Intergenerational Program Database

The Robert J. Dole Institute of Politics recently started an intergenerational mentoring program with members of the Friends of the Dole Institute and the Dole Institute’s Student Advisory Board. The Friends of the Dole Institute is an annual giving program made up mostly of retirees in the Lawrence, Kansas community. Members of the Student Advisory Board are undergraduate and graduate students at the University of Kansas interested in public service and civic engagement. Mentors and mentees were matched based on their interests and met at three facilitated meetings throughout the semester, as well as on their own.

Children and seniors share songs, stories, rhymes, rhythms, instrument play and movement in a supportive, creative setting. Participants in Music Sparks' "Sharing Songs" program include children between the ages of 18 months and age 5, and older adults residing in the assisted living facility that hosts the event. Music Sparks' "Families in Rhythm (FIR)"program welcomes the entire family (3 years and older) to join the seniors of Sterling House Senior Living for rhymes, singing, drumming and moving.

Asbury Park is the home of Asbury Station, an affiliation of Newton Community Child Care Center, providing an opportunity for elders and children to interact on a daily basis. It grants them an opportunity to interact with not only other elders, but also with teachers, children and their families.  Elders realize they still have the ability to nurture and educate during the intergenerational activities.  Keyword: Shared Site

The building that houses the child care center is connected to the Assisted Living area of Schowalter Villa through a corridor named “Main Street. ” Each week every class takes a small group of their children to do activities with their particular residents at the Villa. We have eight seniors who come on a regular basis each week and help in the classroom as teacher aides. Many special events are planned to include children, college students from Hesston College and residents from Schowalter Villa. On occasion residents are brought to the children’s rooms to visit and children visit residents in their rooms. Keyword: Shared Site

Children ages 6-18 and residents at the Clare Oaks Retirement Community are matched as reading and writing buddies.  Participants will read a children’s book and exchange letters monthly with their partners

Intergenerational fiction and non-fiction book groups meet once a month. People of all ages are invited to participate

An activity project that reaches across generations and teaches young people about growing older and the normal physical changes that occur with age. It also teaches those who come in contact with older citizens how to effectively communicate with them and serve their needs. U. if IL extension project 4-H awareness

Foster Grandparents Program- Senior volunteers who work as foster grandparents offer friendship, education, wisdom, assistance and one-on-one mentorship to their young mentees. Many of these youth are experiencing environmental issues at home that often interfere with their learning. The volunteers provide them with basic human nurturing and make sure that their basic needs are met. They also work to ensure the youth get the help they need with their schoolwork, teaching these young children everything from social skills to the alphabet.

The IEA/NEA SP and the IEA/NEA Retired Program have combined efforts to offer a mentoring program to students who are entering the field of education. This program offers students the opportunity to work with a retired teacher in a mentoring relationship.

The initiative brings together elementary school children, high school students and young adults from area colleges to the Addington Place community to spend time and develop new relationships. Activities vary and include craft making and reading, as well as community service projects, such as making fleece blankets for local hospitals.