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The Child Care Partnership Project Texas: Young At Heart |
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Description In Texas, Young at Heart is linking the promise with the vision. This initiative connects generations by providing opportunities for the elderly to volunteer and/or work in child care centers. Twelve Young at Heart sites located throughout Texas engage community partners and use VISTA volunteers to organize and supervise the programs. Each community adapts the model to meet its own local needs. Local partners and volunteers receive guidance and support from the state licensing agent, the Texas Department of Protective and Regulatory Services. Partners The Texas Department of Protective and Regulatory Services (TDPRS) regulates child care in the state and oversees Young at Heart. Two other state agencies, the Texas Workforce Commission and the Texas Department on Aging, work with TDPRS to promote Young at Heart. VISTA volunteers, through the Corporation for National Service, serve as program coordinators. Nonprofit organizations such as the Texas Association for the Education of Young Children, Foster Grandparents, local Agencies on Aging, American Association of Retired Persons (AARP), Green Thumb, Inc., Retired and Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP), and Texas Generations United. Local steering committees also enlist support from business, civic, and religious organizations. History and Development In 1994, TDPRS employees Elaine Posey and Lucy Todd developed the concept of Young at Heart as a homework assignment for a grant writing class. They knew that their idea of bringing together caring, elder volunteers and young children had merit. The director of child care licensing at TDPRS wholeheartedly supported the idea. In partnership with the state’s child care licensing agency, Posey and Todd submitted a proposal to the Corporation for National Service. Their proposal was accepted and in 1996 Young at Heart came into existence with VISTA volunteers working in 12 sites. Current Activities Under the supervision of TDPRS, VISTA volunteers coordinate Young at Heart programs tailored to the local needs of each site. Often a formal steering committee of partners assumes responsibility for the Young at Heart program. At other sites, a lead agency or organization hosts the program. Once community partners commit to supporting Young at Heart, they recruit volunteers over age 55 and match them with child care centers in need of help. Opening in 1997, the Corpus Christi Young at Heart program now has 38 active elder volunteers in 10 child care facilities. The rapid growth is due, in part, to the VISTA volunteers, who are also over age 55 and serve as peer recruiters. Community partners formed a steering committee that includes business leaders, law officers, community college faculty, and staff from senior centers and child care programs. The committee ensures that seniors and child care staff feel prepared to work together with young children. Training consists of an orientation meeting, a 2-hour session on children’s activities and expectations, and an enrichment training that takes place 4 to 5 months after volunteers start. Program evaluation occurs through surveys of day care staff, parents, and volunteers. VISTA workers observe volunteers and talk with children and staff to gain additional feedback. Child care centers enter into formal agreements with the local Young at Heart partners to clarify their roles and responsibilities. The program coordinator and community partners agree to:
Child care centers that utilize Young at Heart volunteers agree to:
TDPRS provides freedom and flexibility to enable each community to individualize its Young at Heart program. It provides in-kind support and materials, and has sponsored statewide conferences. As the 12 sites become established in their communities, the role of TDPRS has evolved from start-up support to oversight. Now, VISTA coordinators and local steering committees provide direction for the future of Young at Heart. Resources Young at Heart is a partnership built on volunteer collaborations. VISTA volunteers receive stipends for their work from the Corporation for National Service, but seniors who volunteer receive no compensation. Additional resources have come in the form of in-kind support from steering committee partners and/or local nonprofit organizations. Results There are 12 Young at Heart programs located across the state of Texas in all types of communities—urban areas as well as mid-sized, suburban communities. In 1999, 156 seniors worked in 61 centers, and the number of volunteers continues to grow steadily. To date, no formal evaluation of the program has been completed; however, Texas Tech University is in the process of evaluating the intergenerational model of care for both seniors and children. Though this evaluation will not focus solely on the Young at Heart initiative, it will provide information on the impact of the relationships between children and seniors. The report will be available in September 1999 and contains information from interviews with children, child care staff, and elder volunteers involved with Young at Heart. This information will complement existing data on the number of volunteers and the hours they work. Sustaining and Replicating The formal Young at Heart model provides VISTA volunteers to organize programs, but eventually all sites will develop their own resources to sustain all aspects of the program. To this end, each site has created strategies to secure future funding and support. In 1999, six sites have made the transition to local control, with community organizations coordinating the program. For example, in Abilene, RSVP now coordinates the Young at Heart program. In Tyler, the program has joined forces with the employer collaborative, Champions for Children. Initiatives in Lubbock, Amarillo, and Tarrant County have formed their own non-profit organizations and are currently soliciting grant funding. The Young at Heart initiative is developing a new program: Young at Heart Works! Built from the success of Young at Heart, five pilot sites now pay elders for their work. In 1998, TDPRS and the Texas Workforce Commission held community meetings with local workforce boards to explain the Young at Heart model. The extra income increases the fixed income of many seniors and provides part-time workers to child care centers during the busy hours of the day. Elders like the flexible work hours and compensation, as well as the increased feelings of self-worth from being an integral part of children’s lives. Elders receive 8 hours of Preservice training to meet state regulations for new employees in child care, and 15 or more hours of additional training on topics such as child health and development. Lessons Learned Perseverance counts. Recruiting elderly volunteers is an ongoing effort. It takes time and persuasion to interest and orient them to a child care facility. Engage volunteers so that they feel needed, and they will blossom into loyal workers. Peer to peer exchange. Elders are more likely to become involved in Young at Heart if they see others like themselves volunteering. The Corpus Christi site successfully used this strategy. Clear expectations. Both volunteers and staff must have a clear understanding of their responsibilities, adequate training, and support, so that the partnership can succeed. Use the orientation session to clarify expectations, roles, and responsibilities in order to ensure everyone has the same expectations. Contact Information Elaine Posey |
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