Connecting Generations Strengthening Communities

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Connecting GenerationsStrengthening Communities
Generations United International
Conference Intergenerational Pre-Conference
Intensive July 24, 2007 Andrea S. Taylor,
Ph.D. Director of Training
Center for Intergenerational Learning
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The Center for Intergenerational Learning
Model projects Training and technical
assistance Communities for all ages Research Publi
cations, materials and toolkits
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Program Planning At A Glance

• 1. Clarify mission and goals
• 2. Develop a Logic Model
• 3. Establish a timeline
• 4. Create an action plan

• 5. Develop a budget
• 6. Build internal support and prepare staff
• 7. Structure participants roles
• 8. Design your evaluation

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Clarify Your Mission and Goals

• Mission Statement
• The mission of (your program) is to (address a
  situation) for (your target population) through
  (program description).

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Reading Partners

• The mission of Reading Partners is to improve the
  reading skills of elementary school children by
  having older adult volunteers provide regular 11
  tutoring.
• Goals
• Improve reading skills of children reading below
  grade level
• Provide sustainable, meaningful volunteer
  experiences for older adults in the community.
• Develop a system for tutoring that can be
  integrated into the ongoing operations of
  elementary school children.

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Everyday Logic Model
H E A D A C H E
Feel better
Get pills
Take pills
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Logic Model
S I T U A T I O N
OUTCOMES
INPUTS
OUTPUTS
Logic Model materials from Taylor-Powell
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Components of the Logic Model

• Desired Results Outcomes you want your program
  to achieve.
• Assumptions Beliefs and/or theory that inform
  program planning decisions
• Environmental Influences The context in which
  your program will be implemented

• Situation Describes issues the program
  addresses
• Input Resources that need to be invested in
  order to meet goals
• Activities What the project will do to meet its
  goals

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Tips for Program Implementation
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Motivators for Age 50 Adult Volunteers

• To improve community
• To help others
• Personal commitment to a cause or belief
• To leave a legacy (generativity)

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Tips for Engaging Age 50 Volunteers

• Help volunteers understand how their efforts
  realize the mission of the organization/project.
• Develop roles that capitalize on volunteer
  expertise.
• Provide training and opportunities for personal
  growth
• Offer incentives
• Provide opportunities for advancement

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Challenges for Age 50 Adult Volunteers

• Cliquishness or conflict among volunteers
• Emotionally demanding volunteer experience
• Busy schedules
• Health or care-giving issues
• Lack of confidence
• Institutional barriers
• Not feeling valued

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What Motivates Youth?

• Volunteering with friends
• Enhance college applications
• Leadership and career skills
• Productivity in free time

• Compassion for people in need
• Working for an important cause
• Reciprocity of helping role
• Making new friends

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What Prevents Youth from Volunteering?

• No one asked them
• They dont know how to get involved
• No free time
• Arent interested in or feel uncomfortable with
  an issue
• Lack transportation or other supports

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Tips for Involving Young People

• Work with appropriate organizations to recruit
• Provide opportunities for youth to teach and lead
• Utilize young people as recruiters
• Promote strong youth-adult partnerships

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Guiding Principles of Volunteer Recruitment

• Create a recruitment message that speaks to
  your customers
• Cast a wide net
• Use a variety of recruitment strategies
• Be passionate (figuratively speaking)

• Assume Nothing
• Aim for high numbers
• Develop a recruitment plan appropriate for
  special populations
• Be selective!

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Screening Volunteers

• Application forms
• Interviews
• References
• Background checks
• Physical exams
• Driving records

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Training Participants

• Orient both adults and youth
• Develop training curriculum
• Be aware of learning styles
• Use different instructional methods
• Provide on-going in-service training

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Helping Relationships Thrive

• Prepare participants for their new relationships
• Be aware of challenges to values
• Maintain confidentiality
• Have a strategy for matching
• Identify activities
• Facilitate communication
• Empower participants in collaborative
  problem-solving
• Model health and respectful relationships
• Be prepared for termination

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Managing Your Program

• Supervision to motivate volunteers
• Supervision to empower volunteers
• Supervision to monitor volunteer performance
• Supervision to address volunteer problems

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Why Evaluate?

• Increase understanding of best practices
• Report to funders
• Avoid harmful effects
• Enhance program effectiveness

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Evaluating the Program

• Step One Decide what you want to learn
• Step Two Explore options for data collection
• Step Three Research Design-Process/Outcome
• Step Four Develop a budget
• Step Five Develop a written plan
• Step Six Collect and analyze data
• Step Seven Disseminate data

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What do you want to learn?

• Use Logic Model
• Assess program processes by identifying the
  degree to which you completed proposed activities
  and how environment and influences had an impact
  on the program
• Evaluate outcomes by measuring the degree to
  which you achieved desired results

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Technical Assistance

• Telephone
• On-Site
• E-mail
• Web seminars Temple/CIL Training Network and GU
  i-path
• Additional Materials

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For more information, contact
Andrea S. Taylor, Ph.D. Temple University/Center
for Intergenerational Learning Training
Network 1601 North Broad Street, USB
206 Philadelphia, Pa 19122 ataylor_at_temple.edu 215-
204-6708
The Training Network is funded by the HRC
Foundation, the Verizon Foundation and the
Corporation for National and Community Service