Why Agency Matters



When people think about prevention of mental health issues and substance misuse, they often think about counseling, treatment, or crisis intervention. These are all so important!

Research shows that things like personal agency and connection with others are a significant protective factor as well.

Agency is the belief that our actions matter and that we are not directed by fate - that we have potential to change our outcomes.

It is the ability to make choices, influence our circumstances, solve problems, and envision a future that is different from our present situation.

Our Future Story, if you will. (We talk a lot about this in our programs and it is a definite protective factor in wellness)

Individuals who have experienced poverty, trauma or social isolation often struggle with a sense of agency.

Reacting becomes a process used regularly rather than planning. We just never get ahead of it!

Decisions are driven by immediate survival needs rather than long-term goals. We cannot even think of tomorrow or six months from now if we don’t have today figured out. This can be so overwhelming it is paralyzing.

This condition is often described as living in the "tyranny of the moment"—where today's crisis consumes all available energy and attention.

It is a very hard place to get out of, and more people deal with it than we realize.

We often think that tyranny of the moment is only with people who live in poverty, but so many of us deal with it just because of our lifestyle in our culture. We feel the need to be constantly available and constantly going. We never take a moment to breathe, let alone rest.

When planning ahead and feelings of agency decrease, we become more vulnerable to isolation and feeling depressed. We also have increased risk of substance misuse. These things can lead to a cascade effect of reduction in in focus, isolating from family and friends and having difficulty with maintaining daily activity, such as employment or responsibilities. Other issues such as poor physical health can become an issue as well.

When agency (we now know this is also about feeling you have the "right" to personal choice) increases, the opposite occurs:

People begin to see hope and possibility

They develop confidence in their ability to navigate challenges

They build stronger relationships, make healthier decisions, and become more resilient in the face of adversity

This is why the Thrive 10:10 pathway is prevention.

Ruth's Boutique: Restoring Dignity and Choice

Agency begins with meeting basic needs in a way that preserves dignity.

This is so important!

Rather than simply receiving items in a bag, individuals enter an environment where they can shop for free and make choices for themselves and their families. The ability to choose books, toys, household items, and necessities restores a sense of control that is often lost during times of hardship. This is empowerment!

The message is simple but powerful: "Your preferences matter."

Getting Ahead: Becoming the Investigator of Your Own Life

Getting Ahead is perhaps the clearest example of agency building.

Participants investigate their strengths and resource issues in their own lives, develop future stories, and create plans for change.

Rather than being told what to do, participants become researchers of their own experiences and designers of their own futures.

The process transforms the question from "Why is this happening to me?" to "What can I do next?"

Staying Ahead: Maintaining Momentum

Agency is not built in a single class. It grows through practice, encouragement, and community.

Staying Ahead provides ongoing support as participants face new challenges and opportunities. Participants become mentors in the programs that they began in. They volunteer for Ruth’s Boutique and support those just beginning their journey of relationship through support. The program reinforces problem-solving skills, accountability, and peer support, helping individuals maintain forward movement even when setbacks occur.

Mental Health First Aid and Mental Wellness Classes: Equipping Communities to Respond

Agency is not only an individual trait; it also exists within communities. Communities need to know that they have more power than they realize.

Mental Health First Aid and Mental Wellness Classes equip community members to recognize signs of mental health and substance use challenges and respond effectively.

When communities know how to help, people are more likely to seek support early, reducing stigma and strengthening social connections. Stronger community networks create environments where agency can flourish.

Bridges Out of Poverty: Empowering Workplaces and More

Bridges Out of Poverty serves as a critical component of the Thrive 10:10 pathway by helping employers, organizations, churches, and communities better understand the realities of poverty and the challenges faced by those experiencing economic instability. By exploring the hidden rules of economic class, the impact of chronic stress, and the role of resources in decision-making, participants gain a deeper understanding of why people often remain stuck despite their best efforts.

The full Thrive 10:10 Pathway increases agency through:

* Increased knowledge

* Increased problem-solving skills

* Increased social support

* Increased HOPE

* Increased future orientation

* Increased access to resources

These factors are all associated with lower risk for substance misuse, improved mental health, greater resilience, and stronger long-term outcomes.



At its core, Thrive 10:10 helps people move from merely surviving to influencing their own future in a way that is informed by it's resources learned in Getting Ahead and honed in Staying Ahead.

That transition—from powerlessness to agency—may be one of the most important prevention strategies available