for families | communities | generations
As a national leader in poverty alleviation since 1986, Climb Wyoming’s comprehensive program isn’t just about getting a job – it’s about economic prosperity for families and prioritizing mental wellness and social capital, leading to communities that flourish.
When Climb’s founder, psychologist Dr. Ray Fleming Dinneen, built our unique job training program almost 40 years ago, she knew how crucial mental well-being is to employment success. Today, Climb continues to use a psychologically informed approach to foster lasting professional growth for moms in the program.
The predictable routine and schedule of each day during the Climb program is intentional so that moms know what to expect and can begin to heal the impacts that the toxic stress of poverty can have on how our brains function.
Climb’s intentional group model builds relationships and connections that strengthen the brain’s pre-frontal cortex, a command center that controls executive functioning skills like planning and decision-making. Participants also discuss and practice setting healthy boundaries in their interactions with co-workers.
For almost forty years, Climb has listened to and worked alongside moms to set them up for long-term success. Focusing on the intersection of employment + mental health, our best practices lead to transformational outcomes for the entire family. By helping moms thrive, children also gain stability and find success, breaking the generational cycle of poverty.
in all relationships, acting
with the highest integrity
of professional strengths, weaknesses, personal biases and how these impact our ability to interact effectively
that’s respectful, honest and direct
in all relationships
safeguarding all participants
and staff relations
addressed openly as an
essential component of growth
in all relationships, acting
with the highest integrity
of professional strengths, weaknesses, personal biases and how these impact our ability to interact effectively
that’s respectful, honest and direct
in all relationships
safeguarding all participants
and staff relations
addressed openly as an
essential component of growth
Effective training goes beyond just job skills. Climb’s programs include 6-8 weeks of industry-specific skills training in high-growth industries alongside 12 weeks of executive functioning and life skills development. Skills evolve with practice in real-world situations during and after the program.
While participants are preparing for their careers, they receive training in:
In a cohort-based program with:
“There were all those different women in there, on the same path as me, trying to do better for ourselves. It helps you shed a lot of that doubt.”
– Samm, Climb Wyoming Graduate
Meeting the specific needs of a local workforce with highly trained and motivated employees builds trust and mutually beneficial relationships – with employers who are excited to hire participants again and again.
Cultivating employer partnerships
looks like:
“The employees we’ve hired from Climb are not only well trained, but willing to dig in, do the job and also grow within their role. They make a real difference here.”
– Rachel Bailey, Executive Director, Food Bank of Wyoming
Living as a single parent can be isolating. Peer support, parenting skills, and mental health services are not easily available to families.
What does this support look like in practice?
Building social capital happens by:
“As a single mom you’ve got to do it all. I didn’t know you could actually trust other women, make friends and lean on someone else. But when I joined the program there was so much support and resources.”
– Kendall, Climb Wyoming Graduate
Matching participants to good jobs with career pathways that support economic mobility is the key to sustainability. This core program component is equal parts about the employer and the participant. How to ensure a great fit from the start, and a fit that sustains into the future?
Climb builds relationships with participants by:
Building relationships with employer partners requires learning about their:
“We ask a lot of questions of employers. We take what we know about the mom – and match strengths and needs together. So it’s a trust we’ve built. We can see how the opportunity and culture of this specific employer will help her build a bridge to make change.”
– Martha, Director of Programs, Climb Wyoming
Climb’s relationships with participants don’t end when they walk out the door. Ongoing support is essential to help with the loss of benefits due to increased wages. We set participants up for long-term success by investing in skill development – and lasting relationships.
Post-program follow-up and support looks like:
“I’m very persistent. When I want something that will benefit me or my family, I become very brave and ambitious.”
– Paola, Climb Wyoming Graduate
Read Paola’s Story
Since 1986, Climb has reached more than 25,000 children by serving moms from six locations across the state.
of graduates maintain employment two years post-program
of participants report significant improvement in mental health symptoms after completing the 12-week program
saved by the state of Wyoming from decreased public assistance1
reduced food stamp use
increased access to private health insurance
of participants report significant improvement in mental health symptoms after completing the 12-week program
saved by the state of Wyoming from decreased public assistance1
reduced food stamp use
increased access to private health insurance
1Wyoming Department of Family Services; Wyoming Department of Health-Medicaid; Wyoming LIHEAP FY2017 State Profile; U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.
All remaining data are collected through self-reported participant assessments
This content was developed with support from Ascend at the Aspen Institute, through Climb Wyoming’s partnership in the 2Gen Accelerator Community.
