Monmouth County ACTS

Financial Recovery Network

The Financial Recovery Network is a growing network of care-based organizations (CBOs) and faith-based organizations who meet to organize and streamline the financial support systems and services that are available to Monmouth County residents.

The Network is organized around, but not limited to, six service areas:

 

Financial Assistance and Support

Financial Assistance and Support includes government subsidies for individuals and low-income families, whether newly in need of services or established recipients. Qualifying requires establishing personal income falls below a certain target level. Support is available in areas of nutrition assistance, health care (typically Medicaid insurance application) and Cash subsidies (typically TANF – Temporary Assistance for Needy Families).

 

Financial Coaching and Income Tax Assistance

Financial Coaching and Income Tax Assistance includes an individualized approach, based on needs, of each person or family. Frequently financial coaching addresses debt management/mediation, family money management skills and credit score improvement. This allows for assessing and guiding an individual to meet their current financial situation and goals.

 

Housing Assistance 

Housing Assistance includes Monmouth County’s housing agency, the Division of Social Services, which is designated as a public housing agency and can provide HUD funding for rental assistance. Housing assistance addresses the needs for rental assistance, as well as case management (i.e. helping individuals understand how to maintain their housing by enhancing personal financial skills and employment skills to increase household income). The goal is to help individuals and families obtain permanent housing. Many network partners provide services in this area. The Affordable Housing Alliance offers support from traditional assistance to permanent housing placement (immediate to long-term housing stability).

 

Workforce Training and Employment Assistance

Workforce Training and Employment Assistance assists individuals with job training, obtaining basic educational requirements for job placement, interviews and placement into the workforce. Education could include obtaining one’s GED, learning English as a second language or taking online courses for job re-training purposes. Services can prepare individuals for interviews and placement with established companies.

 

Nutrition Assistance

Nutrition Assistance is about both assisting individuals’ and families’ need for food and addressing the impact of poverty on individuals and families through a comprehensive approach. This can include things such as paying for housing expenses and utilities, and access to traditional entitlement programs such as health care (traditionally Medicaid insurance). Proper nutrition means enough food to live a healthy and active life. Service in this area means addressing immediate needs, such as through food pantries, but also directing individuals through a more comprehensive needs approach whether traditional social service support, or help with essentials, such as clothing.

 

Child Care Resources

Child Care Resources begins with obtaining guidance from our childcare referral agency which has a network of 390 child care providers in Monmouth County. It works to assist in finding an appropriate child care situation and setting. This allows parents to access information to make the best choice for themselves and their children. There are ways to determine what a child’s appropriate care should look like from birth through age 8, from health care to neighborhood safety. There are also before- and after-school care programs.