Inspiring & Equipping Communities To End Poverty The mission of Move the Mountain Leadership Center (MTM) is to inspire and equip communities to end poverty. Move the Mountain Leadership Center provides transformational leadership and planning programs to align leaders and their organizations to high impact strategies that can reduce and eventually end poverty. The Circles Campaign™ was initiated by Move the Mountain to provide transformational leaders a structure to engage the community in ending poverty. Join us on Facebook
 

Results for Getting Ahead

Getting Ahead is a class designed by Phil DeVol that teaches hidden rules of class, assesses current resources and helps to develop a plan to increase resources. Participants are known as investigators who examine poverty in their lives and in their community and provide their insights and ideas into the work of Bridges Steering Committees and Circles™ Campaign. Below is a measurement tool for Getting Ahead and results from sample communities.

South Bend Results

GOAL DEFINITION 0% 25% 50% 75% 100%
Support System is the extent to which a client has established a support system consisting of agency programs, family and/or friends to promote healthy, positive behaviors. Has no support from family, friends, or agency programs Has access to support from family/friends but chooses to isolate self or support from family/friends is insufficient or negative Has developed plan for increasing sober support system and availing self to receive support Has completed 50% of planned activities Has completed 100% of projected activities
Problem Solving is the extent to which the client demonstrates ability to troubleshoot, finds alternatives, understand impact and chooses a course of action to achieve the best possible results. Has made decision(s) which have had a negative impact on self or others without understanding the implications Has made decision(s) which have had a negative impact on self or others with an understanding of the implications Has made decision(s) which have had a negative impact on self or others with an understanding of implications and developed a plan to reach the best possible outcome given the present situation In 50% of major decisions, has demonstrated an awareness of how decisions can result in negative or positive outcomes In 50% of major decisions, has demonstrated an awareness of how decisions can result in negative or positive outcomes - in addition, client identifies alternative and chooses a course of action and acts based on findings
Increased Income is the extent to which the client has increased income through employment. Has not experienced any increase in income nor has developed a plan of action. Has not experienced any increase in income, but has developed a plan of action. Has completed 50% of plan activity without resulting in an increase fin income. Has completed 75% of plan without resulting in an increase in income. Has completed 100% of the plan with in increase in income.
Budgeting/Finance is the extent to which the client has resolved bad debts and/or followed a budget plan. Has made no progress toward payment of delinquent debt and/or establishing a budget Has obtained a copy of credit report & has a plan to contact creditors and/or has established a budget Has made arrangements with creditors and/or taken initial steps to follow budget for 1-3 months Has consistently paid off debts in accordance with creditors and/or has maintained budget for 3-6 months Has cleared all delinquent debts and/or has maintained budget for over 6 months
Education is the extent to which the client has attained set educational goals or
Employment is the extent to which the client has attained set employment goals
Has not completed any activity toward educational goals or
Not in labor force
Has gathered information, researched & submitted application or
Has submitted applications/resumes at a rate of 5 per week for at least 4 weeks, unless length of stay is shorter
Enrolled in educational program or
Working less than 20 hours a week
Completed 50% of projected activity or
Working 20-34 hours per week
Completed activity & earned diploma, certificate or degree or
Working 35+ hours per week

Sample Outcomes from Getting Ahead and Circles


SAMPLE OUTCOMES OF COMMUNITY BASED CIRCLES INITIATIVES    
Outcome Ames, IA  Sedalia, MO Kootasca, MN
n=151 n=60 n=25
Average earned income
per month at intake
$227 $632 $351
Current average earned
income per month
$757 $1,822 $1,150
Average increase in earned
income per month
$530 $1,190 $775

SAMPLE OUTCOMES OF GETTING AHEAD HEALTHCARE INITIATIVE --Mahoning and Trumbull Counties, Ohio n=312 

Increase in full-time employment from 31% to 76%
Enrolled in postsecondary education 58%
Enrolled in postsecondary education w/ Coordinator on staff 71%
Completed or still enrolled in postsecondary education 38%

SAMPLE OUTCOMES OF GETTING AHEAD -- St. Joseph Co, IA YWCA n=58
Movement towards goals 1st QTR post
Getting Ahead
2nd QTR post
Getting Ahead
Income 26% 84%
Education 36% 69%
Employment 32% 63%
Support Systems 13% 84%

SAMPLE OUTCOMES IN BUSINESS -- Cascade Engineering n=500
First 3 months First 6 months First 12 months
Percent of Welfare to Work (W2W) employees that loose their jobs 46% 63% 72%
Cascade Engineering retention of W2W BEFORE Bridges 29%
Cascade Engineering retention of W2W AFTER Bridges 69%

Sources: www.movethmountain.org; www.ahaprocess.com; Krodel, K., Career Pathways Evaluation. YSU 2009; Bradley, J., :Bridging the Culture of Business and Poverty". Stanford Social Innovation Review. Spring 2003.


Bridges Out of Poverty - Getting Ahead: View results here
Eliminating Racism, Empowering Women - YWCA: View letter here
Lambton, Ontario - Getting Ahead Graduates: View results here