Objective 1: Describe the challenges and obstacles for individuals in poverty to obtain services. The goal of this activity is to appreciate the challenges that living in severe financial distress presents. If you plan to work in the human service professions, many clients you will come into contact with will be from poorer, less fortunate backgrounds. Some will depend on you to seek appropriate services and care. In our society there are many prejudices against the poor and this often shapes service programs for them. To improve this system, it will be important for one going into the counseling and related helping professions to examine their own attitudes towards this population.

• Read Chapter 7 in your textbook by Mandell & Schram.
• Develop a 6-10 PowerPoint slide deck that describes the challenges and obstacles for individuals who are in poverty to obtain services in the helping field.
• To achieve maximum points for content and analysis, the following elements need to be thoroughly addressed:
  • Highlight the obstacles that living in poverty creates for people in need.
  • Include research of the most vulnerable populations that fall to poverty.
  • Highlight why there is often a prejudice against the poor.
  • Find at least one online article or organization that works towards effective solutions to lower the poverty rate and help those in need to seek services no matter what their income level.
  • Summarize and reflect upon your own attitudes towards the poor and how you will continue to improve them as you go into the helping profession.
  • Add animations and clip art/pictures to your power point (video links are optional).
• Ensure that your slide deck includes a title slide and Reference slide if supporting sources are used.

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