Vision Statement
All Manitobans will have the capacity to make informed financial decisions, to successfully navigate financial challenges, and have access to affordable and appropriate services for their financial and personal well-being.
Mission Statement
Community Financial Counselling Services Inc. (CFCS) is a community based, non-profit organization that offers services to a diverse population of Manitobans experiencing a variety of financial challenges. We provide free, accessible, respectful, responsive, and effective services to meet the unique and complex needs of individuals, couples, families, and communities in order to achieve financial well-being. We build capacity through collaborative partnerships with other organizations, and by advocating for accessible, affordable, and appropriate financial services for all Manitobans.
Land Acknowledgement
CFCS offices are located on Treaty 1 Territory. CFCS’s work extends throughout Treaties 2, 3, 4, & 5. These are the traditional homelands of Indigenous peoples. We acknowledge that Winnipeg’s water is sourced from Shoal Lake 40 First Nation. We respect the Treaties as intended by Indigenous peoples – acknowledging the harms and mistakes of the past and the responsibility to move forward in partnership with Indigenous communities in a spirit of reconciliation and collaboration.
Values
- Capacity Building
- Individual: CFCS promotes individual capacity building, self-determination, and empowerment through a person-centred, strengths-based approach to financial counselling and advocacy.
- Community: CFCS builds capacity within community organizations through training, resourcing, and ongoing supports to develop competencies and confidence to deliver programs that help their community members achieve financial well-being.
- Accessibility
- CFCS provides a responsive, well trained, professional staff who offer accessible, reliable, holistic, and confidential services for all Manitobans. CFCS is committed to removing barriers and providing respectful and compassionate support to the individuals and communities we serve.
- Financial Well-being
- CFCS guides individuals on their path to achieve financial well-being, which comprises financial security – the ability to meet current needs, and financial resilience – the ability to absorb future shocks.
- Financial Empowerment
- CFCS emphasizes Financial Empowerment as an approach to poverty reduction that focuses on improving the financial security of low-income people. Financial Empowerment focuses on financial information, education, and counselling/coaching, help in accessing income boosting benefits and tax credits, access to safe and affordable financial services and products, access to savings and asset building programs and consumer education and protection to improve individual, family, and community financial well-being and outcomes.
- Advocacy
- CFCS advocates for individual financial well-being and systemic change to remove barriers and to ensure accessible, affordable, and appropriate financial services for all Manitobans
- Collaboration
- CFCS is committed to collaborating with government, foundations, the private sector, and other community-based organizations in the provision of services
- Reconciliation
- CFCS recognizes the work done by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) and acknowledges the harms inflicted on Indigenous Peoples. CFCS is committed to a process of establishing and maintaining a mutually respectful relationship with Indigenous Peoples and to ensuring that First Nations, Metis, and Inuit knowledge and culture are included in the pursuit of its mission.
- Inclusion
- CFCS strives to create an inclusive, warm, welcoming space for employees, clients, and volunteers to work, serve, and be served with respect, understanding and compassion.
- CFCS values individuals and their right to identify with race, colour, gender, gender expression, age, religious belief, ethnicity, cultural background, marital or family status, economic circumstances, human capacity, expression of thought and sexual orientation as well as their experiences, skills, and capabilities.
- CFCS recognizes diversity in its staff, clients, and volunteers is a strength.
