aha! Process Community Seminars

Bridges Out of Poverty/Community Seminars

"The Bridges Out of Poverty training informs and enhances our Council's mission and equips staff and community with the best understanding of how to assist low-income people to facilitate responsible, self-directed decision making, planning, and ultimately self-sufficiency. After reviewing literally hundreds of tools, we believe that Getting Ahead and Bridges out of Poverty are significant additions to our long-term work to help people permanently leave poverty."

Tammy B. Schoonover, ACSW, LSW, Director of Training
Bucks County Opportunity Council, Inc.
Doylestown, Pennsylvania

In an effort to work with communities seeking long-term sustainability, aha! Process, Inc. offers these Community Sustainability training services. To receive additional information about any of our programs, please feel free to contact us at (800) 424-9484, or use our Contact Us page.

For schedule, locations and pre-registration visit our Training Dates page.

Some workshops may require the purchase of book(s) for each participant.

Training Seminars
	Bridges Out of Poverty – Strategies for Professionals and Communities
Description:	"Now I understand the people I'm serving." If you are looking to counter poverty in your community or its impact on people and businesses, explore the innovative concepts and training found in this workshop. This workshop will help your whole community build sustainable success. Bridges Out of Poverty represents a powerful tool for change. Based in part on Dr. Ruby Payne's A Framework for Understanding Poverty, Bridges reaches out to the millions of service providers and businesses whose daily work connects them with the lives of people in poverty. Bridges training contains case studies, detailed analysis, helpful charts and exercises, and specific solutions you and your organization can implement right now to: Redesign programs to better serve people in poverty Build skill sets for management to help guide employees Upgrade training for front-line staff like receptionists, case workers, and managers Improve treatment outcomes in healthcare and behavioral healthcare Increase the likelihood of moving from welfare to work The book Bridges Out of Poverty and a workbook of the same title are used as training manuals in the seminars and include chapters on relationship building, mentoring, redesigning programs, and community collaboration. Testimonial: "In the course of more than a decade of working with the unemployed and working poor in Cincinnati, we've found Ruby Payne's Bridges Out of Poverty the most useful book for helping our staff, Board of Trustees and possible funders understand the issues we confront on a daily basis with our members. It's required reading for those associated with Cincinnati Works. Dr. Payne's understanding of the mindset of the poor is unparalleled, and she does a marvelous job communicating why middle class "solutions" to poverty don't work." – Liane Phillips, co-founder of Cincinnati Works, the nation's leading back-to-work program and co-author of the forthcoming book WHY DON'T THEY JUST GET A JOB: Business Solutions to Poverty From Cincinnati Works, the Nation's Leading Best Practices Back-to-Work Program Read more testimonials
Length:	One Day
Prerequisite:	None
	Register/See training dates
	Link: #bridges

	Bridges and Circles National Community Building Conference
Description:	Here’s an event to collaborate with others working to build sustainable communities. Come hear about other’s best practices, and share yours. The Bridges and Circles National Community Building Conference is where new and established Bridges and Circles Communities come together to share knowledge and experience in the work of ending poverty. There are pathways out of poverty that are interwoven and yet distinct. We have specific tracks at the conference for these pathways, which include Getting Ahead, College, Business, and Bridges/Circles. Gain a deeper understanding, explore new tools, and learn the latest innovations and strategies. See Bridges/Circles Conference flyer
	Register/See training dates
	Link: #bridges_circles

	Getting Ahead in a Just-Gettin'-By World E-Training
Description:	Get certified in Getting Ahead—without having to pay for travel—in the convenience of your own office! Getting Ahead facilitates a process for people from poverty to investigate the impact that poverty has had on themselves and their community and to use this information to build resources for a better life and community. Learn how to use the Getting Ahead in a Just-Gettin'-By World workbook for adults in poverty. This program shows them how to use the hidden rules of class to build up financial, emotional, social, and other resources. Understanding the hidden rules of middle class and wealth, and choosing to use them, can open doors to such resources as new relationships and new jobs, among others. Facilitator training includes the following topics: philosophy, theory, motivation and incentives, long-term support, mental models, content and process, and practice sessions.
Length:	One day, or can be adapted for keynote
Prerequisite:	Must have attended a Bridges Out of Poverty workshop Must read the first 18 pages of the Getting Ahead facilitator notes prior to the event
Value:	Receive a copy of the PowerPoint slides Preparation to facilitate Getting Ahead groups Personalized follow-up coaching Receive a Getting Ahead workbook and facilitator notes set
Requirements:	Attend both sessions Complete the learning task assigned during the first session before the start of the second session Headphones and a computer equipped with a microphone (or a combination headset)
	Register/See training dates
	Link: #ga_etraining

	Bridges Out of Poverty - Trainer Certification
Description:	Become a certified trainer! This seminar is designed for individuals who wish to become Certified Bridges Trainers in order to take the information back to their organizations. The training includes in-depth work on the Bridges Out of Poverty (Day One) and Applying Bridges Concepts (Day Two) seminars. Topics also include instructional techniques and the power of story–all intended to help trainers tailor the program to the needs of their particular organization. Comprehensive research and training materials are provided.
Length:	Three-and-a-half days
Prerequisite:	Bridges Out of Poverty workshop, A Framework for Understanding Poverty (Day 1) or the Framework for Understanding Poverty or Bridges Out of Poverty audio workshop kit
	Register/See training dates
	Link: #bridges_trainer

	Bridges Into Health: Strategies to Reduce Inequities and Improve Health Outcomes
Description:	Bridges Into Health dovetails the Bridges Out of Poverty concepts and tools with the growing body of health inequities research. This workshop provides strategies that the health sector and communities need to build wealth and health for vulnerable groups. Poor health is a huge cost of poverty in the United States. Economic class affects all aspects of health and health care. To improve this, strategies must address economic class and other social determinants. The workshop includes a continuum of policy and practice critical to improving health among the disadvantaged. Research links overall health to economic stability, education, safe and affordable housing, nutrition/food security, and other factors. Meaningful learning tasks, direct teaching, videos, and large-group dialogue are integrated into this full-day workshop. The workshop can also be modified into an overview or keynote address. Bridges Into Health: Highlights how social capital and social interactions can be redesigned to improve health outcomes. Provides an overview of research that indicates "poverty is making us sick." Introduces a dialogue on how Robert Sapolsky’s "Theory of Social Coherence" is limiting access to health care within our health care systems and community health initiatives. Illustrates tools to address health inequities. The workshop is for community leaders from all sectors, as well as clinical staff at all levels in the private nonprofit and public health sectors. There will be a two-hour Bridges overview from a fresh perspective embedded in the full day.
Length:	One day or keynote
Prerequisite:	None
	Register/See training dates
	Link: #bridges_into_health

	Applying Bridges Concepts (Day Two)
Description:	Learn strategies that build relationships and improve outcomes! This workshop is an extension of the Bridges Out of Poverty (Day One) seminar. The content of the first day is extended into a second day to allow for more discussion and interaction. In this workshop participants will learn more about language experience, cognitive issues, and barriers to change. Participants will learn how to use mental models to communicate effectively and to assist clients from poverty to learn quickly, explore options, and develop future stories. Participants will also explore the skills of mediation, relationship building, and mentoring. This workshop introduces strategies for changing program designs, policies, and procedures to improve outcomes. Participants will use case studies and an examination of the client's lifecycle to identify principles of change. Also available: E-training
Length:	One day
Prerequisite:	Bridges Out of Poverty workshop
	Link: #bridges_applying

	Design/Redesign Programs
Description:	Design your programs to work more efficiently! This workshop is tailored to the needs of the organization and involves a great deal of group work from the participants. The work typically includes the development of four streams of knowledge: aha! knowledge, the organization's theory of business, the client or customer's experience, and principles of change. The group analyzes the knowledge and brainstorms to develop new strategies, policies, and procedures to improve outcomes. Organizations are encouraged to establish and measure outcomes, establish concrete timelines, and assign responsibilities. Additional services included: Consultation E-consultation
Length:	One day
Prerequisite:	Bridges Out of Poverty workshop
	Link: #design_redesign

	Getting Ahead in a Just-Gettin'-By World - Training for Facilitators
Description:	Helping people in poverty change their lives! Getting Ahead facilitates a process for people from poverty to investigate the impact that poverty has had on themselves and their community and to use this information to build resources for a better life and community. Learn how to use the Getting Ahead in a Just-Gettin'-By World workbook for adults in poverty. This program shows them how to use the hidden rules of class to build up financial, emotional, social, and other resources. Understanding the hidden rules of the middle class and wealth, and choosing to use them, can open doors to such resources as new relationships and new jobs, among others. Working in a group with a facilitator, adults who use this workbook will develop a series of mental models to examine their own lives and create new future stories. In 20 sessions, the participants explore the impact that poverty has had on them, investigate economic realities, complete a self-assessment of their own resources, make plans to build their own resources, and develop a mental model of community prosperity. The Getting Ahead workshop does not provide answers to the participants on how to establish economic stability, nor does it make the argument for change; instead, motivation, insight, and plans come from the participants themselves. Upon completing Getting Ahead, participants will have a plan of their own based on the knowledge acquired through the co-investigative process and expressed in new mental models. Facilitator training includes the following topics: philosophy, theory, motivation and incentives, long-term support, mental models, content and process, and practice sessions. Organizations that want to offer Getting Ahead in their communities can train facilitators in two ways: Communities can contract for one- or two-day facilitator training events in their own communities or sign up for e-trainings. Testimonials: "I was driven to push forward with my art endeavor by some of the things we covered in the Getting Ahead class, and I continue to use the information in helping me plan and organize. Thanks for that and for writing a great book and providing our community with such a great class!" – Mary Woodward, Artist and Getting Ahead graduate, Ohio Read more testimonials Additional services included: aha! Process website forum for Getting Ahead facilitators Getting Ahead Facilitator Training DVD/CD On-site consultation Phone-conference consultation
Length:	One day
Prerequisite:	Bridges Out of Poverty workshop
	Register/See training dates
	Link: #getting_ahead

	Creating Communities Where Everyone Can Live Well
Description:	Community-wide sustainability planning Communities that want to achieve sustainability using aha! knowledge are encouraged to use a wide variety of aha! products and consultants. Contracting for this level of implementation will be tailored to the needs of the community. Additional services included: aha! Process consultants aha! Process products Trainer Certification Phone and on-site consultation E-training
Length:	Multi-year commitment
Prerequisite:	Community trained in A Framework for Understanding Poverty Community trained in Bridges Out of Poverty Commitment to ongoing Day One events Participation of donors, community leaders, government leaders, and people in poverty Community team assigned to manage the process in cooperation with aha! Process consultants Commitment to the development of strategies across the entire continuum of research on the causes of poverty Participation in gathering data, reporting, and outcome research
	Link: #creating_communities

	Understanding Class for Law Enforcement
Description:	Be more successful on each call! Understanding Class for Law Enforcement helps law enforcement personnel better understand unique aspects of the three economic classes that they encounter on calls–poverty, middle class, and wealth. Increased understanding allows officers to be more successful on each call, keeping themselves and the community safe while receiving fewer complaints. This workshop explains in detail why officers may receive a much different reaction from people in poverty than from those in middle class or wealth. Understanding Class for Law Enforcement describes the "hidden rules" of each class, increases officers' awareness of differences between classes, and explains how those differences affect behavior in various situations. Because officers need ALL the tools at their disposal. The workshop also provides officers with tools they can use while on duty to help them stay out of the reactive mode and maintain their ability to be in control throughout a call. The course also explores how language is used differently in all economic classes and how that affects communication between officers and civilians. Because the content is highly focused, the training is most effective when all participants are law enforcement personnel. Testimonials: "Understanding Class for Law Enforcement training has proven invaluable to provide deputies the ability to appreciate cultural differences. We have used this information to develop solutions for our local policing problems." – Donald J. Murphy, Sheriff, Torrington, Wyoming Read more testimonials
Length:	One day
Prerequisite:	None
Note:	All presenters have extensive experience in law enforcement.
	Link: #class_law_enforcement

	Parenting Someone Else's Child
Description:	Based on the book Parenting Someone Else's Child: The Foster Parents' 'How-To' Manual Ann Stressman, seasoned foster parent, wrote this book after hearing Ruby Payne speak about the hidden rules of economic class, combining that perspective with her two decades of personal experience with foster care agencies and the special children needing care. The result is a 'nothing can surprise me' compilation of very helpful and enlightening approaches for hundreds of the parenting situations that arise. Dr. Payne has contributed a chapter in the book for how to help children in school, and Stressman includes information for grandparents and adoptive parents, as well. A wealth of information for parents told with humor and grace by a person who has fostered more than 100 children.
Length:	One day
Prerequisite:	Must purchase book: Parenting Someone Else's Child" The Foster Parents' 'How-To' Manual.
	Link: #parenting_child

	Hear Our Cry: Boys in Crisis
Description:	Boys are the ones who have committed the most violent acts in America's schools, and they are the most likely to drop out of school. Eighty-five percent of boys who drop out of school end up in trouble with local law enforcement. Based on his book Hear Our Cry: Boys in Crisis, Dr. Paul D. Slocumb assists communities that want to raise boys to become healthy, well-adjusted men who are successful in all areas of life: at school, at work, at home, and in personal relationships. His workshop focuses on how community choices affect the men our boys are to become. This workshop explains the what, how, and why behind some of these critical choices. Also note that a parent version of this workshop is available as an evening add-on to this training. See the description below.
Length:	One day
Prerequisite:	None
	Link: #hear_our_cry

	Collaboration for Kids: Early Intervention Tools
Description:	This workshop and book describe a simple, straightforward, interactive process for addressing, early in a child's life, problems that negatively impact education–a process that utilizes the inner strengths of the child and family members. Through the Collaboration for Kids (CFK) training you will learn a new structure for collaborating with and reaching out to children and families as early as possible in a child's life. It is new team collaboration in its purest form. Focus is placed on the child who is "unavailable to learn" due to issues outside of school. Emphasis is on children who are in need of Tier 2 and Tier 3 interventions. Positive, proven, long-term changes are the result when this structure is put into place. Some benefits of the Collaboration for Kids Initiative: Reduce truancy Improve classroom behavior Diminish juvenile crime Stabilize families Increase academic success
Length:	One or Two Days
Prerequisite:	The one-day Collaboration for Kids workshop offers an overview of the CFK Initiative process, the concepts, the research, the procedures, RtI use, and strategies for meeting success. The two-day Collaboration for Kids training offers all of the CFK Day One information and materials, as well as CFK team building, start-up polices and procedures, RtI uses, practice cases, and the "how-to" information involved in personalizing and building your own CFK process.
	Link: #collaboration

	What Every Church Member Should Know About Poverty
Description:	The seminar is designed for faith communities and community groups who depend on volunteers, as well as paid staff. The information presented will help expand awareness and understanding between economic classes and enhance the potential for mutual support between cultural subgroups. Topics include the hidden rules of different classes, language patterns and cognition, and family and relationship building. Particular emphasis is centered on assessing resources to identify strengths and target areas of collaboration. Participants will discuss how to include everyone involved and work together for a stronger community. This seminar is based on the book What Every Church Member Should Know about Poverty by Bill Ehlig and Ruby K. Payne, Ph.D.
Length:	One day
Prerequisite:	None
	Link: #church_member

	Hidden Rules of Class at Work
Description:	Hidden Rules of Class at Work provides numerous tools for supervisors and managers to communicate effectively and help understand the motivations of their staff. Includes tools to: Improve employee retention rate Raise productivity Assess your employees' strengths based on their resources Understand how the levels of an organization reflect the hidden rules of class Understand how economic class influences opportunities to develop resources Help develop employees to function at the level of the organization to which they have been promoted or at which you expect them to function Help determine for whom training dollars will have the most payoff using our assessment scale Build positive outlook in your workplace Dr. Payne and Don Krabill based their book Hidden Rules of Class at Work (and the seminar of the same title) on their research study assessing the resources of people who had been promoted in the workplace. Do you know which resource was present in every case? Hear the answer in this workshop!
Length:	One day
Prerequisite:	None
	Link: #hidden_rules

For schedule, all locations and pre-registration, visit our Training Dates page. To receive additional information about any of our programs, please feel free to contact us at (800) 424-9484, or use our Contact Us page.