WHAT DOES IT TAKE TO SURVIVE IN Wealth Middle Class Poverty This exercise will help you to understand the differences between the 3 social classes and to visualize how each class lives. As you answer the questions, think how you would feel if you were put into those environments and asked to function like everyone else in that social class? Would you feel comfortable? Could you do it without help? Adapted from Bridges Out of Poverty by Ruby Payne PhD, Phillip E. DeVol and Terie Dreussi Smith aha! Process, Inc. - A Ruby Payne Company-800-424-9484, 281-426-5300 - www.ahaprocess.com
Could You Survive in Wealth? Put a check by each item you know how to do. 1. I can read a menu in French, English and another language. 2. I have several favorite restaurants in different countries of the world. 3. During the holidays, I know how to hire a decorator to identify the appropriate themes and items with which to decorate the house. 4. I know who my preferred financial advisor, legal service, designer, domestic-employment service and hair stylists are. 5. I have at least 2 residences that are staffed and maintained. 6. I know how to ensure confidentiality and loyalty from my domestic staff. 7. I have at least 2 or 3 screens that keep people who I do not wish to see away from me. 8. I fly in my own plane or the company plane. 9. I know how to enroll my children in the preferred private schools. 10. I know how to host the parties that key people attend. 11. I am on the boards of at least 2 charities. 12. I know the hidden rules of the Junior League. 13. I support or buy the work of a particular artist. 14. I know how to read a corporate financial statement and analyze my own financial statements. Adapted from Bridges Out of Poverty by Ruby Payne PhD, Phillip E. DeVol and Terie Dreussi Smith aha! Process, Inc. - A Ruby Payne Company-800-424-9484, 281-426-5300 - www.ahaprocess.com
Could You Survive in Middle Class? Put a check by each item you know how to do. 1. I know how to get my children into Little League, piano lessons, soccer, etc. 2. I know how to set a table properly. 3. I know which stores are the most likely to carry the clothing brands my family wears. 4. My children know the best name brands in clothing. 5. I know how to order in a nice restaurant. 6. I know how to use a credit card, checking account and savings Account. 7. I undestand an annuity or 401 K. 8. I understand term life insurance, disability insurance, 20/80 medical insurance policys, house insurance. 9. I talk to my children about going to college. 10. I know how to get one of the best interest rates on my new car loan. 11. I understand the difference among principal, interest and escrow statemetns on my house payment. 12. I know how to get a library card. 13. I know how to use most of the tools in the garage. 14. I repair items in my house almost immediately when they break or I know a repair services and call it. 15. I know how to help my children with their homework. Adapted from Bridges Out of Poverty by Ruby Payne PhD, Phillip E. DeVol and Terie Dreussi Smith aha! Process, Inc. - A Ruby Payne Company-800-424-9484, 281-426-5300 - www.ahaprocess.com
Could You Survive in Poverty? Put a check by each item you know how to do. 1. I know which churches and sections of town have the best rummage sales? 2. I know which rummage sales have bag sales and when. 3. I know which grocery stores garbage bins can be accessed for thrown-away food. 4. I know how to get someone out of jail. 5. I know how to physically fight and defend myself. 6. I know to how get a gun, even if I have a police record. 7. I know how to keep my clothes from being stolen at the Laundromat. 8. I know what problems to look for in a used car. 9. I know how to live without a checking account, credit card or debit card. 10. I know how to live without electricity and a phone. 11. I know how to use a knife as scissors. 12. I can entertain a group of friends with my personality and my stories. 13. I know what to do when I don t have money to pay the bills. 14. I know how to move in half a day. 15. I know how to get and use food stamps or an electronic card for benefits. 16. I know where the free medical clinics are. Adapted from Bridges Out of Poverty by Ruby Payne PhD, Phillip E. DeVol and Terie Dreussi Smith aha! Process, Inc. - A Ruby Payne Company-800-424-9484, 281-426-5300 - www.ahaprocess.com
17. I am very good at trading and bartering. 18. I can get by without a car. Adapted from Bridges Out of Poverty by Ruby Payne PhD, Phillip E. DeVol and Terie Dreussi Smith aha! Process, Inc. - A Ruby Payne Company-800-424-9484, 281-426-5300 - www.ahaprocess.com
Hidden Rules Among Classes POVERTY MIDDLE CLASS WEALTH POSSESSIONS People. Things. -of -a-kind objects, legacies, pedigrees. MONEY To be used, spent. To be managed. To be conserved, invested. PERSONALITY Is for entertainment. Sense of humor is highly valued. Is for acquisition and stability. Achievement is highly valued. Is for connections. Financial, political, social connections are highly valued. SOCIAL EMPHASIS Social inclusion of people he/she likes. Emphasis is on self-governance and self-sufficiency. Emphasis is on social exclusion. FOOD Key question: Did you have enough? Quantity important. Key question: Did you like it? Quality Important. Key question: Was it presented well? Presentation important. CLOTHING Clothing valued for individual style and expression of personality. Clothing valued for its quality and acceptance into norm of middle class. Label important. Clothing valued for its artistic sense and expression. Designer important. TIME Present most important. Decisions made for moment based on feelings or survival. Future most important. Decisions made against future ramifications; Traditions and history, most important. Decisions mode partially on basis of tradition and decorum. EDUCATION Valued and revered as abstract but not as reality. Crucial for climbing success ladder and making money. Necessary tradition for making and maintaining connections. DESTINY Believes in fate. Cannot do much to mitigate chance. Believes in choice. Can change future with good choices now. Noblesse oblige. LANGUAGE Casual register. Language is about survival. Formal register. Language is about negotiation. Formal register. Language is about networking. FAMILY STRUCTURE Tends to be matriarchal. Tends to be patriarchal. Depends on who has money. WORLD VIEW Sees world in terms of local setting Sees world in terms of notional setting. Sees world in terms of international view. LOVE Love and acceptance conditional based upon whether individual is liked. Love and acceptance conditional and based largely upon achievement. Love and acceptance conditional and related to social standing and connections.
DRIVING FORCES Survival, relationships, entertainment. Work, achievement. Financial, political, social connections. HUMOR About people and sex. About situations. About social faux pas. Source: Ruby Payne, A Framework for Understanding Poverty. Highlands, TX: aha! Process, Inc., 1996, pp. 42 43 aha! Process, Inc. A Rub Payne Company - 800-424-9484, 281-426-5300
These get updated periodically. Refer to website below for accurate up to date info. http://www.livingwage.geog.psu.edu/places/0807731660 Poverty in America Living Wage Calculator Home About Search Living Wage Calculation for Grand Junction city, Mesa County, Colorado The living wage shown is the hourly rate that an individual must earn to support their family, if they are the sole provider and are working full-time (2080 hours per year). The state minimum wage is the same for all individuals, regardless of how many dependents they may have. The poverty rate is typically quoted as gross annual income. We have converted it to an hourly wage for the sake of comparison. Wages that are less than the living wage are shown in red. For other family configurations that aren't shown here, we've provided a spreadsheet to help with adapting the results below. Hourly Wages Adult Adult, Child Adults Adults, Child Adults, Children Living Wage $8.86 $19.29 $13.32 $16.59 $18.00 Poverty Wage $5.21 $7.00 $7.00 $8.80 $10.60 Minimum Wage $7.25 $7.25 $7.25 $7.25 $7.25 Typical Expenses These figures show the individual expenses that went into the living wage estimate. Their values vary by family size, composition, and the current location.
Monthly Expenses Adult Adult, Child Adults Adults, Child Adults, Children Food Child Care Medical Housing Transportation Other $232 $378 $448 $594 $740 $0 $572 $0 $572 $1,012 $76 $151 $152 $227 $302 $506 $608 $506 $608 $608 $232 $397 $464 $629 $794 $188 $369 $376 $557 $738 Monthly After-Tax Income That's Required $1,234 $2,475 $1,946 $3,187 $4,194 Annual After-Tax Income That's Required Annual Taxes $14,808 $29,700 $23,352 $38,244 $50,333 $760 $1,478 $1,259 $1,907 $2,437 Annual Before Tax Income That's Required $15,568 $31,178 $24,611 $40,151 $52,770 Typical Hourly Wages These are the typical hourly rates for various professions in this location. Wages that are below the living wage for one adult supporting one child are marked in red. Occupational Area Typical Hourly Wage Management $41.45
Occupational Area Typical Hourly Wage Business and Financial Operations $28.81 Computer and Mathematical $32.87 Architecture and Engineering $33.52 Life, Physical and social Science $29.20 Community and Social Services $18.58 Legal $34.53 Education, Training and Library $20.86 Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports and Media $18.88 Healthcare Practitioner and Technical $30.07 Healthcare Support $18.58 Protective Service $19.36 Food Preparation and Serving Related $9.04 Building and Grounds Cleaning and maintenance $11.25 Personal care and Services $10.91 Sales and Related $16.13 Office and Administrative Support $14.47
Occupational Area Typical Hourly Wage Farming, Fishing and Forestry $11.66 Construction and Extraction $17.87 Installation, Maintenance and Repair $18.47 Production $14.82 Transportation and Material Moving $14.46 2012 Dr. Amy K. Glasmeier and The Pennsylvania State University Site created by West Arete Computing
Reflective Listening IMPORTANT: Never ask a question. It side tracks the person s thought process and can lead away from the real issue. Do not interject your life experience/expectations into the situation. This is THEIR life, not yours. Guide by allowing the person to process their own thoughts and utilizing the responses listed below. Once the person has made a decision, repeat what the person has decided to do TWICE before you act upon it. Once the person has confirmed their decision, then you can begin to act and ask questions to rectify the problem. Example: From what I understand, you have decided to stop smoking and you need our assistance in order to do that. Wait for a response. If it is an affirming response, then repeat, OK, then it is your decision at this time to stop smoking and you would like our help in order to do that. Once you get another affirmation, then you are ready to begin to ask questions and develop your plan of action. Taking ownership of the decision only occurs when the person is allowed to make their own choices. They are more likely to follow through if they are empowered to make their own choice. RESPONSES DO NOT PARROT WHAT IS BEING SAID! Affirm/Console: It must be frustrating/overwhelming to have done what you thought was the right thing and then have to. After all, you did do. Repeat: So what I heard was DEVELOPING A PLAN Once you are ready to develop your plan of action, affirm you are in agreement by asking: Am I following this right? Did I get that right? Are we on the same page Did I get it all? Is there any part of this that you do not understand/ worries you? Rephrase: What you are really saying is.. Summarize: So all things considered Emphasizing strengths and past successes: You said in the past that it helped you to. Amplified Reflecting: I hear that you are really making an effort to Metaphors: For you, the idea of quitting is like. Identifying discrepancies: (Use visual aids if speaking in person.) On one hand, I hear you say that you want to change, but on the other hand, I hear you say you are still. Listen for Change Talk Statements of the problem or change. Sometimes delivered w/o prompting. Reflect back on what you hear the patient saying about their thoughts on change. If possible, allow them to see it through the lens of their future story. Listen for phrases like below: o I want to o I can o There are good reasons for me to o I really need to o I started o I m going to