Society of St Vincent de Paul
“Getting Ahead”
Facilitator Training
© 2013, National Council of the United States
Society of St. Vincent de Paul, Inc. This
copyright covers all materials in this
presentation except where otherwise noted.
1
Warm-up & Audience
 Roll call
 Polls
 Read Bridges Out of Poverty & Bridges to Sustainable
Communities?
 Read Getting Ahead Facilitator Notes & Module 1 of
Investigator workbook?
 Use of “Chat” & or Raise Hand to pose questions, add
comments
2
SVdP Getting Ahead Facilitator
Training Prerequisites
• Attend Society’s workshop including Systemic
Change Overview and Bridges Individual Lens
DVD
 Read:
 Bridges Out of Poverty
 Bridges to Sustainable Communities
 Obtain copies of Getting Ahead Facilitator Notes
& Investigator workbook from Aha Process
3
Prep before Webinar
Before Session 1
 Read pp 1-63 and
Before Session 2
125-154 of GA
 Read pp 57-124 of GA
Facilitator Notes
Facilitator Notes
 Read Module 1 of GA
 Review rest of Modules
Investigator workbook
in GA Investigator
& skim the rest
workbook – get feel for
 Note questions and
flow & exercises
send them to
 Send questions to
[email protected] &
[email protected]
4
[email protected] &
[email protected]
Agenda Overview
Session 1
 How GA fits into the Society’s Systemic
Change strategy and mentoring program
 Background & Philosophy
 How to organize and run a GA initiative
 Support for GA graduates
 Support for Facilitators and Co-facilitators
 Evaluations and Results
 Modules 0 & 1
Session 2
 Module-by-Module (2-10) review of the GA
workbook
5
“Getting Ahead” &
SVdP’s Mentoring Program
 “Getting Ahead” is the cornerstone of the
SVdP mentoring program
 “Getting Ahead” helps create the motivation
and the personal power to build a plan for
change & improvement
 The personal plans built in GA become the
focal point for the ongoing support provided
by SVdP mentoring teams
Mentoring Program Roles
Candidate / Investigator / Graduate
Not simply the object of the Mentoring Program but its
primary driver. The program goal is for the person to
transform their lives to be more stable, self-directed, and
self-sustaining.
Co-Facilitators
Guide the Getting Ahead process by working with a group
(6 to 10) of Investigators. A class-time resource for
Investigators.
Mentors
Coach the Candidate through the entire process. Are there
to relate, affirm, and facilitate community connections.
Will never do what the person is capable of doing for
7
themselves.
Mentoring Program - Process
3 Stages:
Acceptance
Getting Ahead – “Develop Future Story”
Implementation
View through Participant Lens
Hope in Action…ending poverty through systemic change
Stage 1: Acceptance
 Candidate:
 Learns of mentoring program and makes contact
 Meets with 2 mentors to discuss program features,
benefits, expectations, and address questions
 Addresses fundamental issue: Are they willing to
undertake a process that will challenge them to
change?
Candidate makes decision to continue or not.
Hope in Action…ending poverty through systemic change
Stage 2: Getting Ahead
 Candidates become Investigators in GA:
 Develop ‘mental models’ regarding their
current situation
 Learn about poverty, hidden rules, & change
 Assess their own & community resources
 Develop their “future story”
 Develop a plan to build resources and
achieve their “future story”
© aha! Process, Inc.
Stage 2: Getting Ahead
 Candidates:
 Learn from each other
 Form a peer support network
 Facilitators guide the process
 Mentors provide encouragement
Demonstrates the power of working together
in a community
© aha! Process, Inc.
Stage 3: Implementation
 Investigators:
 Work to achieve their “future story” through
building their personal resources
 Look to mentors for:
 Support & encouragement
 An ear to listen and a voice to help guide
 Connection to others to help build personal
resources (“bridging capital”)
Investigators set the pace. They’re responsible for
own progress
© aha! Process, Inc.
Mentors
 A team of 2 Vincentians
 Coaches, Friends, Cheerleaders, Connectors
 Not counselors or experts
 Facilitate community connections that enable
graduates to build personal “resources” &
implement their plan
10
http://famvin.org/en/2014/01/13/poverty-end/?utm_source=FAMVIN&utm_medium=em
Hope in Action...Ending poverty through systemic change
Getting Ahead:
What is It, What can it do…
Adopt a Family of Marin
Project Inspiration video
Copyright 2012 by DeVol & Associates, LLC. All rights reserved. www.gettingaheadnetwork.com
Investigating the Facilitator Notes
15
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Getting Ahead
Philosophy
Learning Experience
Process
Pages 2 - 19
16
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Philosophy
 Poverty & chronically unstable environments
trap people in the “tyranny of the moment”
 People in poverty are problem solvers
 Abstract thinking enables investigators to
detach from their problems, objectively
analyze solutions, and proactively plan to
make changes.
Pages 2 - 5
Copyright 2012 by DeVol & Associates, LLC. All rights reserved. www.gettingaheadnetwork.com
Philosophy (cont’d)
 Poverty is caused by more than individual
choices
 It’s important to learn how poverty impacts
individuals…understanding hidden rules,
resources, and language issues is critical
 Self-assessment of personal and
community resources helps people make
plans for change
Pages 2 – 5
Copyright 2012 by DeVol & Associates, LLC. All rights reserved. www.gettingaheadnetwork.com
Philosophy (cont’d)
 GA’s information and group discussions
help people build resources and develop
their future story
 Partnerships with middle class & wealth will
build critical social capital
 Developing strategies to address poverty
comprehensively at the institutional and
community levels
Pages 2 - 5
Copyright 2012 by DeVol & Associates, LLC. All rights reserved. www.gettingaheadnetwork.com
The History
Pages 4 and 5
Facilitator Notes
Copyright 2012 by DeVol & Associates, LLC. All rights reserved. www.gettingaheadnetwork.com
The Kitchen Table
Learning Experience
What happens in Getting Ahead?
 A group of 6–12 meet for a kitchen-table
learning experience.
 Use the “triangle” as a learning structure.
 16-20 sessions, done once or twice a week.
 Each session takes about three hours.
 Investigators are “paid” for their work.
21
Copyright 2012 by DeVol & Associates, LLC. All rights reserved. www.gettingaheadnetwork.com
Pages 6 – 8
126-128
ACTION
Process Triangle
Plans
RESPONSIBILITY
Action steps
Future stories
Page 2
Critical analysis
What it means to me
Theory of change
How to build resources
POWER
RUBY PAYNE’S
FRAMEWORK
UNDERSTANDING
POVERTY
What it’s
like now
Using the hidden
rules of class to
build resources
UNDERSTANDING
WHERE I AM
Monitoring
our changes
Self-assessment
Causes of
poverty
Community assessment
CO-INVESTIGATION
Introduction
22
Copyright 2012 by DeVol & Associates, LLC. All rights reserved. www.gettingaheadnetwork.com
Dr. James Comer
No significant learning occurs
without a relationship of
mutual respect.
Copyright 2012 by DeVol & Associates, LLC. All rights reserved. www.gettingaheadnetwork.com
Getting Ahead is not a typical
education process
“Education….the means by which men and
women deal critically and creatively with
reality and discover how to participate in
the transformation of their world.”
Richard Shaull, Foreword to Pedagogy of the Oppressed
24
Copyright 2012 by DeVol & Associates, LLC. All rights reserved. www.gettingaheadnetwork.com
Sequences and Reinforcement of Key
Concepts Found in Getting Ahead
 Income and wealth disparity and the hidden
rules
 Theory of change and future story
 Relationships during transition
 Motivation
 Relationship within the GA group and
community
Pages 129-137
 Time management and goal setting
25
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Process: Recruiting
 Can be for anyone living in poverty – across
the stability continuum
 But, not everyone is ready at this time
 Diversity of backgrounds can make discussion
richer
 No coercion
Pages 6 - 8
 Use your mentoring teams for pre-GA contacts
to explain the program, its expectations, and
how it connects to our mentoring program after
Copyright 2012 by DeVol & Associates, LLC. All rights reserved. www.gettingaheadnetwork.com
Keys to Success: Process Constructs
 Co-investigation by investigators & facilitators
 Safe environment & group rules
 Half of learning from content…half from
discussion
 GA’s sequence – illustrated in the Process
Triangle - continually reinforces learning &
change philosophy
 Two storylines throughout – collective poverty
experience (community) and personal
 Separate the problem from the person
Pages 10-19
Copyright 2012 by DeVol & Associates, LLC. All rights reserved. www.gettingaheadnetwork.com
Keys to Success: Process Constructs
(cont’d)
 Group process
 Concrete to abstract to concrete
 Use of Mental Models
 Motivation
 Paying investigators
 Facilitator role
 Trust the process!
Pages 10-19
Copyright 2012 by DeVol & Associates, LLC. All rights reserved. www.gettingaheadnetwork.com
Setting Expectations
Expectations of a Getting Ahead
investigator:




Attend all sessions.
Make up any missed work.
Create and live by group rules.
Be accountable to the group for being on time
and completing work he/she agreed to do.
Page 128
29
Copyright 2012 by DeVol & Associates, LLC. All rights reserved. www.gettingaheadnetwork.com
Facilitator & Investigator Roles
Getting Ahead is different because:
 Investigators are recognized as a problem
solvers.
 Investigators’ ideas and information are needed.
 No one decides anything for the investigators or
tells them what to do.
 No one will do for the investigators what they
can do for themselves.
 No one will “teach”; Investigators do the
learning.
30
Copyright 2012 by DeVol & Associates, LLC. All rights reserved. www.gettingaheadnetwork.com
Page 44
Getting Organized for GA
 See checklist in Facilitators Toolbox on web
 Facility
 space for class, meal, child care, transport
access
 Support resources for meals, child care
 Supplies
 Funding
 Collaboration partners, including resourcebuilding programs
31
Pages 20-25
Copyright 2012 by DeVol & Associates, LLC. All rights reserved. www.gettingaheadnetwork.com
Sample Budget
Group of 8 over 16 Sessions
Line Item
Expense
Description
$25 Stipend / participant /
session
$3,200
6-10 is the ideal group size. Stipend paid
by gift card (store, gas, bus pass etc.)
Getting Ahead workbooks
$156 + S&H
8 participant workbooks and 1 facilitator
manual
Facilitator Training
SVdP Webinar
$38 + S&H
Investigator & Facilitator manuals; Mar &
May 2014, others to be scheduled
Bridges Facilitator DVD
$165 + S&H
Optional - Module-by-module ideas
Facilitators
0 - $900
$0 if volunteers. If using GA graduates,
pay at least same as investigator stipends.
Workshop & participant
supplies
< $500
Flip-chart paper, colored markers; folders,
paper, pen, pencils for investigators.
Child care, transportation,
food
0 - $1000
Ideally, food & baby-sitting would be inkind; provided by parishioners, area
churches.
32
Copyright 2012 by DeVol & Associates, LLC. All rights reserved. www.gettingaheadnetwork.com
Articles in From Vision to Action
“Getting Ahead from the Ground Up:
Using the Getting Ahead Process as a
Foundation for Building a Bridges
Community” (pp 93-106)
by Jim Ott, Carroll Clark, and Ermina Soler
33
Copyright 2012 by DeVol & Associates, LLC. All rights reserved. www.gettingaheadnetwork.com
Support for GA Graduates
 Critical to prepare before first GA class
 Community partners
 Resource-building programs
 GA graduate support groups
 Mentors trained & organized
 SVdP mentors
 Training & support resources at
http://www.svdpusa.org/systemicchange/ConferenceMaterials.aspx
Pages 33-43
34
Copyright 2012 by DeVol & Associates, LLC. All rights reserved. www.gettingaheadnetwork.com
Facilitator Tips & Support
 Recognize the patterns in the
Investigator workbook
 Prepare before each session
 Apply adult learning principles
 Suggested Schedule
pp 47- 48
 Tips for running the group
pp 48-54
35
Copyright 2012 by DeVol & Associates, LLC. All rights reserved. www.gettingaheadnetwork.com
Pages 44-56
Facilitator As Someone
from the Dominant Culture
 Distrust of Authority & Agencies
 Co-investigators past / present experience
 Potential resentment, bitterness, distrust
 Those with greater resources & broader
perspective can have something of value to
add…but
 Be mindful not to preach
 Avoid the “fix-it” mentality
Pages 17 - 19
 Be genuine…”false generosity” is apparent
 Fate of the Middle Class
Copyright 2012 by DeVol & Associates, LLC. All rights reserved. www.gettingaheadnetwork.com
Facilitator Role
 Separate the problem / issue from the person
 Raise difficult issues
 Encourage accountability
 Avoid labeling
 Honor space
 Become more of an expert
Pages 18 - 19
Copyright 2012 by DeVol & Associates, LLC. All rights reserved. www.gettingaheadnetwork.com
GETTING AHEAD COMMUNITY of PRACTICE SITES:
Bartlesville, OK
Inkster, MI
Presov, Slovakia
Baton Rouge, LA
Lewiston, ID
Riverside, CA
Billings, MT
Lisbon, OH
Salem, OH
Boulder, CO
Marinette WI
Marshall, MO
Salina, KS
Bucks County, PA
Menominee Nation, WI
Schenectady, NY
Burlington, VT
Minneapolis, MN
South Bend, IN
Columbus, OH
Newark, OH
Springfield, OH
Evansville, IN
Newton, KS
Sterling, CO
Farmington, NM
Newton, NJ
Syracuse, NY
Gettysburg, PA
Owen Sound, Ontario
Toledo, OH
Indianapolis, IN
Pensacola, FL
Youngstown, OH
Copyright 2012 by DeVol & Associates, LLC. All rights reserved. www.gettingaheadnetwork.com
38
Investigator & Facilitator Remarks
39
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Facilitators – Key Points
(video)
 Mary – The material is a starting point
 Barb – Let Investigators guide curriculum
Copyright 2012 by DeVol & Associates, LLC. All rights reserved. www.gettingaheadnetwork.com
Investigator Comments
(video)
 James – Importance of group experience
 Vonda – I’m my best resource
Copyright 2012 by DeVol & Associates, LLC. All rights reserved. www.gettingaheadnetwork.com
Marinette Investigators
 Empowerment! Just do it! Most helpful!
 MM’s put things in perspective, opened my
eyes to reality and what needs to be done
 Put resources together so that we can
START the action!
 All helpful in one way or another
 Easy to Understand -- All was very useful!
 Interactions, discussions and class
participation were the most helpful to me.
 Learned step by step planning and how to
use our resources – looked at all options!
42
Bucks County, Pennsylvania
Getting Ahead Participants
Since July 2007:

95 participants enrolled.

64 participants completed.

29 participants are currently enrolled or
graduated from ES Program.

25 participants are furthering their education.

31 have increased their earned income from
$11,265 – $24,358.
Copyright 2012 by DeVol & Associates, LLC. All rights reserved. www.gettingaheadnetwork.com
Marinette Results
 3 got jobs and 1 is on last class for GED
 1 finished college and got a job as a LPN
 Husband & wife began college – rec’d custody of
her child due to positive growth in her life
 secured child care & is finishing her 2 year degree
 couple wkg w/Greenpath to be debt free in 3 yrs
 couple had a child & secured assistance for child
44
Investigator Workbook
Copyright 2012 by DeVol & Associates, LLC. All rights reserved. www.gettingaheadnetwork.com
Review Table of Contents
of the Workbook
 Introduction, page 1
 Module 1 – My Life Now, page 7
 Module 2 – Theory of Change, page 25
 Module 3 – The Rich/Poor Gap, page 39
 Module 4 – Hidden Rules, page 67
 Module 5 – Language, page 89
Copyright 2012 by DeVol & Associates, LLC. All rights reserved. www.gettingaheadnetwork.com
Review Table of Contents
of the Workbook
 Module 6 – Eleven Resources, page 117
 Module 7 – Self-Assessment, page 137
 Module 8 – Community Assessment,
page 165
 Module 9 – Building Resources, page 185
 Module 10 – Personal and Community
Plans, page 197
Copyright 2012 by DeVol & Associates, LLC. All rights reserved. www.gettingaheadnetwork.com
Appendix
 Getting Started (on Your Future Story)
 Tips for Getting Ahead Investigators
 Who Pays the Most Taxes?
 The Community Sustainability Grid
 What Does It Mean to be a Getting Ahead
Graduate
 Resource Development Worksheet
 Personal Plan Forms
 Films, Literature, and Poetry lists
 Ten Core Bridges Constructs
 Websites
Copyright 2012 by DeVol & Associates, LLC. All rights reserved. www.gettingaheadnetwork.com
Page 211
Future Story Portfolio
 Label comes with the GA workbook.
 A place for worksheets, reflections,
mental models, and plans.
 Something to
“keep close by.”
Copyright 2012 by DeVol & Associates, LLC. All rights reserved. www.gettingaheadnetwork.com
Module by Module Review
Introduction Session & Module 1
50
Module “0”: INTRODUCTION
(the first time you meet)
 Smile! Greet and Welcome as they come in….
 Tote bag: GA book, calculator, notebook &
pen…“goodies”
 Group introductions
 Why Am I Here? What do I want to get out of
this?
Pages 1 - 6
 Self introductions…or meet a friend and after
discussion, introduce them and what you learned
about them
Copyright 2012 by DeVol & Associates, LLC. All rights reserved. www.gettingaheadnetwork.com
Module “0”: INTRODUCTION
(cont’d)
 Review materials and each session’s process
 Draw Ruby Payne’s pyramid and explain
 They are investigators
 Group Ground Rules
 Use their words
Pages 1 - 6
 Safe & respectful environment…
confidentiality
 Community Problems – List (capture on flip
chart)
 Things we will work on as we try to get
ahead in our lives
Copyright 2012 by DeVol & Associates, LLC. All rights reserved. www.gettingaheadnetwork.com
Introduction:
Personal Facilitator Tips
 Know the work
 Be genuine
 Share your story
 Be a good listener
 They are comfortable when you are
Copyright 2012 by DeVol & Associates, LLC. All rights reserved. www.gettingaheadnetwork.com
Module 1: My Life Now
Page 8
Page 59
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My Life Now – Purpose
 Establish that investigators have information
valuable to others – e.g. what poverty is like
 Establish what their life is like now - - so they can
decide during the rest of the modules if they want to
change
 Empower investigators to see the strength in their
own story
 Introduce concepts on time management & planning
Pages 8 - 24
Pages 59 - 63
Copyright 2012 by DeVol & Associates, LLC. All rights reserved. www.gettingaheadnetwork.com
My Life Now Exercises
 Mental model of Poverty
 Mental model of my home
 Affordable Housing & Expense to Income
comparison
 Debt to income ratio
 Mental model of My Life Now
 Where time goes
Pages 8 - 24
Pages 61 - 63
Copyright 2012 by DeVol & Associates, LLC. All rights reserved. www.gettingaheadnetwork.com
“Poverty” & Life Now Mental Models
 “Poverty” – naming it is OK – it IS a
problem in our communities
 Bridges defines poverty as the extent to
which a person, institution, or community
does without “resources”
 Recognize that many investigators will not
associate themselves with being poor or
in poverty
Pages 19 & 20
Pages 61 - 63
Copyright 2012 by DeVol & Associates, LLC. All rights reserved. www.gettingaheadnetwork.com
“Poverty” & Life Now Mental Models
 Poverty Mental Model allows group to
identify issues outside of themselves
 Don’t judge…just record
 My Life Now Mental Model
 Honest, objective look…non-judgmental
 Don’t have to share these with the group
Pages 19 & 20
Pages 61- 63
Copyright 2012 by DeVol & Associates, LLC. All rights reserved. www.gettingaheadnetwork.com
Mental Model for Poverty
Concrete information inside the circle;
analytical categories outside
Tyranny of the
Moment, Long view
Concrete
Abstract
Powerless
Powerful
Math doesn’t work,
Financial security
Unstable
Predictable
Page 19
Reactive problem solving,
Proactive problem solving
Page 61
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Marinette Mental Model of Poverty
You don’t have to hit a homerun
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Housing and Wages
Page 11
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Page 62
My Life Now
63
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Time Management:
Where Does the Time Go?
Estimated Time vs. Actual Time
Activity
Estimated time
spent in a week
Actual time spent
in a week
Grooming
Eating
Classroom
Studying
Working
On the Internet
Watching TV
Time management and goal setting activities
are in Modules 1, 4, and 5.
Page 21
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Page 62
Taking Control thru Planning
(video)
 James – What I am most proud of
62
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Spiritual Reflection & Discussion
 Two reflection & discussion handouts for each
module
 Format:
 Scripture quote related to topics discussed
 Reflection questions
 Group sharing questions
 Closing prayer
 Select (or create your own) one for each week’s
material…use them to close your session
ACTION
Process Triangle
Plans
RESPONSIBILITY
Action steps
Future stories
Page 2
Critical analysis
What it means to me
Theory of change
How to build resources
POWER
RUBY PAYNE’S
FRAMEWORK
UNDERSTANDING
POVERTY
What it’s
like now
Using the hidden
rules of class to
build resources
UNDERSTANDING
WHERE I AM
Monitoring
our changes
Self-assessment
Causes of
poverty
Community assessment
CO-INVESTIGATION
Introduction
67
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Second Online Session
Assignment
 Review pages 63-124 of the Facilitator Notes
and the corresponding chapters in the
Investigator workbook (Modules 2-10)
 Get a feel for the flow and exercises in the
Investigator workbook for Modules 2-10
 Identify questions and concerns you have.
Send them to:
[email protected] & [email protected]
 Contribute to the discussion during the
second online session.
Copyright 2012 by DeVol & Associates, LLC. All rights reserved. www.gettingaheadnetwork.com
END of Webinar Session 1
69