Family Friends
A Good Idea
Description
Family Friends is a family support program that reaches out to families with special needs. Participating families have children with developmental disabilities and other special needs. The Family Friends program connects social workers and older adult volunteers with families to provide support to the parents or guardians and the children - both in their homes and in the community. The older adult volunteers have experience, wisdom and time to share with the children and adults. This intergenerational model helps connect members of the community across age groups. The volunteers are recruited from neighborhoods in which the families live and are trained and matched for compatibility. In addition, the Family Friend volunteers spend time each week with children so that their parents and grandparents can take a break. The program fosters and builds relationships among children, their caregivers, and community volunteers.
Goal / Mission
The goal of Family Friends is to offer support to families who are raising children with developmental disabilities or special needs.
Results / Accomplishments
The program serves hundreds of families in the Philadelphia area.
About this Promising Practice
Organization(s)
Temple University Center for Intergenerational Learning
Primary Contact
Angelo Alton Hardy, Assistant Director
The Intergenerational Center Temple University
1700 N. Broad Street, Room 412
Philadelphia, PA 19122
(215) 204-3199
aahardy@temple.edu
http://templecil.org/
The Intergenerational Center Temple University
1700 N. Broad Street, Room 412
Philadelphia, PA 19122
(215) 204-3199
aahardy@temple.edu
http://templecil.org/
Topics
Health / Children's Health
Health / Disabilities
Health / Disabilities
Organization(s)
Temple University Center for Intergenerational Learning
Location
Philadelphia, PA
For more details
Target Audience
Children, Families