Intergenerational Program Database

Volunteers tutoring elementary school children in reading, 1-2 times a week.

GAP offers a wealth of programs that include direct services, information dissemination, and referrals and linkages to support kinship families. GAP’s direct services focus on four main areas: 1) Mental Health Services, 2) Safety-Net Services, 3) Education and Child-Focused Advocacy, and 4) Navigation. These programs give kinship families access to emergency funds, food and clothing, emotional support, counseling, mentoring, and tools to work with schools and government agencies. Also included are peer engagement opportunities, nutritional assistance with CalFresh screening and enrollment, and a warm-line for immediate referrals. In 2009, GAP established a partnership with the Child Welfare Initiative, Children’s Law Center and Edmund D. Edelman Children’s Court in Monterey Park to create the Caregiver Center, which provides navigation assistance, support, and referrals for all kinship families involved with the court and child welfare system through Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS). In addition, GAP provides advocacy on behalf of families with DCFS and other county agencies, schools, doctors, and courts. GAP works with partner agencies to link kinship families with available resources to meet immediate and basic needs. All services are offered free-of-charge.

The Intergenerational Writing Project with Turning Point School takes place over three months, with our writing and discussion groups meeting weekly at either the Senior Center or the School. Each group is around 6 students, 2 seniors & one teacher and discussions range from current events to travels and philosophy. Poems, short stories and more are written and shared by all members of the group. The is a unifying theme or project each year for the project, which will be in its 8th year in 2017. The 6th graders call the project “amazing” “fun” and “so cool,” while the senior participants are grateful for “unforgettable” memories from the sessions.

Active older adults (age 50+) are teamed with youth (typically elementary-school age) for a half-day of fun educational and physical activities. The mission of the Games is to increase mutual understanding and respect between generations and to promote healthy, active, life-long behaviors. Intergenerational Games events occur in several locations throughout the county.

Low-income seniors mentoring children in schools, focusing on those with special or exceptional needs.

In the Five & Fit program, which is based on a model from Temple University, older adults (age 55+) guide young pre-schoolers (ages 2 - 5) and their families toward improved nutrition and enhanced physical activity. Activities include gardening, tasting fruits and vegetables, and fun nutritional education. The mission of the program is to prevent childhood obesity and to promote healthy, active, life-long behaviors. The program is a collaboration between Aging & Independence Services (the County of San Diego's Area Agency on Aging) and the Cuyamaca College Child Development Center.

Art to Heart, an art program at Studio Channel Islands Art Center is pairing elementary school students with seniors for an eight-week class that allows the two age groups to communicate, work together, create art and learn.

In this annual event students and their grandparents spend the day together. The event is held on the CBU campus and features “college” classes, a chapel service, a mini-concert, campus tours, lunch (featuring entertainment by the CBU Theater Arts Musical Group), and much quality social time with grandchildren and friends.

Wired for Connections/Mentor Up is a club at Carmel High School that is designed to help senior citizens understand the basics of modern-day devices and bridge what they perceive as an intergenerational divide. It is a free program in which the students volunteer to teach computer and technology skills to Carmel Foundation members.

EngAGE Across Generations helps older adults become involved with younger people in their communities – as mentors, sages, and neighbors. The program offers an opportunity for people to inventory their skills and desires and provide places where those can be utilized to help guide youth through the stages of their lives. EngAGE connects with local schools and other organizations to provide support for their endeavors. Examples include intergenerational arts programs, mentoring, read aloud programs and even making films.