The Benefit Cliffs Readiness Assessment is a trauma-informed practitioner guide designed to help coaches identify where a participant is emotionally and cognitively before engaging in benefit cliff planning conversations. Because discussions about income changes, public benefits, and potential loss can activate fear, confusion, or shutdown, this tool outlines four stages of readiness—Unaware, Anticipation, Acute Fear, and Engagement—along with observable cues and aligned coaching strategies for each stage. By matching pacing and approach to a participant’s current regulation level, coaches can reduce shame, increase safety, and avoid moving into planning before emotional stabilization is present.
How to Use This Tool: At the beginning of a session—or whenever energy shifts—review the participant cues and identify which stage most closely reflects what you are observing. Place a check next to relevant behaviors and use the corresponding coaching strategies to guide your response. If a participant is in Acute Fear, prioritize grounding and stabilization before introducing numbers or scenarios. If they are in Engagement, move into collaborative planning with clear, digestible steps and ongoing regulation check-ins. Revisit this assessment throughout the coaching relationship as readiness can shift over time. This tool ensures conversations remain participant-centered, paced appropriately, and emotionally safe.
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BCC-Cliffs-Readiness-AssessmentThe Prosperity Agenda provides these resources as the designated national administrator of Family-Centered Coaching.