Dutton Farm’s Financial Literacy Program Helps Adults With Developmental Disabilities in Southeast Michigan Gain Financial Independence
Jake Newby
| 4 min read
Adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities(IDD) are much less likely to achieve financial independence than those without disabilities. They are more likely to have debt, less likely to own a home and face multiple other economic inequalities, according to the National Disability Institute.
“People with disabilities face an astronomical 81% unemployment rate and are five times more likely to be overlooked for a promotion or a new position,” said Dutton Farm Chief Executive Officer Jenny Brown. “As you can imagine, their risk for living in poverty is significantly higher.”
Dutton Farm launched in 2010 with a mission to empower adults with IDD to live a life of purpose, inclusion and dignity. The southeast Michigan nonprofit’s original intent was to foster a place where people could gather and develop meaningful relationships. But a tragic situation involving a young man Dutton Farm served in 2012 motivated Brown to prioritize financial literacy within the organization.
“Both of his parents passed away and he was left with a nest egg, a large chunk of money. And he was talked into handing over all that money to a stranger at a Denny’s,” Brown said. “He lost all his savings, all his money and was virtually left penniless, without any support.”
Dutton Farm may not have had the capacity and infrastructure to help vulnerable adults develop financial literacy in 2012, but it does today. In 2024, the organization served about 60 individuals and is tracking to shatter that pace in 2025, having already served 18 adults with IDD in January and February alone. A $25,000 Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan Foundation Community Health Matching Grant in 2024 bolstered Dutton Farm’s financial literacy program and has helped the organization accelerate that pace.
Brown said she’s grateful for the partnership with the BCBSM Foundation, particularly because Medicaid doesn’t fund a program of this design.
“We saw this as an opportunity to match the number of people we are helping to gain employment, to also understand how to protect the money they have.”
Dutton Farm provides financial literacy in three ways
Dutton Farm has put the BCBSM Foundation’s grant funding to good use over the past year by developing a creative curriculum that provides real-life, real-time experience for adults with IDD. The first element of the training involves teaching individuals how to process transactions.
“They learn what the difference is between a check, credit card and cash, and how to responsibly make transactions in a safe way in their community,” said Brown, who went on to discuss the mock store Dutton Farm created at its Pontiac location, which is the second element of the training, to teach individuals how to manage their money more effectively.
“Participants can learn how to budget, how to save, learn how to spend and make sure you save if you buy certain items at the grocery store,” she went on. “Maybe it’s deodorant, maybe it’s a hair-care product. They learn how much that costs so they can be sure to come to the store with enough money (to buy other items).”
Finally, the third element is Dutton Farm’s assessment program, which teaches basic monetary principles such as counting money and making change, while stressing the importance of financial safety, including avoiding discussions about finances with strangers.
Results of the program
Dutton Farm’s financial literacy program has led directly to incredible real-world results, according to Brown, who has seen individuals within the program:
- Gain employment
- Learn how to budget and manage their money when on a restricted income
- Upskill and grow professionally for those who are currently employed
- Manage their paychecks more effectively
“Developing financial literacy goes hand in hand with creating more opportunity in the workforce for individuals with disabilities,” said BCBSM Foundation Executive Director and CEO Audrey Harvey. “Federal and state programs that increase financial independence among adults with developmental disabilities are limited, so investing in the great work Dutton Farm does means a lot to us.”
Dutton Farm’s impact has felt “surreal” at times for Brown, who is excited to build on the organization’s momentum and meet the increasing demand for services.
“It’s really important we build the foundation of this program now,” Brown said. “In Oakland County, we have well over 100 people on our waiting list. We just launched in Macomb County last year and we’re already establishing a waiting list. We’re not trying to develop this program after we’ve expanded into several counties; we want it to be a staple part of our program that all our participants can access.”
Visit the BCBSM Foundation website to learn more about current grant opportunities and check out other recent success stories of Foundation grantees:
- GRAAHI Diversifies Kent County’s Doula Workforce by Training Black, Hispanic Doulas with Help from BCBSM Foundation
- Coffective Expands Warm Referral Network, Provides Crucial Maternal Support with Help from BCBSM Foundation
- Groundbreaking Rx Kids Cash Transfer Program in Flint Could Improve Health Outcomes for Generations of Children
Photo credit: Alysha Moorhead/Dutton Farm
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