In the Spotlight - Department of Elder Affairs

In the Spotlight
Seniors in Service of Tampa Bay, Inc., provides CATCH, a licensed, evidence-based model that
has been nationally recognized for providing an intergenerational approach encouraging healthy
eating and active living. CATCH Healthy Habits provides healthy snacking, nutrition education
and physical activity for elementary school-aged children at after-school elementary schools, and
partner sites.
Children learn through a series of 8-15 one-hour sessions over one to three months. Each session
is age appropriate and provides physical activities designed to improve health in the form of fun,
team-based games. Each session is facilitated by the trained adult volunteer and supported by the
partner site staff, teaching children ways to adopt healthy eating behaviors and remain physically
active
The CATCH Healthy Habits Program at Rollins College engages volunteers age 50 and older to
work with children to instill healthy eating and fitness habits. Teams of 5-8 adults lead children
in a one-hour weekly session consisting of a nutritious snack, health lesson, and physical
activity. Free training is provided.
Contact
Senior Services of Tampa Bay, Inc.
Sandra Johnson
813-932-5228 x 226
seniorsinservice.org
In the Spotlight
The AIM Foundation in Dunedin, Florida, created an intergenerational program called Grand
Kids. The Mission of Grand Kids is to bridge life between generations through compassion,
friendship, respect, and responsibility. Grand Kids’ clubs provide an enriching experience by
training and mentoring teenagers to communicate with residents in assisted living facilities and
other senior communities. The training includes personal situations to give the students an
understanding and appreciation of the difficulties in seniors' lives. The experienced students can
become the trainers for the incoming members. This method increases self-confidence, esteem,
communication skills, and clear thinking. After completing sensitivity training, the students pair
up and choose a grandparent to adopt.
The grandparents are chosen from lists agreed upon by AIM and participating assisted living
facilities, The Grand Kids meet with the seniors for seven weeks to discuss topics such as, “How
was life 70 years ago without TVs and computers?"; "What type of entertainment and education
you did you have"; “How did you earn a living?”; “How are things different/ the same?” After
the weeks of visits, sharing, and learning, the Grand Kids team assembles a personalized
“Memory Book” of their grandparent partner.
Contact:
Nisha Mandani
P.O. Box 780
Dunedin, FL 34698
813-758-8576
In the Spotlight
The Cornerstone School is a private school located in Ocala, Florida, that acknowledges the
importance of bridging the generation gap by conducting or participating in intergenerational
events throughout the year.
Students regularly participate in activities to support the seniors who reside in Ocala Health and
Rehabilitation Center that is located behind the school. Some of these activities include the
students making holiday decorations, singing for the residents, dressing in their costumes, and
trick-or-treating at the facility so the residents can see their costumes. On Veterans Day, the
school staff invites grandparents and family friends of their students who have served in the
Armed Forces, so that students and staff can acknowledge their contribution and service to our
country.
The school also holds a Grandparents Day where the students can interview their grandparents,
then share the information obtained with the class. The grandparents are invited to have lunch
with their grandchildren. Another way the school participates in intergenerational activities is by
inviting parents and grandparents of different cultures to come and share with their child’s class
about their culture’s traditions, holidays, and food so that other students can learn more about all
members of their community.
Contact:
The Cornerstone School
2313 S.E. Lake Weir Avenue
Ocala, Florida
352-351-8840
In the Spotlight
Brevard County TRIAD, Inc., is a non-profit organization. TRIAD and its many organizations
and business partners work together to develop programs that address the issues of our growing
senior population. Brevard County TRIAD recognizes the benefits of our younger generation
within our community working with and helping the members of our senior community. The
benefits are priceless for everyone involved.
Brevard County TRIAD has partnered with local schools to bring seniors and youth together.
TRIAD’s annual Valentine Project, Senior Santa, and Senior Fest are all wonderful examples of
how the intergenerational projects benefit the community. Students throughout Brevard County
create Valentine notes for seniors on Valentine’s Day, help sponsor seniors by purchasing gifts
for them during the Christmas holidays, and students from Melbourne High School come
together to help TRIAD’s Senior Fest every year.
Contact:
Brevard County TRIAD, Inc.
P.O. Box 410518
Melbourne, Florida 32941-0518
321-632-6688
In the Spotlight
The City of Margate Florida has created an Intergenerational Volunteer Band to help bridge the
gap between generations. Comprised of citizens of Margate, the Intergenerational Volunteer
Band seeks to bring together experienced older musicians and their younger counterparts.
The band plays at Margate city functions throughout the year. Working with a band can help to
promote good self-esteem, a sense of belonging, skills in working with others, and can be just
plain old fun. According to the City of Margate, “The mission of the City of Margate Volunteer
Program is to encourage citizens to participate in local government through volunteerism and to
improve the quality of city services provided in the City of Margate.”
Contact:
Brian Donahue
City of Margate
6199 NW 10th St.
954-973-0300
[email protected]
In the Spotlight
The Foster Grandparent Program (FGP) of the Council on Aging of West Florida is a federally
funded program that places seniors, who are 55 and older and moderate to low income, with
children who have special needs. Foster Grandparents work in several settings, including low
performing schools in Escambia and Santa Rosa Counties. Foster grandparents serve as mentors
to children who are falling below grade level, have a development delay, have incarcerated
parents, speak English as a second language, or have behavioral issues. Many classrooms lack
the variety and availability of sufficient leveled reading books. The Foster Grandparent Program
was able to purchase two kits. “Very First Biographies” and “Word Up”. The objectives of the
books purchased were to utilize volunteers to build confidence in young readers and provide
students with reading deficiencies access to books appropriate for their individual development
needs.
Contact:
Robin Stephens
Foster Grandparent Supervisor
Council on Aging of West Florida, Inc.
850-432-1475 Ext.640
[email protected]
In the Spotlight
The mission of The Florida Intergenerational Orchestra of America is to bring generations
together with music and musical performances. The orchestra bridges the generational gap
through music and seeks to foster closer relationships between generations utilizing the
orchestra.
Lorraine Marks-Field is the founder and conductor of the orchestra. The orchestra was honored
by the State of Florida Department of Elder Affairs, the Commissioners of Palm Beach County,
and the City of Boca Raton honored the Orchestra for its “Intergenerational Concept.”
Contact:
Bob Field
12059 Rockwell Way
Boca Raton, Florida 33428
561-482-8206
In the Spotlight
The Grandparents as Parents or "GAP" is a program of the Tallahassee Senior Foundation that is
funded by the Leon County Commission and sponsored by United Healthcare and a Tallahassee
COPE (Childhood Obesity Prevention Education) grant from the Florida Blue Foundation. GAP
serves grandparents and other relatives who are raising children by providing support groups,
family outings, advocacy, educational programs, legal services, health screenings, information
and referral, and access to community resources.
Nationally over one in ten children are being raised by a grandparent or other relative. According
to the 2010 census, 345,000 children in Florida are being reared by relatives, and there, are over
2000 grand-parent headed households in Leon County. Support meetings are an opportunity for
relative caregivers to share their joys and concerns with others in a similar situation and learn
about useful resources in the community. Supporting grandparent- headed households not only
enhances family stability, but it also keeps siblings together.
Contact:
Karen Boebinger
Tallahassee Senior Center
1400 North Monroe St.
Tallahassee, FL 32303
850-891-4027
[email protected]
In the Spotlight
The Rainbow Intergenerational Child Day Care Program is an intergenerational child care
program in Miami in which senior citizens from the Rafael Villaverde Adult Day Health Care
Center are trained to obtain certification as childcare workers, and in which children are cared for
in a culturally appropriate center by a “family member.” Children benefit from intergenerational
exposure as they participate in shows or visit the center to play and carry out joint activities with
Alzheimer’s patients.
The program provides an opportunity for children to develop to their maximum potential. The
service is offered to working-poor families and provides them with access to safe, quality day
care services. Children of low-income families become better prepared to compete on an equal
basis with other children of better economic means.
Contact:
The Rainbow Intergenerational Child Day Care Program
700 SW 8th Street
Miami, FL 33130
305-858-0887
www.lhanc.org