Ocala, Fla.—Registration is open for Understanding Poverty, a free seminar based on the work of Dr. Ruby Payne and her book, A Framework for Understanding Poverty. Learn about the concept of "hidden rules," characteristics that a member of one of the three main social classes (upper, middle and lower) possesses that makes communicating and relating to members of the other classes difficult. The seminar will help our community understand how poverty can create communication barriers, and how to overcome them.

Michele Katz, a Lifetime Master Trainer for Ruby Payne’s Understanding Poverty model, will present the course four times on April 7 and 8. Sessions are four hours and will be offered 8 a.m. to noon and 1 to 5 p.m. each day at the College of Central Florida Klein Center.

Seating is limited so please sign up quickly by contacting Faith Beard at the United Way of Marion County, 352-732-9696, ext. 206, or FBeard@uwmc.org. The free seminars are sponsored by the Florida Department of Health in Marion County and the United Way of Marion County.

The department is joining forces with United Way to bring the seminar to Marion County during National Public Health Week. Poverty and poor health go hand-in-hand, and understanding the unhealthy stresses poverty can put on adults and children can help leaders, service providers and the community as a whole improve access to needed resources.

For information call the department at 352-629-0137, ext. 2052.

About the Florida Department of Health

The department works to protect, promote and improve the health of all people in Florida through integrated state, county and community efforts.

Follow us on Twitter at @HealthyFla and on Facebook. For more information about the Florida Department of Health please visit Marion.FloridaHealth.gov.