Lead Author:  Annie J. Keeney
Submitted By: Amber Snyder, M.S., University of Pittsburgh

Poverty is demonstrably a determinant of heath. Approximately 43.1 million people in 2017 lived in poverty in the United States. Social workers consistently interface with individuals living in poverty, which requires a level of empathy and compassion. Learning strategies for adult learners can provide opportunity for skills-based learning to occur prior to interaction with clients in the field. Simulation training has been identified as an effective method for building empathy, knowledge, and skill.

The study examined the impact of a poverty simulation on public school teacher participants, who would learn about the impact of poverty. Social work students portrayed “standardized providers” in the simulation. The teachers and the BSW and MSW students all significantly increased scores in their self-rated understanding of poverty and attitudes toward poverty.

Read the full journal article in Journal of Social Work here.

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