Bridges out of Poverty MENTAL MODELS

OBJECTIVES Explore the concrete experience of people in generational poverty Explore the concrete experience of people in generational poverty Create a mental model of poverty Create a mental model of poverty Analyze elements of the model Analyze elements of the model Create a mental model of the middle class Create a mental model of the middle class Understand the interlocking nature of the models and the demands of the environment Understand the interlocking nature of the models and the demands of the environment

REMEMBER: This work is based on patterns. All patterns have exceptions.

QUICK GUIDELINES OF POVERTY QUICK GUIDELINES OF POVERTY

2011 DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES POVERTY GUILDELINES PERSONS IN FAMILY 48 Contiguous Alaska Hawaii OR HOUSEHOLDStates and D.C. 1$10,800 $13,600 $12,540 2$14,710 $18,380 $16,930 3$18,530 $23,160 $21,320 4$22,350 $27,940 $25,710 5$26,170 $32,720 $30,100 6$29,990 $37,500 $34,490 7$33,810 $42,280 $38,880 8$37,630 $47,060 $43,270 For each additional Person, add$3,820 $4,780 $4,390

WHAT IS THE SIGNIFICANCE AND WHY ARE WE DOING THIS?

FACTS ABOUT POVERTY 1. IN 2009, APPROXIMATELY 45 MILLION AMERICANS WERE LIVING IN POVERTY 1. IN 2009, APPROXIMATELY 45 MILLION AMERICANS WERE LIVING IN POVERTY 2. ACCORDING TO THE ASSOC. PRESS, 2009 SAW THE LARGEST SINGLE YEAR INCREASE IN THE POVERTY RATE SINCE THE US GOVT BEGAN KEEPING STATISTICS IN ACCORDING TO THE ASSOC. PRESS, 2009 SAW THE LARGEST SINGLE YEAR INCREASE IN THE POVERTY RATE SINCE THE US GOVT BEGAN KEEPING STATISTICS IN THE US POVERTY RATE IS THE 3 RD WORST AMONG DEVELOPED NATIONS 3. THE US POVERTY RATE IS THE 3 RD WORST AMONG DEVELOPED NATIONS 4. IN JUNE 2010, THE NUMBER OF AMERICANS ON FOOD STAMPS SURPASSED 41 MILLION. 4. IN JUNE 2010, THE NUMBER OF AMERICANS ON FOOD STAMPS SURPASSED 41 MILLION. 5. AS OF JUNE, THE NUMBER OF THOSE ON FOOD STAMPS HAS INCREASED FOR 19 CONSECUTIVE MONTHS. 5. AS OF JUNE, THE NUMBER OF THOSE ON FOOD STAMPS HAS INCREASED FOR 19 CONSECUTIVE MONTHS.

FACTS ABOUT POVERTY (CONT’D) 6. 1 OUT OF 6 AMERICANS IS BEING SERVED BY AT LEAST ONE ANTI-POVERTY GOVERNMENT PROGRAM OUT OF 6 AMERICANS IS BEING SERVED BY AT LEAST ONE ANTI-POVERTY GOVERNMENT PROGRAM. 7. DURING THE FIRST QUARTER OF 2010, 1 OUT OF EVERY 7 MORTGAGES IN THE U.S. WAS EITHER DELINQUENT OR IN FORECLOSURE. 7. DURING THE FIRST QUARTER OF 2010, 1 OUT OF EVERY 7 MORTGAGES IN THE U.S. WAS EITHER DELINQUENT OR IN FORECLOSURE. 8. IN SEPTEMBER 2010, IT WAS REPORTED THAT 28% OF ALL HOUSEHOLDS HAVE AT LEAST 1 MEMBER LOOKING FOR A FULL TIME JOB. 8. IN SEPTEMBER 2010, IT WAS REPORTED THAT 28% OF ALL HOUSEHOLDS HAVE AT LEAST 1 MEMBER LOOKING FOR A FULL TIME JOB. 9. MORE THAN 25% OF AMERICANSNOW HAVE A CREDIT SCORE BLOW MORE THAN 25% OF AMERICANSNOW HAVE A CREDIT SCORE BLOW OUT OF 5 CHILDREN IN THE US LIVES IN POVERTY OUT OF 5 CHILDREN IN THE US LIVES IN POVERTY

Information on Poverty (US CENSUS) QUICK FACTS DAUPHIN CO. PA Pop, 2006 est 254,176 12,440,621 Pop, 2009 est 258,934 12,702,379 Persons below poverty, % 11.2% Persons below poverty, %12.1%

MENTAL MODELS What are mental models? What are mental models? - Internal picture of how the world works - Exist below awareness - Unexamined, theories in use - Determine how we act - Can help or interfere with learning

DISCUSSION WHAT ARE SOME OF YOUR MENTAL MODELS OF THOSE LIVING IN POVERTY? WHAT ARE SOME OF YOUR MENTAL MODELS OF THOSE LIVING IN POVERTY? WHERE DID YOUR MODELS DEVELOP FROM? WHERE DID YOUR MODELS DEVELOP FROM? DO YOU FEEL THESE MODELS ARE ACCURATE? DO YOU FEEL THESE MODELS ARE ACCURATE?

COMMON NEGATIVE STEREOTYPES OF THOSE IN POVERTY NEEDY NEEDY DEFICIENT DEFICIENT DISEASED DISEASED NOT TO BE TRUSTED NOT TO BE TRUSTED LAZY-UNMOTIVATED LAZY-UNMOTIVATED

MENTAL MODELS Can be based on…….. - Misinformation - Lack of experiences - No concrete basis for opinion Leads to an inaccurate Leads to an inaccurate perception about perception about those living in poverty those living in poverty

MENTAL MODELS Where do we go from here? Where do we go from here? Must be willing to suspend all our own mental models Must be willing to suspend all our own mental models Be willing to listen and open to new ideas Be willing to listen and open to new ideas Discuss experiences Discuss experiences Develop concrete mental models about those in poverty Develop concrete mental models about those in poverty

MENTAL MODELS OF THREE ECONOMIC ENVIRONMENTS POVERTY POVERTY MIDDLE CLASS MIDDLE CLASS WEALTHY WEALTHY

MENTAL MODELS GENERATIONAL POVERTY vs SITUATIONAL POVERTY

MENTAL MODELS SITUATIONAL POVERTY - defined as a lack of resources due to a particular event (death, illness, divorce, weather) SITUATIONAL POVERTY - defined as a lack of resources due to a particular event (death, illness, divorce, weather) GENERATIONAL POVERTY - defined as having been in poverty for at least two generations. GENERATIONAL POVERTY - defined as having been in poverty for at least two generations. -situational poverty can lead to generational poverty

Creating a Mental Model for Generational Poverty All mental models have a DRIVER, something that is the focal point and makes them go. All mental models have a DRIVER, something that is the focal point and makes them go.

NO SIGNIFICANT LEARNING OCCURS WITHOUT A SIGNIFICANT RELATIONSHIP - DR. JAMES COMER

1. Think of an adult in generational poverty. 2. Imagine that you followed that person for a year, observing what happened and how he/she spent his/her time. 3. Observations are placed in the circle that represents the economic environment. DISCUSSION

What It’s Like Now Mental Model for Poverty

Fast food Check cashing Temp services Used-car lots Dollar store Businesses Pawn shop Liquor store Corner store Rent-to-own Laundromat Church Schools Police Social Services

“TYRANNY OF THE MOMENT” “The need to act overwhelms any willingness people have to learn” “The need to act overwhelms any willingness people have to learn” It is a depiction of the trap: no future story, no choice, and no power.

Budgeting for Poverty In PA, a family with 1 adult and 2 children making $15,670 a year: Housing- $4,272 / year Child Care- $1,056 / year Food- $2,460 / year Tranportation-$1,272 / year Health Care-$948 / year Taxes-$1,956 / year Misc (electric, gas, shoes, water, toiletries) $3,060 / year

Even with federal and state assistance in housing, child care, nutrition and healthcare the result is: $646 remains at the end of the year. What gets left out: cleaning supplies, beds, furniture, education, life insurance. What about unexpected costs: emergency car repairs, home emergencies, emergency medical expenses

HEALTH RELATED ISSUES The richer you are, the healthier you are. The richer you are, the healthier you are. The poorer you are, the sicker you are. The poorer you are, the sicker you are. Living in poverty is a risk factor for stress- related illnesses. Living in poverty is a risk factor for stress- related illnesses. It is not entirely due to a lack of access! It is not entirely due to a lack of access!

Middle Class DRIVER: Achievement (education, job, awards, etc) DRIVER: Achievement (education, job, awards, etc)

Mental Model for Middle Class

Businesses Church SchoolsPolice Social Services Shopping/strip malls Bookstores Banks Fitness centers Vet clinics Office complexes Coffee shops Restaurants/bars Golf courses

Wealthy Class Driver: Connections (who you know)

Mental Model for Wealth

MENTAL MODEL OF GENERATIONAL POVERTY IT IS A DESCRIPTION OF THE CONCRETE EXPERIENCE IT IS A DESCRIPTION OF THE CONCRETE EXPERIENCE IT IS AN ABSTRACT REPRESENTATION OF POVERTY IT IS AN ABSTRACT REPRESENTATION OF POVERTY IT DEPICTS VULNERABILITY IT DEPICTS VULNERABILITY IT DEPICTS THE RELATIVE IMPORTANCE AND INTERLOCKING NATURE OF THE ELEMENTS IT DEPICTS THE RELATIVE IMPORTANCE AND INTERLOCKING NATURE OF THE ELEMENTS IT IS A DEPICTION OF THE TRAP: NO FUTURE STORY, NO CHOICE, NO POWER IT IS A DEPICTION OF THE TRAP: NO FUTURE STORY, NO CHOICE, NO POWER

Survival Relationships Entertainment Work Achievement Material security Political, financial, social connections Key Points DRIVERS

Generational poverty and situational poverty are different. Key Point DEFINITION

Economic class is a continuous line, not a clear-cut distinction. Key Point

This work is based on patterns. All patterns have exceptions. Key Point