FinSoc: five-session financial social work program for families with complex money problems
A Financial Social Work Intervention for Families With Complex Financial Difficulties - A Randomised Controlled Trial
This program will test whether five sessions with a trained social worker can help families with children who are struggling with money by reducing anxiety and improving budgeting skills.
Quick facts
| Phase | Not applicable |
|---|---|
| Study type | Interventional |
| Enrollment | 88 (estimated) |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | University of Turku Academic / other |
| Locations | 1 site (Turku) |
| Trial ID | NCT07084389 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this trial studies
This randomized controlled trial in Finland will randomly assign families receiving social services to the FinSoc program or to usual social work services. FinSoc delivers five sessions with a trained social service professional focusing on budgeting, financial decision-making, emotions around money, and family communication about finances. The intervention aims to reduce financial anxiety, increase financial knowledge and confidence, and help families set realistic goals. Outcomes will compare changes in financial self-efficacy, behavior, and well-being between the intervention and control groups.
Who should consider this trial
Good fit: Ideal candidates are families with at least one minor child who are current clients of child, family, or adult social work in Finland and have recently had trouble paying bills, meeting basic needs, lack financial skills, or feel money-related anxiety, and who can commit to the five sessions.
Not a fit: Families facing an active crisis that prevents engagement, those not served by participating social services, or households without a child residing at least half the time are unlikely to benefit from this intervention.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, FinSoc could lower families' financial stress, improve budgeting and money-management confidence, and help parents better provide for their children.
How similar studies have performed: Similar social-work-led financial coaching and literacy programs have shown modest gains in financial knowledge and self-efficacy in prior studies, but high-quality randomized evidence remains limited.
Eligibility criteria
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * Client status in child welfare services, family social work, or adult social work * Within the past six months, the client has brought up one or more of the following challenges in managing their finances during their contact with social services: (1) Difficulties paying bills, housing-related expenses, or repaying debts on time, (2) Difficulties meeting the basic needs of family members (e.g. food, medication, clothing) (3) A perceived lack of sufficient knowledge, skills, or competence to manage financial matters (4) Feelings of anxiety or stress related to financial situation. * There is at least one underage child in the family. In cases of shared custody, the child must reside in the household for an average of at least half of the time in each calendar month. Exclusion Criteria: * There is an ongoing crisis or life situation in the family that, in the assessment of the social worker, prevents commitment to the intervention process. * There is an active criminal proceeding within the family. * The parents do not speak Finnish (all project materials are in Finnish, and there are no resources available to provide translations into other languages).
Where this trial is running
Turku
- Univeristy of Turku — Turku, Finland (Recruiting)
Study contacts
- Study coordinator: Anniina Kaittila senior lecturer, PhD
- Email: sairai@utu.fi
- Phone: +358445071983
How to participate
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
- Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.