Human Services Inc. Mission Statement
Bridging the gap to stability through thriving partnerships, coaching and education.
The Promise of Community Action Community action changes people’s lives, embodies the spirit of
hope, improves communities, and makes America a better place to live. We care about the entire community, and we are dedicated to
helping people help themselves and each other.
Who I am? Missy Woods Born and raised in Jackson County I am married to Marc Woods. Small business
owner in Seymour for 16 years. We have 2 boys. Matthew currently attends
IU, Bloomington, and Lawson is an 8th grader at Immanuel.
I have worked for Human Services, Inc. for over 7 years and am currently serve as Lead County Director for our 5 county region.
Energy Assistance (EAP)
The Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) is a federally funded block grant offered through the US Department of Health and Human Services.
Purpose is to assist low-income households off set the high costs of home energy.
Participants must not exceed 150% of the Federal Income Poverty Guidelines.
In 2015, we assisted 678 households with heat/electric utility.
Housing Choice Voucher (HCVP)
A product of the Section 8 movement that began in 1937.
The purpose is to provide rental assistance to eligible families.
To be eligible the applicant must:› qualify as a family as defined by HUD› have income at or below HUD specified eligibility
guidelines› qualify on the basis of citizenship or the eligible
immigrant status of family members.› provide social security number information for all
eligible members› consent to collection and use of all family information
as provided for in completed consent forms.
Weatherization (WAP)
Provides residential energy conservation services to low income citizens of Indiana.
A thorough evaluation of the structure, including the safe and efficient operation of the furnace and water heater, is included in the treatment of each home
If you receive Supplemental Security Income or Aid to Families with Dependent Children, you are automatically eligible to receive weatherization services.
Low-income persons that can be particularly vulnerable:Elderly
DisabledFamilies with children
High energy usersHigh energy household
burdens
Head Start The Head Start program provides
comprehensive services to enrolled children and their families.
Include health, nutrition, social, and other services.
Work together as a team to ensure children are school ready.
Two third’s (2/3) of children’s daily meals are provided.
There are approximately 52 children currently enrolled in Jackson County.
Small Business Revolving Loan
Assist in starting a small business or assisting the expansion of an existing business.
Goal is job creation, specifically among low-income entrepreneurs.
$7,500 loan limit for new business; $20,000 for expansion.
Program requirement include financial information, mentoring, sufficient collateral and a business plan.
Homeless PreventionRapid Re-Housing and Prevention Program
Must have a verifiable homelessness situation, a place not meant for habitation or be in imminent risk a of verifiable homelessness situation, been notified of attempt to evict. Referrals are made to the program through a case manager and partner agencies.Individuals must participate in intensive case management and work toward their short and long term goals.In 2015 this program served approximately 60 households.
Local programs in Jackson County
The Salvation Army Service Extensiono Hidden Falls Youth Summer Campo Salvation Army Red Kettle Campaigno Christmas Angel Assistanceo School Assistanceo Disaster Assistanceo Crisis Assistanceo League of Mercy
Computer Station CSBG – Medical/Dental/ Vision Assistance Goodwill Clothing Vouchers Week-End Food Program for Youth Summer Lunch Program for Youth Information and Referral
Food Pantry Participant choice pantry Food and monetary donation are accepted
locally in an effort to continue to meet the needs of the hungry in Jackson County
Partner with Gleaners and Midwest Food Bank in Indianapolis
The Emergency Food Assistance Program Outlet (TEFAP)
The pantry served 1,744 families in 2015› Hours of Operation : Wednesday 9-12 & 1-4
Jackson County Poverty & ALICE
Township Total Households
Poverty ALICE
Brownstown Township 2,240 8% 28%Carr Township 559 21% 27%Driftwood Township 351 7% 15%Grassy Fork Township 323 11% 22%Hamilton Township 638 5% 17%Jackson Township 8,077 16% 24%Owen Township 603 9% 23%Pershing Township 530 6% 18%Redding Township 1,614 2% 21%Salt Creek Township 204 11% 40%Vernon Township 1,355 13% 32%Source: HUD, USDA, BLS, IRS, state Treasury, and Childcare Aware, 2012, American Community Survey, 3 year est.
Poverty & Asset Limited Income Constrained Employed
Household Survival BudgetSingle Adult
Family w/ Infant & Pre-K
Housing 571.00 696.00Childcare 0. 864.00Food 170.00 515.00Transportation 340.00 681.00Healthcare 130.00 518.00Miscellaneous 142.00 352.00Taxes 205.00 242.00 Monthly Total $ 1,558.00 $ 3,868.00 Annual Total $ 18,696.00 $ 46,416.00Hourly Wage Needed to Survive $ 8.99 $ 22.32Source: Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed (ALICE) Indiana Report
Housing Ratio - ActivityMonthly rent or house payment : 550.00Car payment: 100.00Car insurance: 75.00Utility – electric: 75.00Utility – water/sewer/trash: 50.00Childcare: 550.00Total Debt: $ 1,400.00
Gross Wage Income ($7.25/hr at 40 hrs/wk): 1,160.00Child Support ($50/wk): 200.00Total Income: $ 1,360.00
Housing Ratio should be not more than 30% of the Gross Monthly Income (GMI): $1,360 monthly income x 30% GMI = $408.00
This individual can afford $408.00 for housing costs.
Rich / Poor Gap The income gap between the rich and
poor has widened astronomically since 1967.
People in poverty remain in ‘crisis mode’. They struggle to survive on a daily basis and are unable to pay attention to this gap.
The middle class are too busy trying to climb the economic ladder to worry about the gap.
The wealthy don’t want to talk about it.
Model of the Life of Poverty
Family Structure
Hidden Rules of Economic ClassPoverty Middle Class Wealth
Possessions
People Things One-of-a-kind objects, legacies, pedigrees.
Money To be used, spent.
To be managed. To be conserved, invested.
Personality
Is for entertainment. Sense of humor is highly valued.
Is for acquisition & stability. Achievement is highly valued.
Is for connections. Financial, political, social connections are highly valued.
Hidden Rules…cont’dPoverty Middle Class Wealth
Social Emphasis
Social inclusion of people he/she likes.
Emphasis is on self-governance & self sufficiency.
Emphasis is on social exclusion.
Food Key question: Did you have enough? Quantity important.
Key question: Did you like it? Quality important.
Key question: Was it presented well? Presentation important.
Clothing Clothing valued for individual style & expression of personality.
Clothing valued for its quality & acceptance into norm of middle class. Label important.
Clothing valued for its artistic sense & expression. Designer important.
Hidden Rules…cont’dPoverty Middle Class Wealth
Time Present most important. Decisions made for moment based on feeling or survival.
Future most important. Decisions made against future ramifications.
Traditions & history most important. Decisions made partially on basis of tradition & decorum.
Education Valued & revered as abstract but not as reality.
Crucial for climbing success ladder & making money.
Necessary tradition for making & maintaining connections.
Family Structure
Tends to be matriarchal.
Tends to be patriarchal.
Depends on who has money.
Poverty Middle Class WealthDestiny Believes in
fate. Cannot do much to mitigate chance.
Believes in choice. Can change future with good choices now.
Noblesse oblige. (‘Nobility Obliges’)
Language Casual register. Language is about survival.
Formal register. Language is about negotiation.
Formal register. Language is about networking.
Driving Forces
Survival, relationships, entertainment.
Work, achievement.
Financial, political, social connections.
Hidden Rules…cont’d
Poverty Middle Class WealthLove Love &
acceptance conditional, based upon whether individual is liked.
Love & acceptance conditional & based largely upon achievement.
Love & acceptance conditional & related to social standing & connections.
Humor About people & sex.
About situations.
About social faux pas.
World View
Sees world in terms of local setting.
Sees world in terms of national setting.
See world in terms of international view.
Hidden Rules…cont’d
Source: www.ahaprocess.com
Every Language has 5 RegistersFrozen Language that is always the same. i.e. Lord’s
Prayer, wedding vows, etc.Formal The standard sentence syntax and word choice of
work and school. Has complete sentences and specific word choice.
Consultative Formal register when used in conversation. Discourse pattern not quite as direct as formal register.
Casual Language between friends & is characterized by a 400+ to 800 word spoken vocabulary. Word choice general & not specific. Conversation dependent on non-verbal assists. Sentence syntax often incomplete.
Intimate Language between lovers or twins. Language of sexual harassment. Source: www.ahaprocess.com
A Holistic, Long Term Approach to Breaking the Cycle of
Poverty • People in poverty stay in poverty because
they do not know how to get out. Moving from poverty requires a support system, education of the hidden rules of class, someone to assist with necessary resources, and someone to lead in times of chaos.
• Their learned emotional responses dictate behavior. They may have to find that ‘still’, to move forward.
A participant will need to make a number of very difficult decisions during the journey to escape poverty. Those decisions can only be successfully made when the participant has been provided the necessary emotional resources from role models, such as coaches, who are present in the life of a person in poverty who wishes to escape the poverty culture.
Identified Barriers to Moving Forward
Majority of programming in place:› Has a single focus with some attempts
to address ancillary issues› Has a defined period of time to
participate with little to no follow-up› Referrals to other programs/agencies
can cause frustration and confusion› Take the global approach teaching
broad base of skills
Coaching For Success (CFS)
This initiative moves people forward to a better quality of life. Our efforts are to build the skills necessary in participants so they may grow in their own abilities to become independent.
Coaching For Success places a strong focus in improving the areas of income, education and housing. Coaches and their team actively work with their participants to define their strengths and weaknesses and set short and long term goals. To move people out of poverty they need a support team. This initiative provides that support team as long as it is needed.
Eliminating Barriers to Move Forward
Provide:› Broad focus on all needs and issues› Unlimited time frame to participate› Unification of services & goals;
eliminating confusion/frustration› Go beyond broad base of skills, take the
time necessary to identify the root cause of the individuals barrier(s)
› Support team with on going support
Coaching For Success Design / Terminologies
Participants are vetted by the General Manager and if accepted, are assigned a Coach
Participant and Coach develop a healthy working relationship
Coach enlists Teammates who specialize in a variety of topics to assist the Participant
Participant works with Coach and Teammates to break down and eliminate barriers
What is a Coach? A person who… gently guides and nurtures
the growth of another person during various stages of that person’s development.
A person who… explains the rules and culture of other socio-economic classes.
A person who… listens, relates, explains, increases perspective, identifies resources, targets options and consequences, assists in setting goals, provides encouragement.
A person who… can focus on the positive. A person who… finds the talents & gifts
someone has to offer. A person who… can see the genuine
greatness in the moment & be in that moment. Knowing that the power is in the NOW.
A person who… can celebrate the small as well as the big successes.
If we see the greatness in a person, they will step more into that greatness.
Ten Laws of Coaching Develop Character Set Boundaries Limit Responsibility Plan Objectives Set Goals Inspect Performance Give Tough Love Use Coach Voice Understand Risk Listen
Tasks of the Coach Create a safe environment Develop self discipline Build relationships Neutralize duality Know the whole person/participant Don’t be a know it all Allow failure on the journey to wisdom Allow and support dreams Build trust Determine the level of accessibility Teach the rules of the middle class
Mental Model – before/after
What does a life of poverty look like? › What problems do they have to solve?› What worries do they have?› Where does their time and energy go?› Where does their money go? › Who are the people in this picture? › How are their relationships?
What does their life out of poverty look like? › What do they want their life to look like?
Theory of Change Some people are good with change, others are
not. If an individual has more resources, change can be easier.
Poverty is about more than the choices they make.
Learn about the hidden rules of economic class, resources, family structure, and language.
As people living in poverty come to understand the big picture, as well as their issues, things will begin to make sense.
Partnerships within the community will build vital social support to break the cycle of poverty.
Navigating Resources
› Housing / Emergency Shelter› Utilities› Health Care› Child Care› Parenting› Employment Readiness› Vocational Training› Employment Opportunities
› Child & Adult Education› Recreation› Food & Nutrition› Transportation› Mental Health› Substance Abuse Treatment› Domestic Violence› Legal Assistance
ACCESS COMMUNITY RESOURCES
Long Term Support for Transition
Current U.S. policies pull supports away as people begin to move out of poverty.
Community supports must be built to mitigate “cliff effects”.
Engage those in poverty to guide work of overcoming obstacles, forming partnerships, and thinking differently.
Strong communities do not leave anyone behind. People in poverty count.
Create a prosperous, healthy, sustainable community where all individuals do well.
Source: Bridges to Sustainable Communities , Philip DeVol
It takes a lot of “emotional labor” for a participant and those assisting a participant to make the transition from poverty to a higher economic class.
Leaving poverty is a process, not an event. It is a series of steps over an extended period of time.
Outcomes Housing ratio will be 30% or less of GMI Safe Housing 200% or above poverty guidelines Improved self confidence Strengthened family unit Increased social skills Stronger community
› Family income› Thriving partnerships› Community awareness
Poverty is relative and there are many reasons for it. Poverty occurs in all races and in all countries. Generational poverty and situational poverty are different. An individual brings with him/her the hidden rules of class in
which he/she was raised. Understanding the hidden rules of economic class allows a
person to choose behaviors that lead to economic security. In order to move from poverty to middle class or middle
class to wealth, an individual must give up relationships for achievement (at least for a period of time).
No matter what economic class we’re in, we try to earn the respect of the people closest to us.
We cannot blame the victims of poverty for being in poverty. We cannot support stereotypes and prejudices about the poor.
Key Points to Remember
Consider what we will do with our life, as well as what we will do about poverty in our community.
What can we change about ourselves? What can we change about our community?
Our answers will help us understand what it will take in the way of courage to move toward prosperity. The prosperity we’re talking about isn’t just financial, its an overall sense of well-being, success, contentment, and (yes) happiness.
“No significant learning occurs without a significant relationship.” -Dr. James Comer
Ponder…
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