Family Friends

Program Description

Family Friends is an innovative intergenerational program coordinated by Temple University’s Center for Intergenerational Learning in which older adult volunteers (50+) provide in-home support to Philadelphia families caring for children with special needs. The volunteers are recruited from the neighborhoods in which families live, are carefully screened, trained, and then matched with compatible families. A Family Friends match is expected to continue as long as it remains mutually satisfying to the volunteer and family.

Volunteers visit the same family every week, and offer the kind of attention and caring that is unique to grandparents and Family Friends. Each Family Friends match is unique. Some volunteers go into homes every week and sing and hug children who cannot speak. Some give parents a break from their children's crying. Some visit their children when they are hospitalized. Some worry about the problems their children will face as they grow up. Some go on vacations with their Family Friends family. Some help their family move to a new house. Some baby-sit the children so the parents can have an evening together. All are steady, loving supports for families who sometimes feel terribly alone and terribly overwhelmed.

What is also unique about Family Friends is the longevity of the matches and the depth of the relationships that form between volunteers and families. We have matches that have been ongoing for 5, 6 and 7 years.

There is no cost to eligible families for receiving a Family Friend.

Program Goals & Objectives

The overall goal of the Family Friends program is to facilitate the development of long-term caring and empowering relationships between older adult volunteers and families who have children with special needs. The program delivers this quality family-support service in order to achieve the following objectives: decrease family stress and isolation, increase the support network of families, and increase the self-esteem and vitality of children with special needs and older adult volunteers.

Program Outcomes

As one of six sites funded by the Administration on Aging (DHHS), the Philadelphia Family Friends program participated in an extensive study conducted by the Institute for Human Development at the University of Missouri in 1993. Sixty four percent of the families participating in the study were from the Philadelphia site.

Based on these evaluation results, there seems no doubt that carefully screened, trained and supervised older adults can have a powerful impact on strengthening families.

Publications and Products

Publications can be ordered through our complete publications page. An 8 minute video featuring three unique matches between volunteers and families.

Funding Sources for 2006-2007

• Philadelphia Department of Human Services
• Philadelphia Corporation for Aging
• National Council on Aging/Administration on Aging
• Children's Sabbath Coalition
• Individual donations

Program Costs

Budget for 2006-2007: $195,000 At this present level of support, we serve approximately 100 families a year through in-home respite, drop-off respite, family support/social work services, and special events.

Staff

Nancy Hale, MSS, LSW (Program Director) (215) 204-3193 nhale@temple.edu

Elliott Smith (Social Work Intern) (215) 204-3199

Katie Siegel (Social Work Intern) (215) 204-1328

Past Advisory Committee Members

• Betsy Armour, representative of Happy Fernandez
• Barbara Bale, ex officio
• Kathy Harte, Office of Mental Retardation
• Sandra Cross, Grand Central
• David Fair, United Way
• Vivien Hansbury, Philadelphia Federation of Teacher's, Retiree Chapter
• Nancy Z. Henkin, Executive Director, Center for Intergenerational Learning
• Ann Maahs, Family Friends Parent
• Mary Mikus, Institute on Disabilities
• Michael Moore, Executive Director, Child Link
• Sam Mosca, Head Start, Philadelphia School District
• Beth Parrish, MD, St. Christopher’s Hospital for Children
• Charlotte Sweeney, Family Friends Volunteer

Links

Books on parenting a child with a disability.

The Children With Disabilities Web site offers families, service providers, and other interested individuals information about advocacy, education, employment, health, housing, recreation, technical assistance, and transportation covering a broad array of developmental, physical, and emotional disabilities.

Website with information on Family Friends programs in America. Family Friends is an intergenerational family support program in which older adults are matched with children with special needs, making home visits weekly to the child and family. (see also Family Friends program description at the Center for Intergenerational Learning) Sponsored by National Council on Aging.

Information for people with special needs and their families

Family Voices --resource for families of children with special needs, has area for kids promoting self-advocacy. Poems, art, articles, news.