The following is from Courtney Thomas, a Bridges Out of Poverty trainer from Virginia.
The Getting Ahead model is a transformative, co-investigative approach that empowers individuals in poverty to assess their own situations, identify barriers, and build resources for long-term stability. Rather than prescribing solutions, it fosters self-sufficiency by helping participants shift from survival mode to economic mobility while strengthening community connections.
In my role as care team coordinator, I see firsthand how this model aligns with our whole-family wellness approach—providing both health and socioeconomic support while ensuring families become active participants in their own success. By integrating Getting Ahead principles, we move beyond short-term fixes to create lasting change that breaks generational cycles and strengthens communities.
Navigating Emotional Realities with Adults, by Ruby Payne and Jim Ott, speaks to how emotionally demanding social work can be. Thus, it is critical to understand the emotional realities of adults and how to navigate those realities in the workplace. We spend so much energy supporting families in poverty and challenging situations that we also need to be intentional about how we communicate and collaborate with colleagues, peers, and the families we serve. Navigating Emotional Realities with Adults serves as a valuable tool for working to recognize emotional poverty, improve workplace relationships, and foster more effective, empathetic connections.
Bridges Out of Poverty provides a framework for understanding the challenges faced by individuals living in poverty and also dives into the systemic barriers that can keep them there. This book explores the hidden rules of economic class, the impact of trauma and toxic stress, and also the importance of building social capital to foster long-term stability and help build prosperity. It points out the reality that moving out of poverty requires more than just financial resources—it also demands a shift in one’s mindset, access to healthy and supportive relationships and networks, and systemic change. This is a big ask for families who have a hard time seeing outside of the moment they are currently in.
These approaches complement the work I do using a two-generation whole family wellness approach, which recognizes that breaking the cycle of poverty requires supporting both children and caregivers simultaneously and intentionally to get the best outcomes.
By incorporating the Bridges Out of Poverty framework into two-generation work, professionals can better address economic instability, provide trauma-informed care, and design family-centered policies that create more lasting change.
The book and accompanying workshop is a valuable resource for anyone working with families in poverty, seeking to transform systems, and empowering families through holistic, relationship-based interventions.
For nearly 20 years, Courtney Thomas has worked in child and family programs throughout the Commonwealth of Virginia with an emphasis on engagement and building trusting relationships with families. She is a certified Bridges Out of Poverty trainer and a certified Getting Ahead in a Just-Gettin’-By World facilitator. Courtney often serves as a “bridge” between residents, professionals, and community organizations in the Greater Williamsburg area. She is a passionate advocate for the two-generation approach to empower families on their path towards self-efficacy, family prosperity, and overall well-being.
