The Faith Government Partnership Through Open Table Extending and Sustaining Systems of Care Open Table is a 501c3 nonprofit training organization that licenses its poverty transformation model to faith communities and trains them to implement the model.
Faith and Government
A Faith-Government Poverty Transformation Movement A Co-investment model that ends the fragmented and splintered transactional investments that do not transform poverty. Open Table partners the funding, expertise and best practices of government with the intellectual and social capital of faith communities to extend and sustain the system of care from poverty-through systems-to community. From Transaction......To Transformation The Open Table, Inc., 2015
Government programs expire. Formal services are time-limited and often there is not a bridge to natural community supports. Faith communities are a natural bridge home. Government and faith communities do not have an integration model.
A new idea. Imagine faith communities as a bridge from formal systems to a system of never expiring natural supports Faith communities co-investing with government in the transition and transformation of people Working together, faith communities and government are already making this idea real
Open Table Unites Sectors Around the Shared Purpose of Poverty Transformation Faith Communities Government Business Universities Community Agencies All are welcome at the Table.
National Faith-Government Conferences The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) has invited Open Table to co-develop with SAMHSA three 2017 national training conferences through Open Table: 3 National Faith-Government Conferences: o Implementing Open Table to transform civil unrest o Implementing Open Table to reduce recidivism o Implementing Open Table to end homelessness
Faith-Government Partnerships Through Open Table Expanding Nationally Federal: SAMHSA State and County Florida Michigan Missouri New York Pennsylvania Texas Virginia Mayor Teresa Jacobs, Orange County, FL Watch here.
The Open Table Model
Open Table Theory of Change Open Table is about a faith community being in direct relationship with those in poverty. The relationships between Table members and the Sister and/or Brother is at the heart of the effectiveness of the model, and the ability of the Sister and/or Brother to establish long lasting relationships with their Table and with other members of the community is crucial to success.
The Open Table Theory of Change WORKS Ask Courtney. Click here.
Update 2: Open Table is becoming an Evidence Based Model Outcomes for the Open Table Model, 2015, Dr. John VanDenBerg, Ph.D. 95% of graduated Sisters and Brothers have long term relationships with at least one or more of my former Table members (after two years)
Outcomes: the Faith Community and and an evidence based model VanDenBerg, 2016, continued: 85%: better job and/or in a college or technical school 85%: have skills needed to get through problems and crises better than before 95%: currently self-supporting or confident that they will be self-supporting in the future.
Update 2: Open Table is Becoming an Evidence Based Model A Descriptive and Exploratory Study of Key Elements of the Open Table Model for Poverty Intervention, 2016, Dr. Michael Marks, Ph.D The primacy of relationship building, the cornerstone of Open Table s theory of change, was confirmed by study findings. Relationships between Brothers/Sisters and Table members were identified as important and intensive, with many Brothers/Sisters and Table members using descriptors such as family and friends, some noting lifelong in describing relationships.
The Open Table Model Similar to Wraparound concept. John VanDenBerg is an advisor to the Open Table board. Developed independently, but rests on Wraparound learning and evidence. Partner agencies refer candidates to Tables. Faith-government partnership provides long-term natural supports for people transitioning out of formal systems. Focus on real, enduring change in people s lives.
Congregation members make a year-long commitment: 52 one- hour meetings, social interaction and an after-plan for long-term relationships and support Theory of Change Relationship Shared Purpose A Safe Place Transformation not Transaction Local Determination and Ownership Accessing Congregation Resources Wealth of intellectual and social capital and community connections for goods and services Estimate - 100 adult members: 200+ years of higher education 2000+ years of job skills and experience 3000+ community connections
Harvesting Faith CommunityNetworks: Renewable Resources Tables successfully connect to resources like these: The Open Table, Inc., 2015 Accounting/Taxes Auto Mechanic Behavioral Health Career Mentoring Child Care Dentistry/Medicine Education Advice Housing/Furniture Jobs Law
Update 3: The Open Table Model Transforms Community Members She had been through more suffering than I could ever imagine... She lived out of a dumpster, prostituted, worked the whole time and saved money. She is now my friend because of our relationship on her Table. She calls me to pray, I call her to share things that happen in my life. She tells me, You need to have patience. I believe her because she has lived that truth. She is amazing and strong and I am blessed to call her friend. Only relationship could affect this kind of change in both of us. Table Volunteer, Arizona Hear from a Table. Watch video here.
Infrastructure and Technical Support
Update 5: A Training Infrastructure Powers Best Practices and Expansion Mission Leader/Mission Recruiter Training Manualized Readiness assessment and training Online, state of the art, learning management system guides launch process Navigator Team supports launch of each new congregation Online Portal resource center for Open Table congregations Open Table University (OTU) Online Table Member training with Resource Guides Online group communication platform for each Table Fidelity tools and licensing support the Open Table Model s best practices Skin in the game transoforms participants into owners
A Experts Power Best Practices and Expansion Experts in the Open Table Movement Cultural Competency Latino Culture Digital Marketing Human Services Mental Health Recidivism Research and Evaluation Substance Abuse Training Development and Technology Trauma
SAMHSA s National Training and Technical Assistance Center for Child, Youth, and Family Mental Health operated by To receive information on opportunities and resources, send an email to TANetwork@ssw.umaryland.edu with subscribe in the subject line.
Organic Growth Creates Sustainable Movements 21 States 500+ Tables 3000+ Table Members Homeless Working Poor Transitioning Young Adults Racial and Religious Reconciliation Veterans Re-Entry
Open Table is a Training Organization
Update 7: Local Determination Creates Movement Sustainability Local determination and ownership....how the community of business, non-profits, government and faith sectors form into a local movement, plan expansion, focus on populations, and how the effort and scope proceeds are all locally determined and managed as part of a community vision of their system of care under a shared purpose. Faith communities are the implementers of Open Table at the sister/brother level and make final determinations at the model level. Open Table Theory of Change
Join the Open Table Movement. theopentable.org