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 ACCOMPLISHMENTSCONTINUING TO GROW OUR VIRTUAL EDUCATION PROGRAMS DUE TO THE IN-PERSON RESTRICTIONS OF THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC, DRS EXPERIENCED PARTICULAR PROGRESS WITH OUR FLAGSHIP EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM, A VIRTUAL, SCENARIO-BASED BUDGETING ACTIVITY FOR YOUNG ADULTS. ADDITIONALLY, OUR ONLINE VIDEO AND PODCAST EFFORTS PRODUCED STRONG FIGURES, INDICATING A CONTINUING INTEREST FROM THE PUBLIC IN FINANCIAL EDUCATION. WE PROMOTE FINANCIAL LITERACY AND HEALTHY PERSONAL FINANCE BEHAVIOR THROUGH ONLINE VIDEOS AVAILABLE 24/7 AS WELL AS WITH LIVE VIRTUAL CLASSES AND 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 2022 INCLUDED: 1) THE CONTINUED POPULARITY OF OUR AWARD-WINNING MY LIFE MY CHOICES STUDENT EDITION COURSE WITH 7,070 ONLINE PARTICIPANTS AND ITS SISTER PROGRAMS FOR CORRECTIONS (282 PARTICIPANTS) AND MILITARY (217 PARTICIPANTS), 2) THE DESIGN, RECORDING, AND FACILITATION OF OUR FREE AND EDUCATIONAL MONEY FIT YOUTUBE VIDEOS (OVER 50 VIDEOS EXPERIENCED 6,869 TOTAL VIEWS WITH 431.9 HOURS OF VIEWING TIME), AND 3) THE PRODUCTION OF OUR WEEKLY MONEY FIT SHOW PODCAST STARTING THE PREVIOUS YEAR (JUNE 2021), RESULTING IN TOTAL 65 PODCAST EPISODES WITH MOTIVATIONAL INTERVIEWS OF INDIVIDUALS AND COUPLES WHO OVERCAME FINANCIAL ADVERSITY TO ACHIEVE SUCCESS. DURING THE 2022 CALENDAR YEAR, THERE WERE 2,508 DOWNLOADS OF OUR PODCAST EPISODES.IN 2022, INCOME RECEIVED AND EXPENDITURES INCURRED BY THE ORGANIZATION SUPPORTED THE SUCCESSFUL IMPLEMENTATION OF THE FOLLOWING SIGNIFICANT FINANCIAL EDUCATION PROGRAMS AND SERVICES:HOUSING COUNSELING HAVING RECEIVED APPROVAL FROM THE US DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT TO OFFER HOUSING COUNSELING AND EDUCATION IN SOUTHWEST IDAHO STARTING IN 2021, WE EXPANDED OUR SERVICES STATEWIDE IN 2022. DURING THIS SECOND YEAR, WE CONTINUED TO FOCUS ON OFFERING CREDIT-BUILDING, BUDGETING SERVICES, AND FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT COUNSELING AND EDUCATION TO PROSPECTIVE HOMEBUYERS, CURRENT HOMEOWNERS, AND RENTERS TO PROMOTE STABLE HOUSING. ADDITIONALLY, WE COMPLETED THE DEVELOPMENT OF A SELF-PACED ONLINE HOMEBUYER EDUCATION COURSE APPROVED BY HUD AND READY FOR IMPLEMENTATION IN 2023.IDAHO REGIONAL HOUSING COALITIONS - DRS CONTINUED TO PARTICIPATE VIRTUALLY IN THE IDAHO REGION III COALITION OF GOVERNMENT, EDUCATION, NONPROFIT, AND BUSINESS ORGANIZATIONS TO COORDINATE SERVICES THAT PREVENT AND ADDRESS HOMELESSNESS IN SOUTHWEST IDAHO. ADDITIONALLY, WE JOINED THE REGION V COALITION IN LATE FALL.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 2022, 217 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 2022 AND HAD TEN PARTICIPANTS COMPLETE THE PROGRAM.WHO WANTS TO LIVE LIKE A MILLIONAIRE?: IN 2022, 71 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 MORE THAN 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 2022, THE ORGANIZATION'S EDUCATION MANAGER CONTINUED TO PARTICIPATE IN REGULAR MEMBERSHIP MEETINGS OF THE STATE COALITION FOR IDAHO (IDAHO FINANCIAL LITERACY COALITION). OUR INVOLVEMENT ALLOWS US TO STAY CURRENT ON FINANCIAL EDUCATION ACTIVITIES IN THE STATE AND TO COORDINATE RELATED EVENTS WITH LIKE-MINDED ORGANIZATIONS.COALITIONS AND ASSOCIATIONS - IN 2022 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 BOTH THE BOISE CITY-ADA COUNTY HOUSING AUTHORITIES IN SOUTHWESTERN IDAHO AND THE JOHNSON COUNTY HOUSING AUTHORITY IN EASTERN KANSAS. 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. ADDITIONALLY, HE PARTICIPATED IN COMMITTEES WITH THE UNITED WAY OF LACKAWANNA COUNTY IN NORTHEAST PENNSYLVANIA TO PROMOTE FINANCIAL WELLNESS AMONG AREA RESIDENTS. 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.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 IN ORLANDO, FLORIDA. ADDITIONALLY, WE PROVIDED LIVE, VIDEO CONFERENCE COURSES TO 430 INDIVIDUALS IN 15 ORGANIZATIONS, INCLUDING BUSINESSES, HOUSING AUTHORITIES, PROBATION SERVICES, A REFUGEE PROGRAM, AND A HOMELESS SERVICES AGENCY. ALL IN ALL, IN 2022, THE ORGANIZATION FACILITATED LIVE AND PRE-RECORDED ONLINE COURSES FOR 8,854 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 PRE-BANKRUPTCY CREDIT COUNSELING SESSIONS AND POST-BANKRUPTCY DEBTOR EDUCATION COURSES VIA THE INTERNET.