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Bill Ihle

Opinion: Address health from all angles

July 22, 2019 by Bill Ihle Leave a Comment

Our CEO & Executive Director Bill Ihle encourages coordinated care organizations to consider individuals’ financial health as part of their overall health. The following is an article on The Lund Report:

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Opinion: Oregon’s CCOs Must Address Clients’ Health from All Angles
By: Bill Ihle

The State of Oregon is finally recognizing that the factors that influence an individual’s health extend far beyond a doctor’s office or lab results. These social determinants of health include housing, adequate nutrition, education, and at the root of it all, financial health.

In early July, the Oregon Health Authority awarded 15 coordinated care organizations one- and five-year contracts totaling over $6 billion annually to administer Medicaid to nearly one million Oregonians. Each CCO was asked to ensure that it met a set of comprehensive health policies advanced by Gov. Kate Brown to improve the health of Oregon Health Plan members in ways that had never been directly addressed before. These CCOs are required to address the social factors that contribute to their clients’ health, with the goal of improving lives far beyond the clinical setting.

The desired long-term outcome of this whole-life approach to health care is presumably improved physical health, ultimately leading to a widespread decrease in health care costs statewide. But how will it work? In my experience, it has to start with financial health.

According to a 2004 study from the University of Wisconsin Public Health Institute, about 50 percent of the factors that determine health outcomes are related to social determinants of health and health equity, while clinical care only accounts for 20 percent. Financial well-being is at the core of these social determinants. Everything — adequate housing, nutrition, transportation, literacy, and much more — is dependent on basic financial health.

There’s even more evidence that improving financial health can contribute to better social health. A recent independent survey of people in the Medford area who were previously homeless and are now transitioning to more stable housing, and have completed a financial education and counseling program in the past 12 months showed dramatic results: 57 percent of the respondents reported that they were now on a personal budget and were sticking to it; 37 percent had started to pay down their debt; 32 percent reported their credit score had improved and 13 percent had even purchased a car. A car! To me, that last statistic is the most impressive. These people are coming from addiction and extreme poverty to overcome a major obstacle to keeping a job, securing food, and obtaining basic medical care. Financial well-being opens doors that some people didn’t even realize were closed.

Measurable outcomes like these must matter to the CCOs around the state as they roll out their vital work of supporting the well-being of Oregonians. The task ahead of them is immense, and it is crucial that they succeed. Knowing that the CCOs have a state-mandated directive to address social determinants of health is like music to my ears, because I’ve seen first-hand that financial well-being can literally be the difference between life or death for some of our most disadvantaged community members. I challenge this new class of CCOs to embrace this revolutionary approach to health care and create a new way forward for all Oregonians in need.

Medford resident Bill Ihle has served as CEO and Executive Director of Consumer Credit Counseling Services of Southern Oregon since 2017.

Filed Under: Special Events

FIRST IN OREGON OFFERING REAL-TIME INDIVIDUAL VIDEO COUNSELING

May 14, 2019 by Bill Ihle Leave a Comment

Coos County press release 5-14

Filed Under: Uncategorized

Payee Service program expanded to Klamath County

February 12, 2019 by Bill Ihle 2 Comments

CONSUMER CREDIT COUNSELING EXPANDS PROGRAM IN KLAMATH COUNTY

Payee Service program helps disabled and elderly safely pay bills

MEDFORD, OR—Consumer Credit Counseling Service of Southern Oregon (CCCS) today announced that they have been certified by the Oregon Department of Human Services to start accepting Oregon Money Management clients in Klamath County.

The Oregon Money Management Program (OMMP) Payee Service provides personal money management assistance to people who are disabled, who are 18 years of age and older, or to those who are 60 years and older, are required to have a payee by a federal payer and do not have family or friends who are able to help them.

“This news from the State is welcome as we continue to expand to reach more people in southern Oregon, and work to better meet their needs,” said Bill Ihle, Executive Director and CEO of CCCS. “We already serve OMMP clients in Jackson & Josephine Counties, and now we will add Klamath County. This is a validation of the success of this program, which provides vital services to those in need.”

CCCS has been serving individuals in the OMMP program in Jackson and Josephine Counties since 2011. A key part of the program includes meeting the client’s essential needs, placing priority on meeting covering basic expenses such as housing, utilities, food and medical expenses.

CCCS is an approved agency with the Social Security Administration for the Representative Payee Program. Through this program, CCCS receives Social Security Benefits on the clients’ behalf and issues payments for their monthly expenditures.

Filed Under: Uncategorized

CCCS offers free help to furloughed federal workers

January 8, 2019 by Bill Ihle Leave a Comment

CONSUMER CREDIT COUNSELING SERVICE OF SOUTHERN OREGON OFFERS FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO FEDERAL WORKERS

Medford-based Non-Profit Offers Free Budgeting and Financial Counseling to U.S. Workers Affected by Government Shutdown

MEDFORD, OR —Federal government workers and contractors who aren’t getting a paycheck during the federal government shutdown have a friend in Consumer Credit Counseling Service of Southern Oregon.

Today, the Medford-based community non-profit organization announced it will provide free debt management and budgeting counseling to all laid off U.S. government workers and contractors. CCCS stressed they aren’t taking a political stance on this issue, but simply offering help to families who find themselves in need.

“We can all relate to the hardship that comes with financial insecurity that is outside of our control,” said Bill Ihle Executive Director and CEO of CCCS. “These families who are affected by the shutdown often live paycheck to paycheck, and now they find themselves adjusting to a reduced monthly budget. Soon they may be forced to make hard decisions as they struggle to pay their mortgage or rent, pay credit card bills and putt food on the table.”

Credit counselors at CCCS are fully certified, and are experienced in helping community members through tough times.

“We know these workers are looking for solutions and we will try and find them. What we are offering is completely free financial and budgeting counseling to these workers,” said Ihle.

Ihle notes this is not the first government shutdown in recent years, and it may not be the last. In addition to reviewing options for debt management and budgeting, credit counselors can talk with clients about establishing a rainy day fund to use in the case of an emergency.

CCCS will waive all fees to any laid off U.S. government worker or federal contractor in the region, as long as the shutdown lasts. To qualify, the clients would only need to present a valid U.S. government ID or recent government check stub and contact the CCCS office at 541-779-2273 or at improvedcredit.org.

Filed Under: Uncategorized

Fall Newsletter

November 19, 2018 by Bill Ihle Leave a Comment

CCCSNews_Nov18_web

Filed Under: Uncategorized

Using Social Media Wisely

November 15, 2018 by Bill Ihle Leave a Comment

Over the last many months I have been using this space to talk about credit—using it wisely, how to improve it, and related matters. All of these topics, of course, are related to where I work, the amazing team I get to work with, and the info you came here for.

Recently, several friends’ children have been applying and getting accepted to colleges and it got me to thinking about the impact that social media has on their lives. The children of today will never know of a life without a smart phone or an iPad. These devices are powerful—more powerful that the computers that landed a man on the moon. (Yes, I’m that old…trust me, you don’t want to go there.)

What I have talked with younger friends is being careful about using those tools, especially about what they post on social media accounts. It’s there forever and a college admissions office or a potential employer may check your posts out and make judgments based on what they see.

Now, it might be humorous to share images of you and your friends having fun, but be sure to think about the long-term impact. If someone who doesn’t know you or understand the situation is just looking at the online photo, what will it tell them about you? Is that an accurate picture?

My only caution is just to be careful about what you publish. It may have been fun at the time, (especially with the benefits of an adult beverages), but is that what you want a college admission officer, a date, or boss to remember you by? Social media posts have ramifications…both good and bad.

Filed Under: Bills Budget Blog

Financial Realities to Face in your 20s

September 21, 2018 by Bill Ihle Leave a Comment

Those of you who know me know that I like lists. Yes, lists of all kinds and types. Small and large and on topics important and not-so-pressing.

So, yes, I made a list of things that I wish I had known in my 20s, which is so far in the rearview mirror of life that I can’t even see it. But here goes:

  • You need to start early to build a credit history
    The average college senior graduates with more than $4,000 in credit card debt and most students don’t understand how to manage their credit. About 60% of college students mistakenly think you can build credit by paying off stuff with checks or credit cards. In reality, the only way to build good credit to use it. The catch is that you need to pay it off each month. This tells creditors you are a good risk.
  • There is no substitution for a budget.
    Retailers will happily take your money and bust your budget. They have turned creating a temptation to buy things like clothes, electronics, entertainment and even snacks into an art form. You need to resist. Develop and stay on a budget. If you stop by Consumer Credit, we can give you a new and very handy spending plan brochure to help. It’s easy to use, and helps you keep track of what you are spending, and in what areas.
  • Student loans don’t have to control your life
    Research shows that 41% of all millennials have student debt that is forcing them to delay things like kids, marriage and even homes. Consumer Credit Counseling has the only credited student loan counselors in the region. Come by for an appointment to see how we can assist you in managing your student loans so that they are not hurting your future.
  • Identify theft hurts.
    It’s not just folks in the 30s and 40s who are hurt by identity theft; this can also hurt and impact those in their 20s. Keep an eye on your credit, become familiar with it. If you see something wrong, we can help you get in contact with the credit bureaus to challenge that.
  • Interest Matters
    Know and understand how your credit can impact your future, both in getting a job and in getting a new home. A good credit score can help you save money and increasingly employers are looking at credit scores as part of the hiring process.

 

Filed Under: Bills Budget Blog

My Money Checkup

September 16, 2018 by Bill Ihle 3 Comments

Siskiyou County residents can get help improving their financial future through a new program called My Money Checkup. The free program offers a secure online assessment of an individual’s finances, plus a free 30-minute credit counseling session conducted by phone by a Certified Counselor.

This program is free, confidential, and secure.

To participate in My Money Checkup:

  • Clients must be residents of Siskiyou County, and have a valid email address.
  • Visit mymoneycheckup.com to start the assessment
    • Participants will enter information on their current financial status.
    • At the end of the assessment, users will get report on several areas of financial health, with an indication of areas they need to improve on
  • After the assessment, participants will call CCCS to schedule their free 30-minute counseling session. They need to be sure to mention they have completed the My Money Checkup assessment
  • Before the counseling session, participants must fill out a worksheet
    • Download here or call 541-779-2273 to obtain the worksheet by mail or fax
    • Mail or fax your worksheet back to the CCCS office prior to the counseling session
  • Your session can be conducted over the phone, or in person at our Medford office.

The program is available now through June 30, 2019. Start your My Money Checkup now.

This video explains how My Money Checkup works:

What to Expect – Take MyMoneyCheckUp® from NFCC on Vimeo.

Filed Under: Special Events

Set Yourself up for a Great 2019

August 24, 2018 by Bill Ihle Leave a Comment

I’m sure where the days and months went, but we are fast approaching the end of 2018. It just four more months till December 31. Yikes!! That said, in the remaining months there are some things you can do set yourself up for a great start in 2019 and Consumer Credit can help you get there.

Here are four tips that can help you get on track with your spending in 2018 and keep it there for 2019.

  1. Review your spending to see what you can cut out immediately. When was the last time you set aside time out of your day to just review your spending? Now is good time to do that. Stop by our offices for help. We have a number of easy-to-use tools to help you get there—all free for the asking. One is our newly updated Spending Plan. You can track your spending, see where you can cut, see where you are over-spending and make adjustments.
  2. The holidays are just around the corner. Before you know it you’ll be seeing Santa in Costco and the pressure to spend for the holidays at gifts will be on. There are gifts for loved ones, maybe new set of winter tires, a warm winter coat, rain boot or just toys for the kids. Now is a perfect time—while you aren’t feeling the holiday pressure—to set a budget. What can you afford without using your credit card? You don’t want to still be paying for Christmas 2018 in the summer of 2019. Make a budget now and stick to it.
  3. Now that we have you saving money, explore a high-interest checking account. Set long-range goals and put money into this account. Check around for the best rates; you’d be surprised how quickly it can add up.
  4. Get a copy of your credit report and know how to read it. The highly trained counselors at Consumer Credit Counseling can assist you with this. Your credit report tells people a lot about you. It tells those who might want to extend you credit if you are a good risk. If you are considering a job change, your credit report can tell a new employer a lot about you also. Finally, you might have errors on your credit report. That’s not uncommon and our staff can assist you with getting it corrected.

So, as you look to the new year, which is fast approaching, consider how Consumer Credit Counseling and our staff can assist. We are a local non-profit organization, and our employees are people who are connected to the area and invested in your future.

Filed Under: Bills Budget Blog

Budgeting Skills

May 16, 2018 by Bill Ihle 10 Comments

One of the most popular classes we offer is Budgeting Made Easy. Time and time again we hear how much clients learned about their spending habits, what expenses they can cut, and how much they are saving monthly, all as a result of these classes. This is a regularly occurring class, offered every two months. Call our offices to check schedules and reserve your spot.

While creating a budget is important, you need more than proficiency in math to manage your money successfully. You also need a handful of other skills if you want to stick to your financial plan.

Here are some at the top of my list:

1-Self-awareness. In terms of money, self-awareness can help people understand where they spend their money impulsively and how to control it.

2-Delegation. Once people know where they struggle, they are more inclined to work on those areas. However, you can get some help with this, with a lot of great tools. For instance, you can use our simple Money Manager Fritter Finder to help you keep track of where the money goes.

3-Self discipline. Creating a budget is easy. It’s sticking to it that is hard. That’s where people falter. After a long day, who isn’t tempted to pick up something quick for dinner, for instance? It’s important to know where your weaknesses are, and keep yourself on track.

4-Organization. It’s hard to be financially successful if you miss payments or lose paperwork. Late bills can not only hurt your credit, but also result in late fees. Being organized can help.

5-Confidence. Many people struggle financially because they aren’t sure what the best decisions are. We have a team of trained counselors who can teach you how to build your confidence about financial matters.

6-Critical thinking. There are tons of financial scams out there. Be smart; if it sounds too good, it may well be a scam. Think things over before you spend money, whether it’s $5 or $500 dollars.

 

 

Filed Under: Bills Budget Blog

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