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Welcome to:

Missouri’s Community Action Poverty Simulation

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Objective:

The object of this experience is to sensitize us to the day-to-day realities of life faced by our families with low-incomes and to motivate us to incorporate research-based strategies to create an atmosphere of trust and safety for our at-risk students.

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TODAY

You will experience a simulation of

what it is like to live in poverty...

the frustrations,

the decisions,

the challenges.

UNDERSTANDING

This is the FIRST step towards making a difference

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BEFORE WE BEGIN....

Family Members

PLEASE

Complete the Pre-Assessment in your folder
Please Do NOT open your plastic packet

Community Resource Volunteers

PLEASE

Begin reviewing your packet materials. We will be around to check on you and answer any questions shortly.

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For a family of four in 2016,

poverty was an income of�$24,300 or less.

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“Childhood poverty rates

are higher in the United States

than in any other industrialized country.” (21% of all children in the US!)

William H. Parrett & Kathleen M. Budge. Turning High-Poverty Schools Into

High-Performing Schools. Alexandria, Virginia: ASCD, 2011.

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Nearly ½ of people

living in extreme poverty

are 18 or younger

Jordan Elton cites recent UNICEF report in her online article titled. “10 Things You Didn’t Know about Extreme Poverty.”

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CHILDREN WHO LIVE EVERY DAY IMPACTED BY POVERTY

Source: New York State Community Action Association (Sept. 2015)

AREA	CHILDREN IN POVERTY AREA (under age 18)	PERCENTAGE PF CHILDREN RECEIVING FREE/REDUCED LUNCH
Dutchess	11.7%	33%
Orange	21.3%	40%
Putnam	5.1%	16%
Rockland	25.6%	34%
Sullivan	24.3%	57%
Ulster	14.6%	41%
Westchester	13%	39%
NYS	22.6%	56%

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The number of children living in poverty or borderline poverty in the following counties is currently (2016):��Dutchess 7,196�Orange 21,007�Putnam 1,138�Rockland 22,457�Sullivan 3,978�Ulster 4,967�Westchester 28,735��How many of these children are from your district(s)?

Source: NYS Community Action Association (2016)

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County	City	Number of Children in Poverty Within the City	Percentage of Total County Population of Children in Poverty
Dutchess	Poughkeepsie	2,660	40.3%
Orange	Middletown	2,048	29.6%
Orange	Newburgh	4,125	44.7%
Ulster	Kingston	1,884	37%
Westchester	Mount Vernon	3,489	22.5%
Westchester	New Rochelle	4,608	8.8%
Westchester	Peekskill	2,091	15.9%
Westchester	White Plains	2,166	19%
Westchester	Yonkers	11,546	26.2%

URBAN POVERY’S IMPACT ON CHILDREN IN LOWER HUDSON

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Kids living in rural areas are twice as likely to be denied a fair chance at survival, growth and development.

Jordan Elton cites recent UNICEF report in her online article titled. “10 ThIngs You Didn’t Know about Extreme Poverty.”

POVERTY IS NOT “JUST” AN INNER CITY PROBLEM

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“ You never really know a man until you understand things from his point of view, until you climb into his skin and walk around in it.”

Lee, Harper. To Kill a Mockingbird. J.B. Lippincott & Co., 1960

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How Does this Poverty Simulation Work?

You and your family will be facing many challenges. Your card inside the packet will explain your situation (DON’T OPEN IT YET!).
Resource Volunteers are located at tables around the perimeter of the room. You will need to use them for the services they offer.
When the simulation begins, the families must secure food, shelter, & other basic necessities during the course of four, 15 minute “weeks.”
At the end, time for a follow-up “Reflection” will take place.

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Learn about the shoes you will be walking in:

Your packet includes:

description of your family & the members
your sources of income, bills, possessions
ID documents
items needed to survive

Please open & peruse your packets now. At the end of 10 minutes, stop when you hear the chime!

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PLEASE remember….

This is not a “game”

….it is a simulation.

The families in this room

are based on

real people’s lives.

47 Million US citizens live like this…

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Ground Rules:

DO NOT write on anything but BLANK PAPER!
Treat materials carefully – we reuse them
Return all materials to packet when done
One-hour months divided into (4) 15-minute weeks
When you hear the chime, �stop and return home �immediately

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Your Responsibilities

If you are a Family Member:

Be the role you were assigned

Act the age/position of your role
Really make an effort to THINK the way you would if you were really living in the situation described

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Transportation Passes:

One of the most CRITICAL considerations for low income families
Community resources are rarely within walking distance
Need bus fare, gas money or walking time

Just about everyone needs one (or more) for everything…Exceptions: School, visiting neighbors and facilitators

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YOUR VEHICLE HAS DIED!

As so often happens, cars break down. For this simulation, if your family owns a car, it is not able to be used.

EVERYONE NEEDS TO HAVE

A TRANSPORTATION PASS TO GET ANYWHERE!

EXCEPTIONS:

No passes are needed for students taking the bus to school or for participants visiting neighbors or facilitators.

MORE are needed for those lucky enough to have a job!

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Employment:

You will need 5 Transportation Passes to get to work for full time

Must be at the “Employer” for 7 minutes of the first 10 for full time

You will need 3 Transportation Passes to get to work for part time

Must be at the “Employer” for 4 minutes of the first 10 for part-time

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Terminology:

EBT = Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) card

Social Service Agency’s card for Food Stamps (referred to as SNAP in NYS) and cash benefits

TANF = Temporary Assistance for Needy Families

Federal Government’s program to provide cash benefits

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REMEMBER �YOUR GOALS

keep your home secure
feed your family regularly
keep your utilities on
make all loan payments
pay for miscellaneous expenses
meet unexpected situations

WORK? must report each week

CHILDREN? school or daycare

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Introducing…

Your Community Resources

There are many resources for you to access:

Pleases listen carefully so you don’t waste transportation passes going to the wrong place!
In Week 3, school will be closed for a holiday

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What Will We be Doing?

Remember, you can come and ask us questions at any time - You do not need a transportation pass to see us.
Sometime during the month, I may be visiting your family with a...

LUCK OF THE DRAW card

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QUESTIONS?

When I ring the chime,

your 1st week in poverty

will begin!

When you hear the chime again,

please STOP and return home immediately for the weekend. The Community Resource providers have been instructed to ignore you once the chime rings-even if you have just handed them a transportation pass!

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Before we share our experiences...

Both Families and Community Resource People

PLEASE:

put all the materials back in your packet
inventory the items- is anything missing?
put a Post-it on the packet indicating any missing items
use a tissue to erase your writing on charts

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You understand...you have taken the first step.

NOW TAKE THE NEXT STEP:

Make a difference in the life of a student living in poverty! There are many ways to do this...

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RESOURCES FOR STRATEGIES

Free Webinars:

Disrupting Poverty: Creating a Poverty Literate Culture for Student Success

William Parrett and Kathleen Budge

http://www.ascd.org/professional-development/webinars/disrupting-poverty-webinar.aspx

Grading Smarter, Not Harder: Assessment Strategies that Motivate Kids and Help them Learn�Myron Dueck

http://www.ascd.org/professional-development/webinars/grading-smarter-not-harder.aspx

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