2010 GLA Women’s Economic Empowerment Bridges Out of Poverty Tuesday, September 21, :30 pm ET / 11:30 am CT JOIN THE CALL: (866) | Code

Bridges Out of Poverty  Can be done by large or small association.  Can include a community Bridges initiative or can be done as a group for clients  Materials are available in Spanish  Materials are available at ahaprocess.com

Bridges Out of Poverty YWCA North Central Indiana Linda Baechle President/CEO

Bridges Out of Poverty A nationally-recognized program. Developed by Phil DeVol and Ruby Payne

Bridges Out of Poverty Addresses root causes of generational poverty in communities Both systematically and individually Can be addressed by communities or by individual agencies.

Bridges Out of Poverty Community component: Bridges Out of Poverty – Provides strategies for communities to address economic systems that keep individuals in poverty.

Getting Ahead Individual component: Getting Ahead in a Just-Gettin’ By World – 15 sessions of peer led curriculum. Helps individuals from poverty learn to understand and adopt successful life strategies and To function effectively in middle-class environment of school and work.

Both programs impact women’s economic advancement. Women with children are the fastest growing percentage of individuals in poverty in the United States.

YWCA’s role The YWCA North Central Indiana, Inc. is involved in both facets of the initiative. Lead agency in community collaborative. Getting Ahead classes for YWCA clients.

St. Joseph County Community initiative started more than 3 years ago and is still going strong. Plans to expand to Elkhart County. 501 ( c ) ( 3 ) formed. Hired Executive Director.

Bridges Philosophy and Goals To aid individuals in poverty function effectively in middle class employment and educational settings. For community to provide the necessary support, including employment and educational opportunities.

Specific Goals: To help individuals from generational poverty learn and adopt successful strategies to achieve self-sufficiency. Encourage social service agencies which provide support to these populations to use a common methodology.

Specific Goals: Teach employers to better respond to employees to reduce turnover. Help colleges find resources to help more students be successful.

How to do it: Agency Program: Getting Ahead 15 sessions Peer-led, along with a facilitator

Helps individuals who grew up in poverty: Understand and adopt successful life strategies; Understand mental models of middle and upper class; Learn to apply these concepts to their own environment.

How Getting Ahead Works Uses proven curriculum called “Getting Ahead in a Just-Getting’ By World.” Participants become investigators of poverty and how it affects their own lives.

How it Works… Participants’ success in Getting Ahead is measured by tracking the numbers completing the program, successful education experiences, employment. Income, educational level and employment are recorded at outset, completion of classes and periodic intervals thereafter.

Measurement Use Goal Attainment Report (GAR) developed for this program to measure resources at intake and completion. Other pre- and post- tests measure language, poverty, class, etc.

Change Goals Change goals include gaining insights that allow participants to leave poverty and succeed in school or work. Program’s success is in part due to residential clients’ interest and willingness to participate.

Resources Required Funds for training, workbooks, participant incentives, staff time, co- facilitator stipends; Incentives - $150 cash per participant, calculator, manual – plus food and beverages, door prizes.

Staff Training includes: Basic Bridges Out of Poverty General “Getting Ahead” principles “train the trainer” certification for Getting Ahead facilitators

Training Resource Aha! Process, Inc.

Taking Getting Ahead a step further Community initiative: Bridges Out of Poverty

First Step: Official Buy-in South Bend Mayor Steve Luecke made Bridges Out of Poverty one of his top 5 goals for He brought local non-profits together to collaborate. Power of mayor’s office got collaborating organizations to sit at table.

Partners formed 501 ( c )( 3 ) organization Hired Executive Director Partners serve on one of seven key Board committees. Contribute financially to Bridges. Contribute in other ways: GA classes, identify potential participants, train their own staff, train others, help with program evaluation.

Available Resources Use Phil DeVol – aha! Process, Inc. Regional and national network of Bridges communities can share information, best practices. Annual Bridges Institute

Activities of Collaborators Develop Strategic Plan. Leadership summit – for key community leaders – to emphasize goal of sustainability. Commitments from employers to become “champions:” To employ GA graduates To advocate to other employers

Target Audience For the YWCA, our target is: Women, ages Grew up in generational poverty Incomes less than 50% of Federal poverty guidlelines.

Creating Mission-focused Change: Change is both individual and systematic.

Change… Individuals gain insight and tools to leave poverty and succeed in school and work. Social service agencies and schools gain knowledge to become more effective in their programming. Business and community leaders adopt more effective practices for recruiting, training and retaining employees.

Outcome As more and more individuals leave poverty and move successfully into a middle class environment, the community will benefit economically and socially.

Questions?

Session 3 Asset Development Initiatives & Financial Abuse Tuesday, September 28, :30 pm ET / 11:30 am CT JOIN THE CALL: (866) | Code Changing From the Inside Out