Bridges Out of Poverty: Strategies for Professionals and Communities (Paperback)

~ (Author), Philip Devol (Author), Terie Dreussi Smith (Author) "When children grow up together in poverty, a bond is formed that is stronger than most anything..." (more)
Key Phrases: situational poverty, generational poverty, casual register, New York, Grandma Sheila, Financial Emotional Mental Spiritual Physical Support (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

Bridges Out of Poverty takes the concepts of hidden rules of economic class and uses them to educate social workers, employers and community organizations about hte unique and sometimes hidden obstacles that individuals from poverty face.

Strategies help improve services for clients, raise retention rates for new hires from poverty, and increase understanding of the differences in economic cultures and how those differences affect opportunities for success.

About the Author

Author biography: Dr. Ruby Payne, speaker, author and CEO of aha! Process, a training/publishing company, speaks to tens of thousands of professionals each year about poverty and economic diversity. Payne is best known for her work on "hidden rules of economic class" and their affect on learning and success. Phil DeVol, consultant and trainer for communities and business, brings his considerable experience in substance abuse treatment and with Life Skills Training Provider Network and Ohio's first alternative school for recovering youth. Terie Dreussi Smith, an educator and adjunct faculty member of several colleges in Ohio, also provides training and consultation for agencies and schools.

Product Details

• Paperback: 284 pages
• Publisher: Aha Process Inc; 2nd edition (October 10, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0964743795
• ISBN-13: 978-0964743793
• Product Dimensions: 9.9 x 7 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #293,201 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

28 of 29 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Powerful Mentoring Model, September 26, 2004

By	Alice M. Cleary (Canton, Ohio USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I was fortunate to attend a workshop one year ago which included this book and two of the three authors, DeVol and Dreussi-Smith. They highlighted the content of the book, to an audience of counselors, social workers, case managers, residential treatment staff for chemical dependency recovery, and prevention specialists. This book spotlights the culture of poverty, and the distinct differences in the way in which the poor, the middle class and the wealthy view the world from their unique vantage points. I was enlightened in learning to understand the frames of references of persons without savings, present time- orientation, and the differences in the way each class views, uses and perfects the resources of each cultural status.
The concept of "bridging" and mentoring is strongly presented, and many individual, organizational and systemic suggestions are made by the authors. This is an excellent resource for people who wish to or need to broaden their awareness of the "hidden rules" of each economic class, and how to provide more effective assistance to those persons wishing to improve their economic and educational status, without judgment. I highly recommend this book.

15 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars How could this be the first review, March 20, 2004

By	Patrick Jones "PJ" (Richfield, MN USA) - See all my reviews

Yes, there are some flaws, but this is an amazing, important work that should be read, then embraced by all of us who do the people's work. As a librarian and libraries are the most middle class of institutions, I see so clearly what we do (and don't do) to build bridges out of poverty. Essential reading.

0 of 53 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Bridges Out of Poverty: Strategies for Professionals, September 19, 2005

By	Teresa L. Williamson - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I have not had a chance to read the material yet.