Evaluating a financial education curriculum as an intervention to improve financial behaviors and financial well-being of survivors of domestic violence: Results from a longitudinal randomized controlled study

The Allstate Foundation and the National Network to End Domestic Violence created a financial education curriculum to improve individual financial management skills and, ultimately, to improve domestic violence survivors' financial well-being. This study, guided by the reasoned action approach, evaluates their curriculum using a longitudinal randomized control study, with data collected over four time periods spanning 14 months. The analyses demonstrated that the treatment group had an average improvement between a half point to over a full point on self-reported financial knowledge, financial intentions, and financial behavior and a decrease in financial strain. Moreover, the impact of the curriculum persisted over time. The notable and lasting impact of participation in the curriculum for this study sample has critical implications for other agencies serving domestic violence survivors as well as other programs aimed at improving financial well-being among their clientele.