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Focusing on financial wellness
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n his last County Lines article, AAC Executive Director Chris Villines talked about providing for county government’s most valuable resource — the more than 15,000 people employed by counties in Arkansas. Chris discussed five areas in which the AAC is working to help improve the lives of those who work for counties. One of those areas is financial wellness, which is a huge topic of discussion in many households across the state and the nation. Financial difficulties impact so many areas of our lives. Financial stress creates tension in our homes, in our families and in our marriages. The worry and anxiety over finances then spills into our work relationships and performance. I would venture to say that at one time or another we all have been under the unrelenting pressure that financial challenges bring. The American Psychological Association’s report “Stress in America” states that money and financial problems rank as the No. 1 cause of stress. That is why the AAC is working with the Dave Ramsey Financial Peace Government program. Many of you have probably heard of, or participated in, the Dave Ramsey Financial Peace program. Dave Ramsey also offers a personal money management training program tailored to the requirements of government officials and the specific needs of government employees. This program is called “Financial Peace – Government.” It is currently used by a variety of groups associated with different aspects of public service: U.S. Customs and Border Patrol; the Dallas Police Department; the Police Department of Carthage, Mo.; Orange County, Fla.; and the Florida Sheriffs’ Association. Financial Peace-Government teaches a step-by-step process and an easy-to-understand plan designed to get control of your money and improve your financial situation. The program unites strong financial education with practical steps to change behavior. There are 12 lessons in this program taught by Dave Ramsey himself via DVD. A group leader facilitates the weekly classes. The lessons help participants learn to actively manage their income, eliminate debt and put longterm planning into place. The program combines individual study with group accountability to ensure consistent results.
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Eric Smith, the military and Wallet & waistline government advisor for Financial Peace-Government, said this about the program: “My team focuses on helping leaders and supervisors gain control of three major issues affecting organizational performance: 1) rising rates of divorce 2) trends for individuals to file for bankruptcy and 3) the increasing rates of self-destructive Becky Comet behaviors among public sector AAC Member employees. Numerous studies Benefits Manager attribute financial stress as an often-underlying cause of all of the above. I hear compelling stories of employees with mounting personal debt who have trouble separating workplace and home challenges. Our program helps employees understand how to live better with the income they have. We believe that employees who are content and with no financial stressors are better suited to operate in the workplace.” The Financial Peace-Government Program can have a great impact on your employees’ lives. Just as companies and various government agencies have witnessed a decrease in health care costs by promoting health and wellness programs, employers can see a significant return on investment by offering a high-quality financial wellness program. Companies that offer financial wellness programs have seen reduced absenteeism, increased productivity, decreased turnover and greater team loyalty. The AAC is committed to facilitating the acquisition of the Financial Peace-Government Program. We are looking into some corporate sponsorship to purchase the program materials. Counties also can seek partnership with local religious and civic organizations for scholarships. Please contact me at (501) 372-7550 or bcomet@arcounties. org for more information and help in acquiring the program for your county’s employees.
75 Counties - One Voice 24
COUNTY LINES, SPRING 2016
