13 / 38
October 2015
Policy&Practice
13
nter-generational poverty is
a serious challenge for the
ongoing health and well-being
of our country, and the entire
social service sector is searching for
answers. How do we break this cycle
of poverty that limits the potential
of children and keeps families strug-
gling to financially survive, day to
day? Behavioral economics, neuro-
science, developmental psychology,
and molecular biology together o er
an interesting perspective and shed
light on new skills our social service
workforce needs to address inter-
generational poverty. Biologically we
are wired to survive. The brain and
the body’s biological systems adapt to
experiences, good or bad. When expe-
riences are safe, reliable, positive, and
supportive, the brain responds accord-
ingly and is freed up to use its full
capacity. Likewise, when experiences
are unsafe or threatening—whether
physically or emotionally—the brain
responds by focusing its energy and
resources on survival.
Illustration by Chris Campbell
The brain develops from the bottom
up, starting with the most primitive
functioning—breathing, heart rate,
body temperature—then moving up to
more sophisticated parts of the brain
that are responsible for executive
functioning—controlling impulses,
planning, considering options, and
adapting to changing circumstances.
The experience of stress is an impor-
tant component of development. A
child’s developing ability to self-regu-
late and modulate his or her response
to stress becomes a critical component
to long-term development, learning,
growth, and resiliency.
The foundation for optimal brain
development occurs in the child’s
earliest experiences with primary care-
givers. Development occurs through
the predictable rhythm of the caregiver
response: presence of a stressor, infant
is aroused; infant cues caregiver; the
attuned, reliable, nurturing caregiver
responds; arousal decreases. Through
these “serve and return” exchanges a
healthy, balanced system is established
Breaking
a Mindset
of Scarcity
Introducing Long-TermGoal Setting and
Financial Well-Being into Our Systems
By Emily Campbell, Carrie Finkbiner, and Kate Griffin
I