The Simulation: Systems Thinking Through Experience
**Impossible Choices** is an experiential educational tool designed for social work, policy, and public health students. Over 30 days, you will step into the shoes of a character (like Juan, an undocumented father) facing financial insecurity and systemic barriers. Every choice you make—from buying food to seeking medical help—has **cascading, persistent consequences** across your health, employment, and legal status. This experience is designed to challenge biases and demonstrate that poverty is a structural failure, not an individual one.
Objective: Survive the Month
To achieve a "Hollow Victory," you must survive 30 days without hitting a Hard Stop.
Your goal is to maximize your stability across five core domains:
- 🏠 Housed: Avoid eviction and homelessness.
- ❤️ Health: Maintain physical well-being.
- 🧠 Mental Health: Manage stress and avoid crisis intervention.
- 👥 Relationships: Build trust and repay social debts.
- 💰 Resources: Keep income flowing and food security stable.
"In real life, there is no restart button. But there are policy solutions."
- The Impossible Choices Design Team
Four Lives, Four Systems
The simulation uses **intersectionality** to show how different identities compound systemic barriers. Compare **Juan's** struggle against the distinct challenges faced by:
Juan
Undocumented Father
Faces barriers in legal status and access to essential services.
Keisha
Single Mother
Struggles with Systemic Racism and the Motherhood Penalty.
Marcus
Black Trans Man
Navigates LGBTQ+ Discrimination in housing and employment.
Robert
White Veteran
Deals with failures and delays within the VA System.
Same poverty, different outcomes based on identity.