Improving Public Awareness and Driving Multi-level Action on the Causes of Poverty to Support Financial Wellbeing

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, more people are having difficulties in covering day-to-day expenses, saving money and paying down debts. Financial struggles make adults and children ill, physically and mentally. Women, seniors, Black people, Indigenous peoples, and immigrants have struggled more than anyone else. It is time for us to look beyond what people can learn to manage their finances better. We need to look at the causes of their financial problems (e.g., lack of job training; no affordable childcare facilities). Public health is well positioned to make a contribution to this topic. It can present solutions that address the causes and consequences of financial struggles and create fair, equitable chances for everyone to enjoy financial stability. Our team did that. With funding from CIHR, an international group of researchers, practitioners, policymakers, and stakeholders developed two resources to support organizations and governments to act on financial wellbeing. Since the release in 2022, we have delivered some presentations to introduce those two resources. The current funding opportunity will support our team to share important information with the general public about the importance of financial wellbeing for health. The objectives of the proposed Café: 1) increase awareness about how financial wellbeing impacts health; 2) talk about addressing the root causes of financial struggles and why we need to act quickly to meet the needs of people from all walks of life; 3) share the resources we developed; 4) discuss key learnings from the work that Alberta Health Services is doing to reduce the impact of financial strain; and 5) provide an opportunity for the general public to dialogue with researchers, decision-makers, and organizational partners about the causes and consequences of poor financial wellbeing. Participants will leave the Café more aware and equipped to discuss, advocate for change, and take action on the causes of poor financial wellbeing.