SATURDAY, APRIL 23
You must be 18 to register.
Questions?
Contact Lexie
Piedmont CASA, Inc.
434-971-7515
advancement@pcasa.org
Coffee and snacks
will be provided
Most children served
by Piedmont CASA
are from households
surviving at or below
the poverty line
Nearly 1 in 5 American children are living in poverty. Two-thirds live in working families. Because of the challenges these youngsters face living in poverty, their health suffers as does their performance in school. Every year that we keep children in poverty costs our nation half a trillion dollars in lost productivity, poorer health, and increased crime.
---- Child Defense Fund
Poverty and Mistreatment of Children Go Hand In Hand.
---- The National Bureau of Economic Research
Could you survive a month in poverty?
Twenty-six percent (26%) of the men, women, and children who live in Charlottesville - live below the poverty line. Many more have incomes so low, they qualify for Food Stamps and Medicaid. For those of us who have enough, it is difficult to truly understand the stress families living in poverty experience every day.
That is why we are inviting you to walk a mile in their shoes.
As a participant in The Community Action Poverty Simulation - or CAPS - you will assume the role of a low-income family member living on a limited budget. You may be a mom with two kids, or a dad who's just been laid off. You could be disabled, or a senior citizen on social security. Whatever your circumstances, your goal will be to keep a roof over your head and pay your bills during the course of four 15-minute "weeks".
While trying to meet your basic needs, you will interact with human service agencies, schools, employers, pawn shops, payday lenders, and the health care system.
Here's what participants have to say:
"This poverty simulation dramatically demonstrates how much time and energy many families have to give just to survive day to day."
"It quickly dispels the myth that 'people would do fine if they would only go out and get a job'."
Although play money is used, CAPS is not a game.
It is a simulation that will enable you to look at poverty from a variety of angles. We hope it will give you a broader awareness of the reality of poverty. It is a challenge for those who must struggle in it, and for our entire community.
Piedmont CASA recruits, screens, and trains volunteers to advocate in court for abused and neglected children in our community. Once inducted by the court and assigned to a case, these Court Appointed Special Advocates have the constant support and supervision of professional staff as they conduct independent investigations and compile written reports for the judges regarding the best interests of the children, always promoting safe, permanent, nurturing homes.
