Poverty Simulation

To register for our next Poverty Simulation, please click here!

Why a Simulation?

Poverty is a reality for many individuals and families. But unless you’ve experienced poverty, it’s difficult to truly understand. The Community Action Poverty Simulation (CAPS) bridges that gap from misconception to understanding. CAPS is an interactive immersion experience. It sensitizes community participants to the realities of poverty.

CAPS is not a game. It is based on real Community Action clients and their lives. CAPS exists to:

Promote Poverty Awareness
- During the simulation, role-play a month in poverty and experience low-income families’ lives.
Increase Understanding
- After the simulation, you will unpack your learning and brainstorm community change.
Inspire Local Change
- Together, you can be a voice to end poverty in your family, friends and community.
Transform Perspectives
- The goal of CAPS is to shift the paradigm about poverty away from being seen as a personal failure and toward the understanding of poverty as structural, a failure of society.

What Happens During a Simulation?

Meet Ann Aber. Like many people in poverty, Ann faces the daily struggle to keep a roof over her head and her children fed. Ann is just one person in the up to 26 families part of the Poverty Simulation.

During the Poverty Simulation, you will take on the identity of someone like Ann. You will work together with your family to live a month in poverty.

Your Simulated “community” is a large room. You and your neighbors’ “homes” are chairs in the center. The services you need like banks, schools and grocery stores are tables that line the perimeter of the room.

The room that your simulation is set up in represents your community. Chairs in the center of the room and tables along the wall represent family homes and community services and businesses, respectively.

Like real life, you need transportation to work or school. You need food on the table. You might struggle with a chronic illness. Throughout the month you will face the daily stresses and challenges a person in poverty faces.

Again, this simulation is not a game. It is is based on the stories of real life Community Action clients.

To register for our next Poverty Simulation, please click here!

TIC/TOC

Trauma-Informed Care/Talk Openly and Compassionately!

This training, led by our own Patti Demma, is personalized to the audience/participants. Here they will learn how to engage openly with staff and clients using the six guiding principles for a trauma-informed approach from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). After recognizing signs and symptoms of their own stress, participants will talk openly about frustrating situations and how to deal with them. The class then learns how responses can affect others in either an empowering or a traumatizing way. TIC/TOC will teach participants to view every situation with true compassion and empathy for others.

For more information contact: Pdemma@mvcaa.com

NEAR Science ACE Interface: Building Self-Healing Communities

The ACE Study provides scientific evidence that early adversity increases the risk of physical, mental, and behavioral health issues later in life. Research using this framework has shown that ACEs are the leading cause of health and social challenges in our nation. Building Self-Healing Communities focuses on empowering those most affected by ACEs to lead change in their own communities.

The ACE Study offers a common framework and language to improve public health now and for future generations. As pioneers of this science, Dr. Robert Anda and Laura Porter have developed educational resources, consultation services, and high-impact strategies for fostering ACE-informed innovations.

Amy Turner, Executive Director, and Patti Demma, Resilience Coordinator, are nationally certified ACE Interface trainers. This training is available for both staff and community members. We also offer Train-the-Trainer sessions for this curriculum.

Trauma 101

This class explores trauma and its effects on the body and mind. Participants will learn about toxic stress, re-traumatization, and how to prevent trauma from becoming toxic. The course covers protective factors and strategies to prevent vicarious trauma and burnout. Self-care is emphasized throughout.

Trauma 201

Building on Trauma 101, this course covers:

ACE Study Overview – including expanded ACEs and systemic trauma.
Polyvagal Theory – how the nervous system responds to stress and trauma.
Regulation & Co-Regulation – key strategies for emotional management and supportive relationships.
Neuroplasticity & Brain Plasticity – how the brain adapts and heals from trauma.
Protective Systems & Resilience – tools for emotional strength and recovery.

Become a Trauma-Informed Agency

MVCAA is a Trauma-Informed Agency. Work with Resilience Coordinator Patti Demma to implement trauma-informed practices in your organization.

A Trauma-Informed Agency recognizes the impact of trauma and integrates policies that promote safety, trust, and healing. Staff are trained to understand trauma’s effects, ensuring services support recovery while minimizing re-traumatization.

Additional Training Opportunities:

You can choose from our Trauma-Informed topics above to create a tailored class that meets the needs of your staff or clients!

The Community Action Partnership proudly offers a number of training opportunities on their website. For a complete list of the available webinars offered, please click here.

The New York State Community Action Agency offers free courses to Community Action staff, board members, and volunteers! Sign up for your free account here!