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Introduction

Life skills training is an essential element in assisting individuals from the community to be able to function independently. Through skills training, individuals can learn life skills such as dressing, feeding, grooming, bathing, cooking, bill payments, and house management. Domestic violence survivors need to learn and practice the skills of money management, meal preparation, community mobility, job searching, obtaining community resources, and budgeting for expenses ( Helfrich, Aviles, Badiani, Walens, Sabol, 2006).

Theory

The Model of Human Occupation (MOHO) would be used to guide the intervention of life skills training. The individuals motivation, personal causation, and recent habits can lead to learning the life skills needed to return to the community.

Evidence

Survivors of domestic violence who are homeless, often lack essential life skills needed to live independently in the community. These women have difficulties with life skills because during their abusive relationships they were not able to acquire or learn these skills (Helfrich, Aviles, Badiani, Walens, Sabol, 2006). The evidence in the study shows that women provided with the intervention of life skills training at the homeless shelter demonstrated an increased mastery of the skills. However, additional research is needed to improve the program of life skills training (Helfrich, Aviles, Badiani, Walens, Sabol,2006).

Case Study

Now that Leslie has removed herself from an abusive marriage with her husband, she has experienced a role change. Her husband controlled the finances and did not allow her to have access without his permission. Therefore, she is having difficulty with budgeting and bill pay. In her initial occupational therapy evaluation, the Canadian Occupational Performance Measure was administered, and she expressed budgeting was her top priority.

Intervention Plan

Problem Statement
Leslie is experiencing a role change due to lack of spousal support, and is expected to learn new budgeting skills.

Outcomes: Learning how to create a monthly budget.

Long term goals

1. In order to improve money management, Leslie will independently prepare a budget before discharge.
2. Leslie will be able to independently create a savings plan for next month in preparation for independent living by discharge.

Short term goals

1. Given verbal cues, Leslie will create a list of 5 basic expenses in order to create a budget within 2 weeks.
2. Leslie will select a preferred method of managing expenses and income given verbal cues for money management within 2 weeks.
3. Leslie will log her expenses once a week independently for money management within 2 weeks.

Intervention format: Individual

Description of the setting (time and place): Women’s shelter for 60 minute session in skills training focusing in money management.

Supplies (if any): Handouts, writing supplies, calculator, computer to play video

Agenda & description

• Client will watch a short video explaining what a budget is, its’ importance, and tips on budgeting. (5 minutes)
• Discussion on what client learned (5 minutes)
• Using the “Make a Budget” handout, client and therapist identify income and fixed expenses. (30 min)
• Therapist educated on what a fixed expense is and Client identifies list as fixed or ‘wants expenses.(15 min)
• Therapist and client review handout and calculate if client meets the “50/20/30” guideline. (5 min)

Documentation

SOAP Note

S: “I don’t know how to budget my money.”

O: Client participated in a 60 minute one on one OT session. She viewed a 5 minute informational video explaining the importance of budgeting, and completed the “Make a Budget” handout with 5 verbal cues. Client was educated on budgeting strategies using the “50-30-20” method (50% goes to fixed expenses, 30% towards “wants”, and 20% towards savings). Client identified 3 fixed expenses, and 2 “wants” within her budget, requiring 3 verbal cues.

A: Client had difficulty identifying specific expenses, and sorting out their categories as evidence by the need for verbal cueing. She felt overwhelmed, and expressed her concern with her ability to organize this information.

P: It is recommended that for next session, client explores methods of organizing her expenses (e.g. notebooks, phone applications, etc.).

References

Helfrich, C. A., Aviles, A. M., Badiani, C., Walens, D., & Sabol, P. (2006). Life skill interventions with homeless youth, domestic violence victims and adults with mental illness. Occupational therapy in health care, 20(3-4), 189-207.

Make a Budget. (2018). Retrieved from https://www.consumer.gov/sites/www.consumer.gov/files/pdf-1020-make-budget-worksheet_form.pdf