Charting the Intergenerational Path: Shared Site Programs

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Charting the Intergenerational Path Shared Site
Programs

• Shannon E. Jarrott, Ph.D.Department Human
  DevelopmentVirginia Polytechnic Institute
• and State University

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Shared Site Intergenerational Programs

• Programs providing ongoing services
  simultaneously to members of different
  generations at the same site.

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• Resolution 1
• Encourage and support quality intergenerational
  shared site programs through promoting the
  development of new programs and supporting
  existing programs such as co-located child and
  adult day care, before and after school programs,
  long term care facilities and shared housing.

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Rationale

• Demographics demand non-familial caregiving.
• Budget changes demand greater efficiency.
• Daily networks made up of non-family members.
• Strengths-based model supports young old as
  equals.
• Results-orientation enhances community outcomes.
• Evidence-based practices foster positive
  relationships.
• Community building opportunities.

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Shared Sites A Call to Build Community

• Community members
• Community settings
• Community services
• Community outcomes

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Shared Site Programming Issues

• Conflicting regulations
• Limits of adults/youths competencies.
• Continued supervision
• Need for infrastructure
• Cross-training
• Shared mission
• Shared resources

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Shared Sites Common Address or Common Ground?

• Research Findings
• Adults
• Children/youth
• Other stakeholders
• Community

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A Model for Building Sustaining Community
Results Oriented Management Design
Activities/Processes
4
1
Community Needs/Assets
2
3
Community Results
Program Results
Bowen, G. L., Orthner, D. K., Martin, J. A.,
Mancini, J. A. (2001). Building Community
Capacity A manual for U.S. Air Force Family
Support Centers (p. 20). Chapel Hill, NC A
Better Image Printing , p. 20. Mancini, J. A.,
Martin, J. A., Bowen, G. L. (2003). Community
capacity. In T. P. Gulotta M. Bloom (Eds.),
Encyclopedia of Primary Prevention and Health
Promotion. NY Kluwer Academic/Plenum.
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Community Building Theory

• Administrative support
• Interactions characterized by cooperation
• Common goals
• Equal group status
• Opportunity for friendship

• Allport, G. W. (1954). The Nature of Prejudice.
  NY Addison-Wesley Publishing CO.
• Pettigrew, T. (1998). Intergroup contact theory.
  Annual Review of Psychology, 49, 65-85.

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Uncharted Territory

• Does involvement with shared site programs
• Affect childrens development long-term?
• Affect childrens interest in aging careers?
• Affect childrens civic engagement long-term?
• Enhance elders functional or clinical well
  being?
• Benefit family members practically?
• Enhance retention of program staff?
• Affect the larger community?
• Represent a no-cost or cost-saving care option?

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Responsibilities for a Shared Future the White
House Conference on Aging
Policy Support shared sites with demonstration
grants and reasonable regulations. Practice
Include diverse adults/youth. Adopt a strengths
perspective that supports personhood. Education/tr
aining Provide lifecourse curricular and field
opportunities. Teach evaluation as an ongoing
process. Research Evaluate varied co-located
programs. Give all stakeholders a voice.
Demonstrate cost-effectiveness.
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Conclusion

• Demographics demand non-familial caregiving.
• Budget changes demand greater efficiency.
• Daily networks made up of non-family members.
• Shared site intergenerational programs address
  these current circumstances.
• Strengths-based model supports young old as
  equals.
• Results-orientation enhances community outcomes.
• Evidence-based practices foster positive
  relationships.
• Community building opportunities.