Intergenerational Program Database

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.

Oasis Intergenerational Tutoring is a volunteer program that pairs older adults with children in grades K-4 to work one-on-one each week throughout the school year as their tutors, mentors and friends. Oasis tutors use a six-step approach to literacy designed by educators that emphasizes improved reading, speaking, listening and writing. The purpose of each session is not to work on homework or assigned classwork, but to build confidence & basic reading skills and encourage the development of a supportive friendship. Third party studies have shown that the Oasis tutoring program translates to stronger classroom performance and less truancy. Most participating children will end the school year reading at grade level.

Do you want kids in your community to eat better and exercise more? Consider volunteering for OASIS CATCH Healthy Habits, an after-school program that connects adults age 50+ with kids in grades K-5 to learn about good eating habits and play active games. The program combats obesity by engaging adults age 50+ as mentors to teach healthy lifelong habits to kids in grades K-5. It’s a fun way to be healthy yourself while you help kids learn good eating and physical activity habits for a lifetime. No experience needed, just your enthusiasm and interest in helping kids. Training and materials are provided.

The Foster Grandparent Program places low income, older adults as tutors and mentors to special needs children in preschools, Head Start Centers, public schools, after school programs like Boys and Girls Clubs, and juvenile detention centers. The mission of the program is to empower older adults, to promote healthy aging and economic self-sufficiency for low income older adults while tutoring and mentoring special needs children to enhance their physical, mental, emotional and social development. Program operates in Mendocino, Lake, Humboldt, Sonoma and Del Norte counties.

Through our APPLE (Adults Providing Positive Learning Experiences) Program, we place adult volunteer mentors in elementary classrooms and Head Start programs throughout the Santa Maria Valley, Lompoc and San Luis Obispo County. Volunteers spend a few hours each week in the classroom mentoring students and helping them with reading and math skills.

For many years, On Lok has worked in partnership with San Francisco schools (both public and private): pre-schools, elementary, junior high & high schools, and with both general and special education classes. We provide a diverse mixture of opportunities for old and young in our community to come together, learn from each other and build genuine friendships. Every On Lok center includes intergenerational activities in the lives of its elderly clients.

Trained volunteers help students raise writing proficiency, develop critical thinking and build academic confidence. "WriterCoach Connection works. Student writing achievement goes up, teachers get much-needed relief with the extra individual attention to students, and community members bond with their schools. Everyone wins...."