBLIC. THE PRIMARY FINANCIAL SUBJECTS INCLUDE THE IMPORTANCE OF BUILDING SAVINGS, MANAGING PAYCHECKS AND BANK ACCOUNTS, CONTROLLING SPENDING, BUILDING CREDIT, GROWING INCOME, SETTING AND ACHIEVING FINANCIAL GOALS, AND DEALING WITH FUTURE DEBTS. WE LAUNCHED THIS WEBINAR LATE IN 2021 AND HAD TEN PARTICIPANTS COMPLETE THE PROGRAM.WHO WANTS TO LIVE LIKE A MILLIONAIRE?: IN 2021, 223 INDIVIDUALS COMPLETED THIS FUN AND SELF-PACED INTERACTIVE WEBINAR THAT BUSTS MYTHS OF WEALTH, LIFESTYLE, AND PARTICULARLY HYPER-CONSUMERISM. WITH A HEALTHIER AND MORE ACCURATE UNDERSTANDING OF HOW 99%+ OF MILLIONAIRES GROW AND MAINTAIN THEIR WEALTH, PARTICIPANTS ARE EMPOWERED TO MAKE FINANCIAL CHOICES THAT ARE NOT BASED ON INACCURATE STEREOTYPES FROM POPULAR MEDIA.JUMP$TART COALITION STATE MEMBERSHIPS - THE JUMP$TART COALITION FOR PERSONAL FINANCIAL LITERACY PROMOTES FINANCIAL LITERACY AMONG YOUTH AND AT-RISK POPULATIONS. IN 2021, THE ORGANIZATION'S EDUCATION MANAGER CONTINUED TO PARTICIPATE IN REGULAR MEMBERSHIP MEETINGS OF THE STATE COALITION FOR IDAHO (IDAHO FINANCIAL LITERACY COALITION) AND JOINED THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS FOR THE PENNSYLVANIA JUMP$TART COALITION. SUCH INVOLVEMENT ENABLES THE AGENCY TO STAY CURRENT ON FINANCIAL EDUCATION ACTIVITIES IN THE STATE AND COORDINATE RELATED EVENTS WITH LIKE-MINDED ORGANIZATIONS.COALITIONS AND ASSOCIATIONS - IN 2021 THE ORGANIZATION'S EDUCATION MANAGER CONTINUED TO PARTICIPATE IN TWITTER'S WEEKLY #CREDITCHAT HOSTED BY EXPERIAN. HE ALSO SERVES ON THE PROGRAM COORDINATING COMMITTEE FOR THE BOISE CITY-ADA COUNTY HOUSING AUTHORITIES. THE AGENCY EDUCATION MANAGER ALSO PARTICIPATED REGULARLY IN THE VIRTUAL COMMUNITY HUB MEETINGS HOSTED BY THE UNITED WAY OF TREASURE VALLEY TO COORDINATE SERVICES AVAILABLE TO THE LOCAL COMMUNITY TO ADVANCE HEALTH, EDUCATION, AND FINANCIAL STABILITY. HE ALSO PARTICIPATED ON THE TECHNICAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE FOR THE BOISE SCHOOL DISTRICT'S FAMILY AND CONSUMER SCIENCE PROGRAM. FINALLY, HE ATTENDED MEETINGS OF THE JOINING FORCES INITIATIVE, LED BY THE BOISE POLICE DEPARTMENT, THAT COORDINATES HOUSING, FINANCIAL, MENTAL HEALTH, AND OTHER SERVICES FOR CURRENT AND FORMER MEMBERS OF OUR ARMED FORCES LIVING IN SOUTHERN IDAHO.UCLA STUDY RESEARCH - WORKING WITH A PROFESSOR AND HONORS STUDY, WE HELPED DEVELOP A SET OF ONLINE, INTERACTIVE ACTIVITIES THAT SERVED TO IDENTIFY THE POTENTIAL EFFECT OF REWARDING INDIVIDUALS FOR SAVING MORE AND SPENDING LESS. IN THE END, OVER 150 PARTICIPANTS COMPLETED THE STUDY.WHENEVER POSSIBLE, THE ORGANIZATION PRESENTS AT CONFERENCES AND OFFERS FINANCIAL EDUCATION TO INDIVIDUALS OF ALL AGES AND WALKS OF LIFE. IN NOVEMBER, OUR EDUCATION MANAGER PROVIDED A VIRTUAL BREAKOUT SESSION AT THE AFCPE'S ANNUAL SYMPOSIUM, HELD ONLINE FOR THE SECOND TIME DUE TO COVID-19. ADDITIONALLY, WE PROVIDED LIVE, VIDEO CONFERENCE COURSES TO 695 INDIVIDUALS IN 14 ORGANIZATIONS, INCLUDING HOUSING AUTHORITIES, A NATIVE AMERICAN TRIBE, BUSINESSES, THE STAFF OF A CITY GOVERNMENT, A COLLEGE, AND NONPROFITS. ALL IN ALL, IN 2021, THE ORGANIZATION FACILITATED 8,179 LIVE AND PRE-RECORDED ONLINE COURSES FOR 9,153 INDIVIDUALS.THE ORGANIZATION CONTINUES TO BE APPROVED BY THE EXECUTIVE OFFICE OF THE U.S. TRUSTEE IN THE US DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE TO PROVIDE BOTH THE PRE-BANKRUPTCY CREDIT COUNSELING BRIEFING AND POST-BANKRUPTCY PERSONAL MANAGEMENT CLASSES, AS REQUIRED BY THE "BANKRUPTCY ABUSE PREVENTION AND CONSUMER PROTECTION ACT OF 2005." THE ORGANIZATION PROVIDES THE PRE-BANKRUPTCY CREDIT COUNSELING AND THE POST-BANKRUPTCY DEBTOR EDUCATION COURSE VIA THE INTERNET.