How Understanding Executive Function can Improve Public ...nawrs.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/3B-Joffe-Psychology-Poverty.pdfSep 03, 2015 · The Psychology of Poverty How Understanding

The Psychology of Poverty How Understanding Executive Function can Improve Public Assistance Programs

NAWRS Workshop -- Atlanta August 2015

What is Executive Function? Air Traffic Controller of the Brain

• The frontal lobe of the brain organizes other brain functions. It acts as the “executive” to the overall brain functioning.

• Executive function impacts people’s ability to succeed in the workforce, in educational attainment and in personal relationships.

www.pcghumanservices.com | NAWRS 2015 2

www.pcghumanservices.com | NAWRS 2015

3

Components of Executive Function

Attention Shifting/Flexibility

“capacity to nimbly switch gears and adjust to changed demands, priorities or perspectives.”

Working Memory “capacity to hold and manipulate information in our heads over short periods of time”

Inhibitory Control the ability to “filter our thoughts and impulses so we can resist temptations, distractions and habits and to pause and think before we act”

*National Scientific Council on the Developing Child, National Forum on Early Childhood Policy and Programs – Building the Brain’s “Air Traffic Control” System: How Early Experiences Shape the Development of Executive Function”

Understanding Executive Skills We all have strengths and weaknesses


Response Inhibition Organization

Working Memory Time Management

Emotional Control Goal-Direct Persistence

Task Initiation Flexibility

Sustained Attention Metacognition

Planning/Prioritization Stress Tolerance

From Dick Guare (May 2014)

Crisis, stress impact executive skills…

… And sometimes you just don’t have enough bandwidth



What does impacted ES look like in our programs?


7

Knowing all this, how do we improve program outcomes?

Improvement Example #1 Implementing Coaching Techniques

Coaching Techniques Showing Promise

Participants with Job Club instructors who used coaching techniques were 20% more likely to become employed.

Crittenton Women’s Union has seen an increase in wages from $5.36/hour to $20.18/hour for participants in their Mobility Mentoring program.

Ramsey County, MN is implementing coaching training for all case managers.



10

How does Coaching improve programs?

PCG’s Human Services Coaching Framework™:

• Provides validity, structure and terminology to what your best people probably already do and provides a guide so others can do the same

• Develops an additional skill set in staff’s “tool box”

• Builds upon established techniques in social work and borrows best practices from early childhood educations

• Provides a mindset and framework to think about the work we do and our role in social services


11

PCG’s Human Services Coaching Framework™ As adapted for Ramsey County trainings


Motivational Interviewing and Coaching

13

These two similar yet different techniques can be used together to compliment one another


Improvement Example #2 Focusing on the Environment, Processes and Communication


Focusing on customer environment, processes and communication

Photo of RI DHS office design by (Add)ventures from the In-Office Observation Report & Concept Test Plan, July 3, 2014

Improvement Example #3 Redesigned Job Search


Live Well San Diego Coaching + Peer Support + Exercise

Establish Peer Networks and Cohorts

© Copyright Public Consulting Group, Inc. 2014


Improvement Example #4 Behavioral Economics Concepts


Behavioral Economics A Classic Nudge

401K opt ins versus opt outs


Nudges

Motivating voter turnout by invoking the self, Christopher J. Bryan, Gregory M. Walton, Todd Rogers, and Carol S. Dweck, June 2011

Being a “voter” versus “voting” Increased turnout 10.9 percentage points.

Nudges in Our Work

Using texting or phone options to say… • 80% of WORKs clients have already submitted their hours for last month. Have

you submitted yours?

• Sign up for this week’s job fair by texting “Yes” in reply.

Ask questions like… • How do you plan to turn in your participation hours this month?

• What will you do if your child is sick and must stay home from school on the day of your interview?


Discussion

Examine TANF Flow: Where Could EF Fit?



Practical Application of EF Informed DEsign



Contact us


Deborah Joffe

Senior Consultant

[email protected]

617-426-2026

mailto:[email protected]

www.publicconsultinggroup.com

Documents

How Understanding Executive Function can Improve Public ...nawrs.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/3B-Joffe-Psychology-Poverty.pdfSep 03, 2015 · The Psychology of Poverty How Understanding