Vital Conditions Framework
CPI has chosen to adopt the Vital Conditions Framework to guide our poverty alleviation work in Butler County. The Vital Conditions Framework, developed by the Rippel Foundation (http://rippel.org), outlines seven essential conditions that people and communities need to achieve their full potential.
Defining Community Needs
Community action agencies like CPI are required to conduct an in-depth community needs assessment (CNA) every three years to gather data on the underlying causes and conditions of poverty within our primary service territory, which for CPI is Butler County. By understanding the community’s needs, we can make informed decisions and design approaches that drive meaningful change that improves conditions for all residents. Community needs assessment results guide the way the Community Services Block Grant (CSBG) funds are invested to create conditions where all community members have the opportunity to thrive.
Vital Conditions vs. Urgent Services
The vital conditions framework builds upon the social determinants of health (SDoH) model that has become popular in the last twenty years. While developers of the vital conditions framework recognize the need for urgent services and their role in supporting a safe and thriving community, they also recognize that communities sometimes tend to over-invest in urgent services at the expense of investing in vital conditions.
The Rippel Foundation argues that no amount of investment in urgent services can ever produce thriving, and that the path to thriving goes through vital conditions. Vital conditions shape the choices, opportunities, and challenges that individuals and communities encounter. Investing in vital conditions removes systemic barriers to well-being, fosters greater individual and community resilience, and provides a vision of hope where all people and places are thriving (Federal Plan for Equitable Long-Term Recovery and Resilience for Social, Behavioral, and Community Health Executive Summary).
How Do We Define Thriving?
Merriam-Webster defines “thriving” as “characterized by success or prosperity.” Thriving.us states that there are two windows through which well-being can be viewed. Personal experiences identify well-being through an individual lense, and concentrate on individual perspectives and experiences that contribute to how we think, feel and function. The vital conditions identify well-being through a corporate lense, and concentrate on properties of places and institutions that we all depend on to reach our full potential.
When we improve the vital conditions, we increase the number of people and places that experience thriving, and reduce the demand for urgent services. When we reduce the demand for urgent services, struggling and suffering decrease.
Our Work And How It Intersects with the Vital Conditions
Explore our range of services designed to help individuals and communities thrive. In-depth descriptions can be found in our “Programs” Tab.
Meet the Team
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Monet Goode
FOUNDER
With a vision for building something meaningful, our founder brings a blend of big-picture thinking and hands-on experience.
They set the tone for everything we do. -
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Emmett Marsh
SALES MANAGER
Focused, approachable, and driven by results, our sales manager is all about building strong relationships. They help connect people to the right solutions—with clarity and care. -
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Eleanor Parks
MARKETING DIRECTOR
Creative and strategic in equal measure, our marketing director brings fresh ideas to every campaign. They turn insights into action and help our message resonate with the right audience. -
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Karl Holland
CUSTOMER SERVICE MANAGER
Friendly, attentive, and always ready to help, our customer service manager ensures every interaction is a positive one. They keep communication clear, timely, and human.
