Council and staff here will receive training on working with people in poverty through Wellington Dufferin Guelph Public Health.
The health unit is bringing it’s Bridges out of Poverty initiative to Minto. The initiative is modeled on a US program and has been successfully launched by public health in Guelph. In a report to council at the Sept. 17 meeting, CAO Bill White explained the initiative has two phases, the Getting Ahead Program and Bridges out of Poverty.
The Getting Ahead Program (for those living in poverty) will run from Nov. 18 to
Dec. 5 in Palmerston at the Lion’s Club Den.
Bridges out of Poverty training is for professionals and communities interested in being trained on the “hidden rules of economic class,” introducing the framework for understanding poverty and reviewing skills and policies.
“Poverty is an issue in the Town of Minto,” states White in his report, explaining the long-term goal is to have enough graduates from both programs to start a “Circles” group which involves working together to support those in poverty in reaching their career/life goals and moving out of poverty permanently.
Bridges out of Poverty training is required for residents or professionals who want to become “allies” to support graduates of Getting Ahead in Circles. Public Health and the Wellington County Learning Centre are offering this training for $40 Oct. 16 in the Palmerston Lion’s Club den.
Karen Armstrong who is spearheading the program for the health unit has offered to provide council and department heads with three hours of training, the minimum requirement for Ally training, tailored to municipalities at no cost.
She notes: “It will provide an opportunity to view municipal work through the lens of poverty.”
White stated he felt the training would be useful.
“The demographics of Minto and its employment and income structure suggest the town must be aware of poverty in the community. While it is the role of other agencies to directly address the needs of people experiencing poverty, Council and staff need to know what services are out there, how to direct people in a sensitive way to the help they need, and techniques to be more empathetic and intuitive when providing services to people who may be in poverty.”
White noted the primary cost of the initiative is being borne by the health unit and there is no cost to the municipality for the training.
Council approved a recommendation that ally training be arranged for councilors and staff in October.
Program information
Anyone interested in the Getting Ahead program may contact Terri Townsley at Ontario Works 1-800-265-7294 ext. 3660 or email territ@wellington.ca.
