How It Works
The science is clear: The condition of poverty is caused directly by negative exposures to the social determinants of health. These social determinants are the conditions in which people live, work and grow, and they play a profound role in an individual’s physical, emotional and financial health.
As with any other condition, such as a medical or mental health condition, treatment for the condition of poverty requires interventions based on science and data. We must ensure that individuals and families have access to viable programs and support systems that address their needs and goals. This is where hope meets opportunity.
Shifting the paradigm
TTS is dedicated to transforming the nation’s understanding of poverty from a stigmatized and shameful character flaw, to a treatable, environmentally-based condition. Working to shift the social and cultural paradigm around poverty, TTS is framing the issue around how negative exposures and conditions in which people are born, live, learn, work, play, worship and age—the social determinants of health—lead to myriad issues and a diagnosis of poverty.
Maximizing resources
TTS responds to the condition of poverty asking a simple question: What is your dream? We then identify the areas of need to bring that dream to life. We then help coordinate care across existing, funded programs in health care, human services, government, faith-based and educational organizations—all resources already in place. By maximizing these existing funding streams and integrating uniform TTS protocols based upon best practices, we bridge the gap between hope and opportunity, improving the health and self-sufficiency of those struggling with poverty.
Measuring outcomes
TTS is a scalable, sustainable, multi-generational, measurable, generative business model. TTS curriculums define specific screening and treatment protocols, and our screening allows clients to self report on 18 life areas in an easy-to-understand, easy-to-score survey. With 18 specific areas of measurement that assess exposures, clients and practitioners can measure individual outcomes. Organizations can measure individual, program and multiple program outcomes.
Coordinating CARE
TTS trains staff working directly with clients, so together we identify, prioritize and ensure access to all available services across the community. For example, a client struggling with money management can be enrolled in free financial literacy courses at a local bank; a client who needs assistance with food is connected with local food banks, soup kitchens, government food-support programs, and/or a cooperative community garden. With TTS, each client’s CARE (Coordinating All Resources Effectively) Plan integrates opportunities for evidence-based practices of peer mentoring, financial literacy and volunteerism, all proven to improve health and economic self-sufficiency.
Training a community
TTS expands into local communities by working with a community-based lead agency or agencies that build the program from the ground up. Using a train-the-trainer model, TTS community champions integrate TTS training and best practices to CARE (Coordinating All Resources Effectively) team members. The train-the-trainer approach promotes community-led transformational change with consistency in practice and uniform analytics. This improves access to and accountability of all available programs.
Tracking success
TTS is based on a continuous quality improvement model with independent evaluation partners that employ social determinant and CMS-approved behavioral health and substance abuse screenings. This protocol creates an integrated, billable and clinically accurate screening process; as well as a care-management platform that identifies all resources, tracks referral completions and data across multiple providers.
TTS is gaining national attention & momentum.
Today, pilots are being led in Michigan, Tennessee, Kansas, Louisiana, Wisconsin and Hawaii.
