Menu
Log in
Forgot password
Human Services Network of Colorado

Moving Clients from Dependence to Self-Sufficiency

  • 09/19/2013
  • 9:00 AM - 3:00 PM
  • Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Denver, 2017 W. 9th Avenue, Denver 80204
  • 5
  • 55 registrants

Registration

  • Bring a resident leader—or the equivalent for your program. Combined registration for a member and one resident leader is the same as the member registration fee.
  • Bring a resident leader—or the equivalent for your program. Combined registration for the registrant and one resident leader is the same as the regular registration fee.
  • Not a member? Join with rates starting at $45, at http://thenetwork-co.org/membership
Registration is closed
Accompanying the recent economic downturn, more families have fallen into poverty than at any other time in recent history. They have become disconnected from community life; from meaningful participation and contribution. This costs all of us dearly; our communities need everyone to be a productive member if they are to truly thrive. Those on the edge of community life are often labeled (and then dismissed) as being homeless, disabled, incarcerated, chronically ill, insane, ex-cons, youth-at-risk, or poor. The social integration of these disconnected people matters for three critical reasons.
  • Exclusion costs the labeled person the opportunity to be a productive community member;
  • This deprives the community of whatever contributions they might offer; and 
  • Public resources that could be better used to support people in contributing as citizens and community members are tied up in keeping people on the edge of the community—barely surviving, unproductive and dependent.
We can improve our response to these marginalized people by offering them a bridge to productive community membership. The current programs-FOR-clients model provides specific kinds of necessary assistance, but often doesn’t extend such a bridge. Service providers can successfully extend this model to create one which emphasizes community-building WITH clients. This workshop will provide a proven approach for making a shift to more effective services and community building, by involving a broad circle of the community, working in partnership, create a better future for all.

Attendees will learn practical ways to create a positive path into community for a family or an individual, a path which can lead to meaning, friends, new resources and income. Participants will leave with immediately useful tools for action as a direct service provider, supervisor, administrator, or family member.
  • Where do we start? How do we assess, with the family, the needs and opportunities for new relationships and connections? 
  • What do we do? Making a focused, family-centered plan for moving from being labeled as a consumer, dependent on community resources, to action as a productive member of society.
  • What services and supports will help? Navigation will access services, supports, assets of each family.
  • What builds connections and new relationships? Teach families community-connection methods to build a path of relationships into their communities. 
  • How does our agency need to change? How can we can offer both access to services AND connection to our community with our limited resources.
  • What policy change will help? What policies will help families move from dependency and isolation to productive community membership?

Eligible for 5 CEUs


“We may have all arrived on different ships, but we are in the same boat now.” Dr. Martin Luther King

Presenter Mike Green is affiliated with the Asset Based Community Development (ABCD) Institute. He offers training and consultation to organizations to engage local communities as partners for collective action. Mike is the co-author of “When People Care Enough To Act: ABCD In Action” about implementing asset-based community development to create successful community partnerships. He is a licensed clinical social worker (MSW) and family therapist. He has worked in human services, public welfare, mental health and schools. See an example of Mike's workshops here. The Asset-Based Community Development (ABCD) Institute is based at Northwestern University, and founded by Jody Kretzmann and John McKnight, ­authors of "Building Communities from the Inside Out".


Future Courses Don't forget, our training schedule is always available online. No need to wait for our individual class announcements! 


Sponsored by the Human Services Network of Colorado with support from The Denver Foundation's Strengthening Neighborhoods Program:


Human Services Network of Colorado
PO Box 24788 · Denver, CO 80224

p: 720-252-3628
e: info@thenetwork-co.org

© 2025 Human Services Network of Colorado

Powered by Wild Apricot Membership Software