Healthy and sustainable communities with robust social networks are vital to supporting children and preventing potential out-of-home placements. Asset-based community development (ABCD) is a strengths-based approach that centers on identifying and mobilizing existing community resources, skills, and services on a local level to meet individual needs. ABCD benefits communities and the people who are a part of them by building capacity, helping community members realize their own strengths and potential, and forming partnerships to achieve long-term change.
De’Amon Harges is a faculty member of the Asset Based Community Development (ABCD) Institute, Creator of The Learning Tree, and layperson at Broadway UMC, Indianapolis, IN. De’Amon's role is to listen and discover gifts, passions, and dreams in communities and find ways to utilize them to build community, economy, and mutual “delight.” DeAmon describes his role as a Social Banker, utilizing intangible currencies that are cultivated by human assets and relationships to build abundant community.
Robert Francis is currently a Social Justice Consultant providing assistance to nonprofit organizations criminal justice policy reform; community development and coalition building. He is an Adjunct Professor at Fairfield University where he teaches Ethics to undergraduates, and he facilitates a nonprofit seminar for for-profit leaders transitioning to the nonprofit field at the University of Connecticut School of Public Policy. He is a board member of the Asset Based Community Development Institute at DePaul University.
Aquil Crooks was born and raised in Bridgeport, CT. He has a bachelor’s degree in sociology from Southern Connecticut State University. Aquil has a passion for helping his community. He is a youth & family advocate. He has been employed with the Regional Youth Adult Social Action Partnership (RYASAP) since 2014 in different capacities, he has worked as an outreach worker & mentor for the StreetSafe Bridgeport Program. In 2022, he was promoted to Program Supervisor. Aquil’s goal is to leave his community better than he found it. Aquil’s pride and joy is his two-month-old son Grey.
Patti Scott is the Founder and CEO of Neighbours Inc, a NJ based organization supporting people with Intellectual Disabilities to live a life rich in relationship, love, contribution, community and purpose; to experience the sense of place in their own homes in the communities where they choose to live; and the power that comes with responsibility for control of their own supports (with as much help as needed). Patti offers education, facilitation and consulting internationally, supporting other organizations and governments to provide individualized supports and re-energize their work in communities.
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NCAPPS is an initiative from the Administration for Community Living and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services to help States, Tribes, and Territories to implement person-centered practices. NCAPPS webinars are open to the public, and are geared toward human services administrators, providers, and people who use long-term services and supports. All NCAPPS webinars will be recorded and archived at https://ncapps.acl.gov.