Providing stability and helping those living in poverty reach their fullest potential, Capital Area Community Action empowers low-income families with the opportunity to think about and develop their future stories.
Getting Ahead in a Just-Gettin’-By World is a research-based anti-poverty workshop developed by Dr. Ruby Payne and Phil DeVol. Based on the Bridges Out of Poverty concepts, the overarching idea is that people in poverty are experts in their own situation.
Too often people living in poverty are caught in the tyranny of life without the resources to get ahead. Participants, called Investigators, work in groups to examine the impact of poverty on themselves and their communities and to explore the world through the lens of economic class.
During the course of the 15-weekly sessions, investigators discover why poverty exists and discuss what resources a person needs in order to move out of poverty.
Here is a quick overview of the program from Program Coordinator Melissa Watson.
Investigators are given the chance to better understand where they are and explore where they want to take their lives. It gives participants some breathing room and mental space to think outside and beyond their current situation. Getting Ahead members develop a clear vision with achievable goals.
Getting Ahead not only focuses on what people in poverty need to do to change, but it also explores the interactions between the classes of poor, middle class and wealth. It explores how we all need to work together to make positive changes in our community.
[ Find your strength. Share your experiences. Build a better tomorrow! ]
Staying Ahead
The Capital Area Community Action Agency operates a 15-week class called Getting Ahead in a Just-Gettin’-by World. After completing the program, the students move into a self-sufficiency program designed to help support the individual’s education, job training, and job placement needs.
While the individual is ready to make the necessary changes in their life as they proceed through the self-sufficiency program, they lack a support system in the form of mentors and allies.
Staying Ahead follows a nationally-tested model to recruit, train and pair mentors from resourced families with those individuals taking steps necessary to lift themselves up from poverty. Each person trying to Get Ahead will be paired with two allies. They meet regularly for about six months. During this time, the allies become advisors, counselors and cheerleaders for the person Getting Ahead.
Learn more about the Staying Ahead program and how to help people become independent of public assistance.
If you would like to become a Staying Ahead Partner and help someone Get Ahead just fill out this form. We will invite you to orientation. Thanks for lending a hand and becoming a friend.
2017 Update – Let’s Talk About ALICE
Here is a quick update on what Community Action is doing to help the working poor – Asset-Limited (no savings), Income-Constrained (no career ladder), Employed – ALICE.
Contact Information
For more information regarding Getting Ahead Program enrollment, please contact your local county office or complete the online application.
FACA Conference – Getting Ahead-Staying Ahead Slides from the Florida Association for Community Action 2015 Annual Conference.
Register TODAY!
Facilitator Training with Phil DeVoll and Melissa Watson! March 29-30 in Tallahassee! Call 850.222.2043 x 102 for more information!
