For the past nine months, MACPA Financial Literacy Task Force members have been working hand-in-hand with Hospice of Michigan (HOM) professionals to create a financial resource booklet to help Hospice patients and families. Having completed the booklet, the two organizations’ next task is to train all HOM social workers statewide on its content so that they will be equipped to share financial resource information with patients.

Families often overlook financial issues, or don’t know where to start, during a time of crisis. HOM social workers and grief support staff will join task force members on September 19 and September 23 to learn how to ease the financial aspects of end-of-life planning for people with chronic illnesses and their loved ones.  The training and booklet will provide the social workers with information that will guide patients through a variety of estate planning issues. Because the booklet is set up as a reference guide, social workers will be able to quickly refer to the areas that are of the most concern to a particular patient.

Financial Literacy Task Force Chair Judith Trepeck praised the MACPA members and HOM staff for their dedication and commitment to this project. “This project will have far-reaching impact,” Trepeck said.

Janine McGraw, HOM’s director of organizational quality agreed.

"It really built a combined understanding of how we can work together to improve our communities," she said of HOM staff and MACPA members' collaboration on the project.

Financial Literacy is a nationwide effort to educate citizens on making informed financial decisions. “It’s a natural fit for a CPA to be involved in financial literacy,” said Wayne Titus, Financial Literacy Task Force member. “I would urge fellow CPAs to get involved.” Along with the HOM project, the Association’s financial literacy efforts include MACPA Accounting Blitzes, in partnership with Junior Achievement, participation with Volunteer Accounting Service Team (VASTMI), High School Leaders Conferences and financial tools available for CPAs working to advance financial literacy and resources available to consumers on the 360 degrees of financial literacy web site. For more information on MACPA Financial Literacy initiatives, visit the MACPA web site.

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