Bridges Out of Poverty 

Reducing the social costs of poverty, strengthening the workforce, and building a more prosperous and sustainable community are goals on which most communities agree. The Bridges Out of Poverty community support program at KACS provides a family of concepts, workshops, and products to help employers, community organizations, social service agencies, and individuals address and reduce poverty in a comprehensive way. Bridges brings people from all sectors and economic classes together to improve job retention rates, build resources,  improve outcomes, and support those who are moving out of poverty.
​The Bridges Out of Poverty community support program helps communities:
  • Move individuals from poverty to self-sufficiency
  • Reduce social costs related to crime, poor health, and welfare
  • Strengthen educational attainment and job skills
  • Enhance economic development
  • Improve on-the-job productivity
  • Revitalize neighborhoods
  • Build sustainable communities where everyone can live well
The Southern Chester County Opportunity Network (SCCON) is a local, community-wide initiative, made up of a growing group of people who want to see poverty addressed in comprehensive, collaborative ways that meets regularly. 
SCCON's work is based on the Bridges Out of Poverty model - a framework for understanding poverty through the lens of economic class and addressing it in a comprehensive way. It asks all sectors of the community - business, nonprofit, education, local governments, etc. - to come to the table and engages those in poverty as problem solvers.
​Bridges is a set of concepts, strategies and tools that have been used in communities across the country to tackle the roots of poverty, from the individual to the systemic levels. It is based on a 2001 book published by Dr. Ruby K. Payne, Philip DeVol, & Terie Dreussi Smith based on their experience in the fields of education and social services, and has now grown into a continuously evolving community of practice.
If you are interested in joining SCCON or being a member of a discovery team within SCCON please contact Leah M. Reynolds, M.S.P.L. at leah@kacsonline.net. 

Getting Ahead Classes 

Getting Ahead is a 16-session curriculum that helps individuals in poverty build their resources for a more prosperous life for themselves, their families, and their communities. Currently, we have 75 people that have completed our Getting Ahead classes. By the Spring of 2020 our goals is to have a total of 150 people that have improved their circumstances with the help of this program. We offer the Getting Ahead evening classes in both English and Spanish at The Resource Center. For more information please email us at info@kacsonline.net.

Staying Ahead

 Staying Ahead is a program at KACS for people that have successfully completed our Getting Ahead classes. Staying Ahead offers key resources to obtain and maintain self-sufficiency.
  • Provides educational workshops and online resources to stay motivated.
  • Hosts networking opportunities and recognition events for participants and graduates.
  • Provides graduates the opportunity to become mentors for others in the program, thereby strengthening the community as a whole.
  • Provides a safe environment of encouragement, mentorship and trust.​

Coming Soon

NEW Financial Literacy program for low-income adults & families in both English and Spanish.