Ohio Resources

Ohio State University Extension

Family and Consumer Sciences

OSU Extension Family & Consumer Sciences program serves every one of Ohio's 88 counties. Our team of 260 Family and Consumer Sciences Extension professionals focuses on building Healthy People, Healthy Finances, and Healthy Relationships. We help people keep healthy through good nutrition and food safety, using their money wisely, and balancing the demands of life and work.
We provide accessible and reliable research-based information to help people help themselves. We value diversity and strive to build on the assets of the individuals, families, and communities we serve.

New Start for Financial Success

Ohio families and households who file bankruptcy are looking for a New Start. However, the Bankruptcy Abuse and Consumer Protection Act of 2005 changed the rules for consumers and their attorneys. As of October 17, 2005, a means test is used to determine which kind of bankruptcy (Chapter 7 or Chapter 13) consumers can file and which debts can be discharged. Consumers must also get credit counseling before they can file and take a financial education class before they can discharge their debts through bankruptcy.

OSU Extension's New Start for Financial Success is a program for bankruptcy filers. New Start fulfills filers’ requirement for pre-discharge financial education. The New Start program is approved by the Department of Justice and filers receive an official certificate of completion.

The two-hour courses are designed to give basic information on Spending Plans, Money Management, Wise Use of Credit, and How to Get Consumer Information.

Financial Stability

Throughout Ohio, OSU Extension educators are sensitive to economic challenges for families in their communities. For some, the loss of good-paying jobs with benefits has greatly affected families and their communities. For others, it is declining health along with inadequate health insurance coverage that puts their economic well-being and quality of life at risk. County Extension educators assisted families in improving both present and future economic well-being by helping them:

• assess their financial circumstances
• increase their financial management skills
• develop their decision-making abilities

Educators do this through face-to face instruction with individuals and families, training of professionals such as teachers and social workers who work directly with individuals and families, and by reaching people in their own homes through distance education:

• correspondence 'courses', sometimes called letter studies
• television, radio and newspaper media
• county Extension web sites

Community Development

Ohio State University Extension: Community Development program - OSU Extension Community Development brings Ohio State University teaching and research expertise to the citizens of Ohio.

The Ohio Benefit Bank (OBB) is a public-private partnership that helps connect low- and moderate-income Ohioans with free tax preparation and access to potential public benefits and work supports.

Ohio's virtual headquarters regarding the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act

National Resources

Adjusting to Suddenly Reduced Income (Minnesota)

Bouncing Back When your Income Drops series (Purdue University)

Getting Through Tough Times (Minnesota) - series of fact sheets

Managing Between Jobs (Wisconsin)

When your Income Drops (Purdue University)

Getting Through Tough Times (Illinois University)

Keeping in Touch- When Distance Keeps You Apart

Stress Management Briefs - University of Minnesota
Unemployment or Occupational Stress
Coping with Change or Loss

Challenges and Choices - University of Missouri

Financial Security: Managing Money in Tough Times - National eXtension web site article

Stress Management after a Disaster - University of Arizona

Save the Dream - Ohio's Foreclosure Prevent Effort

Spend Smart, Eat Smart - Iowa State University Extension website offering information on affordable meals.

Facing a Furlough? Develop a Plan - eXtension.com article