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.

You can change a life by providing the individual attention that helps children build confidence and success. Opportunities are available in 10 San Diego County school districts and 18 other U. S. cities. OASIS volunteer tutors are paired with children in grades K-3 who would benefit from a one-on-one mentoring relationship. Tutors are trained to work with kids using a proven approach to literacy that emphasizes reading, talking and writing. They meet with their students at least once a week throughout the school year, providing a caring, supportive environment where reading and language activities, keyed to the child’s interests, spark curiosity and learning.

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.

Stagebridge brings seniors trained in storytelling into classrooms. This program helps at-risk students develop listening and language skills.

GAP provides programs and services that meet the urgent and ongoing needs of grandparents and other relatives raising at-risk children. GAP currently serves relative caregivers in the Los Angeles County area, over 90% of which are grandparents. GAP provides cost-free, community-based programs and services, which include weekly therapeutic support groups, crisis counseling, education, advocacy, and respite care.