A Results Ready Agenda for Improving

the Futures of Vulnerable Children,

Elders, Families and Communities
 About Generations United
Generations United (GU) is the national membership organization focused solely on
improving the lives of children, youth, and older people through intergenerational strate-
gies, programs, and public policies. GU represents more than 100 national, state, and
local organizations and individuals representing more than 70 million Americans. Since
1986, GU has served as a resource for educating policymakers and the public about the
economic, social, and personal imperatives of intergenerational cooperation. GU acts as a
catalyst for stimulating collaboration between aging, children, and youth organizations
providing a forum to explore areas of common ground while celebrating the richness of
each generation.

Acknowledgments
Generations United (GU) gratefully acknowledges the support of JustPartners, Inc. and the Annie E.
Casey Foundation which allowed for the development of this publication. A warm thank you to
Paula Dressel of JustPartners whose wisdom, coupled with her commitment to elders as resources
to children and families, has been invaluable in advancing intergenerational practices.

Thank you to Carol Farquhar, Grantmakers in Aging and Stephanie McGencey Washington,
Grantmakers for Children,Youth and Families for their early involvement in the Stronger Together
meeting and webinars that proceeded this paper.

GU is grateful for the initial work done by Karabelle Pizzigati and John Cornman to develop this
agenda. Thank you to the GU staff who contributed through review, research, re-writes and reflec-
tion in particular Jaia Peterson Lent, Sheri Steinig, Donna Butts and Terence Kane.

Disclaimers
This research was funded in part by the Annie E. Casey Foundation. We thank them for their sup-
port but acknowledge that the findings and conclusions presented in this report are those of the
author(s) alone, and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the Foundation.

Grantmakers in Aging and Grantmakers for Children, Youth and Families believe in supporting a
public policy agenda that recognizes and values people of all ages. While each organization has its
own policy agenda and priorities, they support the concept of a Stronger Together framework.

© Generations United 2009, reprinting with permission only.

Contact Information
Generations United
1331 H Street NW Suite 900
Washington, DC 20005
202/289-3979
www.gu.org

A Results Ready Agenda for Improving the Futures of Vulnerable Children, Elders, Families and Communities
A Results Ready Agenda for Improving the
Futures of Vulnerable Children, Elders, Families
and Communities

Purpose and Background

A number of political events have combined to create opportunities to improve the futures of vul-
nerable children, families, and elders by using an intergenerational approach that maximizes fis-
cal and human resources. The purposes of this paper are 1) to identify those opportunities
made available through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Recovery Act)
“My grandmother…
and new Administration’s budget, 2) to illustrate the power and cost effectiveness of the inter-
generational approach, and 3) to recommend an action agenda that will attract the active sup- She’s the one who
port of various interest groups committed to improving the futures of vulnerable children, elders, taught me about
families, and communities. hard work. She’s
In December, 2007, the Annie E. Casey Foundation (AECF) convened a conference of grant- the one who put off
makers “to determine areas of policy convergence that bridge the interests of children, youth, buying a new car
families and older adults, and to develop strategies to promote intergenerational collaboration.” or a new dress for
The results of the conference are summarized in “Stronger Together,”1 a report prepared by
Generations United, a conference convener along with Grantmakers in Aging (GIA), herself so that I
Grantmakers for Children, Youth and Families (GCYF) and JustPartners, Inc. could have a better
life. She poured
The agenda that follows draws on the work of the conference, but the recommendations are
those of Generations United (GU) alone, also drawing on GU’s experience in developing and everything she had
promoting intergenerational public policies and programs. into me. And
This working document seeks to highlight policy, program and research examples that demon-
although she can
strate “economies of scope” or how a single intervention can mobilize and benefit all members no longer
of society and thus maximize the outcomes from limited dollars. When generations work togeth- travel, I know that
er and are leveraged on each other’s behalf, resources go further and each age group benefits she’s watching
while communities thrive.
tonight and that
While this paper goes beyond the conclusions and principles developed by the conference, it is tonight is her night,
offered in the same spirit of “Stronger Together,” with the intention of providing several key rec- as well.”
ommendations that overlap the policy agendas, and will attract the active support, of various
interest groups committed to improving the futures of vulnerable children, elders, families, and
Barack Obama
communities. This “Stronger Together” framework promotes innovations that have political, serv-
accepting his party’s
ice and fiscal implications which ask policy and decision makers to think differently about
nomination for President
resources and outcomes. of the United States

Therefore, besides making specific policy recommendations, the agenda seeks to encourage:
• advocates for children, youth, families, older people, and poverty reduction to work togeth-
er on behalf of policies that reach across generations and envision their constituencies as
allies rather than competitors,

• policy makers and interest groups to recognize how bringing different age groups together
in support of issues affecting children, elders and families can improve the lives of all
Americans while saving tax dollars, and

• the use of an intergenerational strategy – the intergenerational lens, if you will – in the
design and evaluation of public policies and programs to improve the futures of vulnerable
children, elders, families and communities.

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A Results Ready Agenda for Improving the Futures of Vulnerable Children, Elders, Families and Communities
 Rationale

Several events have combined to make this an auspicious moment to advance such an agenda,
including:

• the election of President Barack Obama, who made reducing poverty a central part of his
campaign message, and now resides in a multigenerational household,
• the passage of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Recovery Act), leg-
islation that offers short term opportunities to expand key anti-poverty and community-
building programs,
• the presentation of the administration’s FY 2010 federal budget that includes similar oppor-
tunities to both expand and launch new poverty reduction, family support, and community
development programs,
• the increased pressure to fix Social Security’s long-term funding shortfall, a dynamic that
opens the way to efforts to improve the benefits for vulnerable children, families, and elders
and
• the growing political push to reform the nation’s health care system, an effort that must
include improving health care services for lower income children and families along with eld-
ers.

The two overarching and six specific federal policy recommendations presented here are
designed to take advantage of these events, which are unfolding rapidly. For the most part, they
call for the redirection or focusing of federal dollars and attention within the funding and goals
imbedded in the Recovery Act, the administration’s proposed FY 2010 budget, and parameters
for fixing Social Security and reforming health care.

It is important to note that the Recovery Act provides temporary funding and cannot be counted
on to extend past two years. In many cases matching dollars are needed; for this reason, some
state and local policy makers are reluctant about accepting funds their constituents may come
to depend on. This makes intergenerational approaches even more valuable, as they build
broader constituent support and increase the reach of limited dollars. Therefore, innovative
examples of these economies of scope are woven throughout the recommendations.

Two Overarching Recommendations

Recommendation: Incorporate an intergenerational approach into policy and program
development at all levels of government in order to benefit all generations, magnify pol -
icy and program outcomes, exact cost efficiencies, and strengthen relations across gener -
ations.

The public sector is challenged to restore public confidence in government, to use resources –
including the human capital of older and younger populations – as efficiently and effectively as
possible, and to strengthen the sense of community across the country in this time of economic
distress and international crises. Research and experience have shown that intergenerational
practices benefit all generations, magnify policy and program outcomes, exact cost effi-
ciencies, and strengthen relations across ages.2

2
A Results Ready Agenda for Improving the Futures of Vulnerable Children, Elders, Families and Communities
An intergenerational approach to policy making and program planning values children, youth,
families and elders and

• calls for policies and programs that involve and impact more than one generation, incorpo-
rating the experience, skills, and commitments of the country’s increasing older population
and engaged youth.
• views the younger and older populations as a resource to be enlisted on behalf of the com-
mon good, not as problems that will divide the nation across generational lines.
• encourages policy makers and program designers and evaluators to seek and develop
broad inter-departmental and inter-programmatic links.
• stresses intergenerational sharing of program sites and resources.

Most recently the Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act of 2009 exemplifies this approach.
The Act reauthorizes the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS) and creates
valuable new and innovative intergenerational civic engagement opportunities for both young
and old. The Serve America Act will more than triple national service positions from 75,000
to 250,000 to help match the increased desire of both young and old to serve. The Act also
encourages new corps-based programs for education, health, poverty and the environment to
consider intergenerational approaches to grantmaking and service delivery. In addition, the Act
increases the emphasis on innovation with the creation of a new Social Innovation Fund which
will help support testing new approaches, such as providing transferable educational awards an
older adult volunteer can give to a child, and leveraging resources and scaling up research-
proven programs.

Intergenerational Community Decision-making in Falcon Heights,

Minnesota

A local example is found in Falcon Heights, Minnesota, which has created a com-
munity for all ages. Mayor Sue Gehrz sparked the effort by making intergenera-
tional interaction a high priority and bringing together dozens of young and older
people to discuss improving community safety and preparedness in the wake of
9/11. This effort led to the creation of the “Neighborhood Commission,” one of the
city’s permanent advisory groups that help to guide decision-making for the city.
Additional policies and structures within city government facilitate communica-
tion and decision-making by all generations. They include the City Council’s pub-
lic policy goal of intergenerational interaction, the requirement for policy propos-
als to incorporate the ideas and concerns of multiple generations, and the avail-
ability of city facilities without charge to intergenerational groups.

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A Results Ready Agenda for Improving the Futures of Vulnerable Children, Elders, Families and Communities
 Recommendation: Confirm the best strategic investments in intergenerational practices
through improved data collection.

Increasing the knowledge base will help provide needed insights on intergenerational families
and other issues and will help inform the development and growth of sound public policies and
programs that support all generations. For example, grandparents and other relatives raising
children (grandfamilies) were included in the National Family Caregiver Support Act (NFCSA)
when it was signed into law in 2000 as a part of the reauthorization of the Older American’s Act.
The law authorizes states to spend up to 10% of their National Family Caregiver Support
Program (NFCSP) funds on supportive services for these grandfamilies. A General Accounting
Office study about the impact of the NFCSP funds and how states have expended their dollars
would be beneficial as policy makers consider additional supports for the families. The age
threshold for the NFCSP was lowered in 2006 to open access to a larger number of grandfami-
lies. Again, knowing how this change has been implemented in states and counties would
inform future policy making.

Beyond multigenerational families, further identification of policy and practice barriers which
inhibit, if not prohibit, the development of intergenerational programs is important to encourage
widespread implementation. For example, a report regarding co-located intergenerational activi-
ties was issued in 1995 by the US Department of Health and Human Services Office of
Inspector General. Entitled Co-Located Intergenerational Activities in Department of Health and
Human Services’ Programs, the report indicated that combining facilities and programs could
increase the level and quality of services. The need for policy guidance and waivers were indi-
cated in several areas including fire safety codes, immunization and nutritional requirements.
Updating this report and documenting progress and findings would be beneficial to policy mak-
ers and program planners.

Six Specific Recommendations

The six specific recommendations were selected from an array (see appendix A) of policies and
programs that, if using an intergenerational approach when enacted, could increase the likeli-
hood of children, families, elders and their communities achieving success. The recommenda-
tions focus on:

• increasing and sustaining adequate income and workforce participation,

• expanding high-quality early, continuing education and skills training,
• ensuring affordable, cost-effective, and efficient preventive and primary health care, and
• investing in community connections and infrastructures.

The six recommendations, which are each given equal weight, are to:

• Encourage high quality child care and early education opportunities for low-income families
including those provided through intergenerational shared site programs that improve out-
comes for multiple age groups.

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A Results Ready Agenda for Improving the Futures of Vulnerable Children, Elders, Families and Communities
 • Promote permanency and family connections for children by fully implementing the
Fostering Connections to Success and Improving Adoptions Act (Fostering Connections) of
2008 in order to provide critical supports to grandfamilies and ensure their inclusion in other
child welfare reform policies.

• Support family economic success by expanding basic Social Security benefits for vulnera-
ble populations.

• Increase social supports and educational resources for disadvantaged children and families
by encouraging Senior Community Service Employment Programs and volunteer civic
engagement opportunities.

• Coordinate and integrate the various transit programs serving children, youth, older adults,
low income workers and persons with disabilities to increase critically needed transportation
services and improve availability in a cost effective and efficient manner.

• Improve access to affordable, high quality, comprehensive health care for children, families
and elders by ensuring that reform of the nation’s health care system includes key invest-
ments across the lifespan, encourages the development of community health centers that
serve all ages, and encourages the participation of older people in health care programs
and services for children and their families.

Each recommendation is followed by a brief discussion including how, if adopted, it would

enhance the well-being of vulnerable children, families, and older adults and its connection to
current opportunities such as those outlined in the Recovery Act and the proposed federal budg-
et. The recommendation concludes with one or more examples illustrating the innovative, suc-
cessful intergenerational models related to the recommendation.
Recommendation: Encourage high quality child care and early education opportunities
for low-income families including those provided through intergenerational shared site
programs that improve outcomes for multiple age groups.

High quality early childhood programs provide many well documented benefits for low-income
young children and their families. These benefits cover important dimensions of child and family
well being, helping prepare children to succeed in school and providing working families with
critical support so that they can secure and maintain employment.3 Children who attend high
quality programs are less likely to be held back a grade, less likely to need special education,
and more likely to graduate from high school. Additionally, children who have been in pre-K pro-
grams have higher earnings as adults and are less likely to become dependent on welfare or
involved with law enforcement.4

Because of the success of early care and education there is increased public and political sup-
port which can help further the reach and accessibility of the programs. At the same time, inter-
generational programming in early childhood settings has demonstrated the benefits for young
children and older adults in ways that enrich the lives of both generations. For example, a study
at the Gordon and Marilyn Macklin Intergenerational Institute in Findlay, Ohio found that children
in intergenerational care had higher personal/social developmental scores (by 11 months) than
children in non-intergenerational care.5

5
A Results Ready Agenda for Improving the Futures of Vulnerable Children, Elders, Families and Communities
 Intergenerational shared sites are demonstrating cost benefits as well as benefits for the partici-
pants. An analysis of intergenerational shared site facilities operating costs by Virginia Tech indi-
cated such programs show cost savings in personnel and rent, generally the two largest budget
line items.6 To further illustrate this point, the United Retirement Center in Brookings, South
A study at the Dakota reports the staff turn-over average in their co-located Child Development Center and
nursing home campus is 10% compared to the national average of 77%, thereby providing con-
Gordon and tinuity of care as well as cost savings resulting from less investment in recruiting and training
Marilyn Macklin new staff.7
Intergenerational
Institute in Findlay, There are however, some existing barriers. By reviewing and addressing some of the regulatory
issues raised in a report that reviewed Administration on Aging and the Administration on
Ohio found Children and Families programs, many of these perceived obstacles could be eliminated. They
that children in include differences such as nutritional requirements, fire safety codes and sanitation standards.8
intergenerational
The Recovery Act includes important temporary funding boosts for two programs: Head Start,
care had higher
the premier federally supported early education program and the major federal child care pro-
personal/social gram, and the Child Care and Development Block Grant, which helps low-income families and
developmental families receiving or transitioning from public assistance obtain child care. The President’s FY
scores (by 11 2010 Budget builds on this investment and sets a direction for the coming years that sharpens
the focus on improved program quality, benefits for children and families served, and cost-effec-
months) than
tiveness. Intergenerational programming and the use of shared sites and resources offer valu-
children in able, cost effective approaches to achieve those objectives.
non-intergenera-
tional care. In addition to commitments already made, the Administration should consider ways to encour-
age intergenerational practices by including these models as options on websites and in materi-
als and funding opportunities for existing programs such as Early Head Start and Head Start.

Examples:
Jewel Intergenerational Program
Mount Kisco Child Care Center (MKCCC) and Family Services of Westchester’s My Second
Home (MSH) recently released the results of a three-year study by Fordham University of their
JEWEL Intergenerational Program collaboration. JEWEL (Joining Elders with Early Learners) is
a ten-year-old program which brings children and older adults together to learn, nurture each
other and develop meaningful relationships under one roof. The new study, released in April
2009, assessed several components of the program including benefits to the children, children’s
attitudes about older adults, and program satisfaction of all program participants, (children’s
caregivers, older children, elders, elders’ caregivers and staff). Among the benefits to children,
researchers found children learned the importance of sharing and compromising, or socialization
skills, and their overall view of older adults was more positive as compared to preschoolers not
involved in programming with elders. It found that children enjoy being with older adults and
that the elders enjoy being with the children, because it makes them feel younger. Additional
results included an increase in the elders’ energy and happiness levels as a result of interacting
with children through dancing, gardening and arts & crafts. The older adults also developed
closer relationships with the children through those daily activities and small group settings.
Older adults reported feeling helpful and valuable while the staff recognized the children enjoyed
the seniors’ talks about their pasts. Caregivers felt that the elders’ attitudes were more positive
on days they interacted with children.

6
A Results Ready Agenda for Improving the Futures of Vulnerable Children, Elders, Families and Communities
Grand Traverse Pavilions
Grand Traverse Pavilions in Michigan is an award winning model intergenerational health care
and residential community. Their Intergenerational Community Center includes licensed child
care services, assisted living, adult day and overnight respite services. They were one of the
first Head Start Family Child Care programs in the State of Michigan and offer full-day and full- If even half of the
year services including Early Head Start for infants and toddlers and traditional Head Start for
2 million children
pre-schoolers. There are more than 50 children who interact daily with elders through their Kids
R Us approach that includes, among other activities gardening, storytelling, fishing, reading and being raised in
bowling. The age-exchanges that take place daily are thoughtfully designed to be positive, and grandfamilies
purposeful. outside of the formal
foster care system
Generations Adult Day Care Program and Child Care were to enter the
Generations Adult Day Care Program and Child Care located in Columbus, Ohio, is a collabora- system, it would
tive partnership of Heritage Day Health Centers and the YWCA of Columbus. Heritage Day cost taxpayers more
Health Centers operates an adult day program for 45 older adults who need varying levels of
than $6.5 billion
care and supervision. The YWCA operates a child care center for 75 children in the same build-
ing. The children predominately live in homeless shelters or transitional housing with their fami- dollars each year
lies. The adults and children take part in intergenerational activities through music, cooking, art, and would
games and more. A registered nurse is on site to provide health services to both adults and completely
children. Intergenerational activities occur throughout the day.
overwhelm the
system.
Recommendation: Promote permanency and family connections for children by fully
implementing the Fostering Connections to Success and Improving Adoptions Act
(Fostering Connections) of 2008 in order to provide critical supports to grandfamilies
and ensure their inclusion in other child welfare reform policies.

According to the 2005 American Community Survey, there are over 6.7 million children living in
grandparent- or other relative-headed households, also known as grandfamilies. This trend in
families cuts across racial and class lines and is evident in both rural and urban areas. Overall,
grandparent caregivers are more likely to live in poverty (almost 500,000 live below the poverty
level) and to be uninsured than are grandparents not raising grandchildren.10 The children in
these grandfamilies suffer higher-than-average rates of physical, mental, and emotional prob-
lems than other children, often due to the issues that brought them into relative care. The care-
givers’ own health, regardless of health insurance status, often suffers as a consequence of the
strains on them because of caring for children.

These grandparents and other relative-caregivers perform an extraordinary service that allows
hundreds of thousands of children to maintain vital ties to their families while simultaneously
easing the burden on the public child welfare system. The cost savings – in both human and
financial terms – are enormous. Of the approximately 2.5 million children living with grandpar-
ents or other relatives with no parent present, approximately 124,000 are in the foster care sys-
tem – nearly one fourth of all children in foster care.11 The remaining almost 2 million are being
cared for outside of the system by caregivers who often do not have access to any support
services or financial assistance. If even half of these 2 million children were to enter the formal

7
A Results Ready Agenda for Improving the Futures of Vulnerable Children, Elders, Families and Communities
 foster care system, it would cost taxpayers $6.5 billion dollars each year and would completely
overwhelm the system.12 The Fostering Connections to Success and Increasing Adoptions Act of
2008 will expand access to services and financial supports that are so urgently needed for these
families.
“My grandfather
Fostering Connections aids grandfamilies by allowing states to use federal funds to support chil-
believed Social dren moving from foster care to permanency through legal guardianship with relatives. This
Security should be option not only allows children to exit foster care with a permanent family, but also gives states
simple, fair, an opportunity to save resources. The Act also requires notice be given to adult relatives when a
guaranteed, earned child is removed from the parents home, authorizes new grants to connect grandfamilies to the
supportive resources they need through Kinship Navigator Programs, promotes sibling connec-
and available to all tions and establishes policies to improve access to education and health care. States can also
Americans. ...He receive federal support if they expand foster care beyond age 18.
was adamant that
As always, the difficulty is in the detail, so it will be important to closely monitor the development
Social Security was
of the Act’s implementing regulations and policy guidance to ensure that in practice Fostering
an insurance pro- Connections will fully meet its promise to support children and their families. It will also be criti-
gram, not an invest- cal to fully educate states on the benefits of the optional provisions in the Act and encourage
ment plan or a wel- them to implement these.
fare plan.”
Beyond Fostering Connections implementation, several other child welfare programs have been
proposed or are up for reauthorization and can offer additional support to grandfamilies. These
— James Roosevelt Jr.,
include home visiting programs, which would provide professionals to families with young chil-
grandson of President
dren to support and educate the parents, and respite care programs which would provide a
Franklin D. Roosevelt,
reprieve to caregivers by offering time away from their responsibilities.
who signed Social
Security into law in 1935
While the President has made home visiting a priority in the FY 2010 budget outline, it is limited to
those staffed by nurses while there are many other promising programs models. It is also not clear
as it currently stands if the home visiting program proposed would address the unique challenges
of grandfamilies or incorporate an intergenerational approach of using older adults as resources to
support children and families. In addition, the upcoming reauthorization of the Child Abuse
Prevention and Treatment Act (CAPTA) provides an opportunity to incorporate innovative intergen-
erational interventions and strengthen respite care. The National Family Caregiver Support
Program, which provides information, counseling, support services and respite to age qualified
grandparents caring for grandchildren, should be reviewed during the next reauthorization of the
Older Americans Act to ensure it is adequately supporting grandfamilies.

Examples:
State of California
The state of California has introduced legislation to amend its KinGap program13 to take advan-
tage of the new Fostering Connections federal funding and allow children to exit foster care to a
permanent home with a relative. Additionally, legislation has been introduced to expand foster
care beyond the age of 18.

8
A Results Ready Agenda for Improving the Futures of Vulnerable Children, Elders, Families and Communities
The Traveling Grannies and Grandpas
The Traveling Grannies and Grandpas of Michigan provides in-home supports for at-risk, preg-
nant and parenting teens aimed at increasing their self-sufficiency and improving their well-
being and that of their children. Among other services the older adults teach positive parenting
techniques, promote non-violent disciplinary approaches, encourage continued education, assist
with securing pre- and post natal care, and provide transportation to medical appointments and
job interviews. In 2003, Traveling Grannies and Grandpas reported weekly school attendance
increased by 54% for youth receiving services, repeat pregnancies were down and that many
children graduated from high school and went on to college or full time jobs.

Recommendation: Support family economic success by expanding basic Social Security

benefits for vulnerable populations.

Social Security (SS) is the nation’s preeminent intergenerational and poverty reduction program,
providing financial benefits to children, families, and persons with disabilities, as well as to older
persons. SS lifts one million children under age 18 and 13 million seniors above the poverty
line. More than 30 percent of SS benefits go to children, families with children and persons with
disabilities.14

SS benefits are important sources of income for grandfamilies households with at least one
child, which comprise 4.1 percent of all households in the nation, and 9.5 percent of all African-
American households. Even with SS benefits, 22 percent of grandparent-headed families are
poor. Without SS benefits, the poverty rate would be 59 percent or more.15

The poverty rates for grandparent-headed families and families headed by a surviving spouse
can be lowered with several adjustments to the SS program. For example, SS benefits could be
strengthened for widows (ers), for caregivers, for seniors who were low-income workers, and for
grandparents raising grandchildren.16

It is likely that within the next four years President Obama and the Congress will take action to
fix Social Security’s long-term funding shortfall. Policy discussions in recent years about the
future of Social Security have raised numerous options for making that fix, including cutting ben-
efits.17 However, benefit cutback proposals and their proponents rarely, if ever, address how the
cutbacks would impact vulnerable children and families or persons with disabilities. It is impera-
tive that the interests of vulnerable children and families be vigorously and effectively represent-
ed in the coming debate over the future of Social Security.

Example:
During a 2005 Congressional briefing on Social Security, a grandmother, Morrisella Middleton,
testified that she would not be able to raise her grandson without SS benefits. Her son, the
boy’s father, had been widowed and was raising his son until he developed job-related cancer.
In his last days, he asked his mother to take care of his son and gave her his Social Security
number. The grandmother stated that the benefits made the critical difference in her ability to
support her grandson rather than leave him to be raised by others.

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A Results Ready Agenda for Improving the Futures of Vulnerable Children, Elders, Families and Communities
 Recommendation: Increase social supports and educational resources for vulnerable
children and families by encouraging Senior Community Service Employment
Programs and volunteer civic engagement opportunities.

There are about 37.9 million Americans over the age of 65, or around 12.6 percent of the popu-
lation. This number is expected to increase each year, and by 2030 the number of people over
the age of 65 is expected to be over 70 million.18 Older people are living longer and healthier
lives than ever before. An estimated 12.4 million people over the age of 65 exercise in one form
or another. As people age, many long to be engaged. They want to give back to their communi-
ties. According to the National Governor’s Association Center for Best Practice, people 65 and
older each contribute about 96 volunteer hours annually.19 Fifty-six percent of boomers say civic
engagement will be at least fairly important in their retirement and working with children and
youth was the most popular activity they looked forward to during the next chapter in their
lives.20 Younger generations are engaged as well. According to a survey done by Independent
Sector in 2002, volunteering among high school students has reached its highest level in fifty
years.21

Unfortunately all too often younger and older people are untapped resources to their communi-
ties. They can offer support to one another, along with bringing volunteer and paid assistance
and expertise to address community issues and strengthen community ties. Intergenerational
programs provide a venue for volunteer service with younger people serving older people, older
people serving younger people, and both generations serving together. Although additional
research assessing outcomes is needed, the results thus far are promising and the experiences
of intergenerational programs provide rich examples of benefits for young and old alike.22 23

The recently passed Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act reauthorizes the Corporation for
National and Community Service (CNCS) and creates valuable new and innovative intergenera-
tional civic engagement opportunities for both young and old. The Serve America Act will
more than triple national service positions from 75,000 to 250,000 to help match the increased
desire of both young and old to serve. The Act also encourages new corps-based programs for
education, health, poverty and the environment to consider intergenerational approaches to
grantmaking and service delivery. In addition, the Act increases the emphasis on innovation with
the creation of a new Social Innovation Fund which will help support testing new approaches,
such as providing transferable educational awards an older adult volunteer can give to a child,
and leveraging resources and scaling up research-proven programs.

There are also resources in the Recovery Act for AmeriCorps and other service programs, com-
munity and workforce development through Community Development Block Grant funding, and
specific funding for Senior Community Service Employment Programs for part-time employment
pathways to economic self-sufficiency for older individuals and families. Efforts should be made
to ensure that a significant portion of these supplemental resources are targeted to opportunities
to serve disadvantaged children, families and elders through intergenerational programs.

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A Results Ready Agenda for Improving the Futures of Vulnerable Children, Elders, Families and Communities
Examples:
Experience Corps
Experience Corps, an award-winning national program, engages people over 55 in meeting their
communities’ greatest challenges. The program began in 2004. Today, in 23 cities across the
country, 2,000 Experience Corps members tutor and mentor elementary school students, help
teachers in the classroom, and lead after-school enrichment activities. Independent research
shows that Experience Corps boosts student academic performance, helps schools and youth-
serving organizations become more successful, and enhances the well-being of the older adults
in the process. A longitudinal study of Experience Corps by Washington University in St. Louis
was released in April 2009. They reported that over a single school year, students with
Experience Corps tutors made over 60 percent more progress in learning two critical reading
skills - sounding out new words and reading comprehension - than similar students not served
by the program.

Swampscott High School and Senior Center

Having the senior center at the Swampscott High School has been a blessing. Our older adults use the
facility and are thrilled with the opportunities. They walk the indoor track in the morning, take dance
and yoga classes in our dance studio, use our exercise room, and attend classes in the computer rooms.
Our partnership with the seniors also includes using their experiences in our classrooms as guest speak-
ers, tutors, and volunteers in the library. Our students volunteer at the center by performing at various
senior functions, decorating for the holidays, and providing support to their elders on such things as
how to fully use a cell phone, IPod, etc. Last spring our American Studies class provided a breakfast for
those senior citizens who had participated in the class as guest lecturers throughout the year.
At first both older adults and students were nervous and intimidated by each other as the new high
school opened. Now our students feel supported and the seniors welcomed in our positive relationships.
When our budget was cut and we had to share our librarian with the middle school two days a week, it
was a group of older adults who volunteered to have training and cover the hours our librarian is not
available. This allows us to keep the library open all week long for our students.

Larry Murphy
Principal
Swampscott High School
Swampscott, MA

11
A Results Ready Agenda for Improving the Futures of Vulnerable Children, Elders, Families and Communities
 Retired and Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP)
The mission of the Portage County, Michigan Retired and Senior Volunteer Program is to make
a positive impact on the community by recruiting older volunteers to help nonprofit and public
agencies deliver priority services to people of all ages. In 2003, one of their volunteers, Charles
“JABA recognized Fernandez, was nationally recognized with the Older Adult Volunteer Highest Honor presented
that rapid popula- by the National Association of Area Agencies on Aging. To reach youth before they face deten-
tion growth and in tion, Mr. Fernandez, who didn’t learn to read or write until he was 13, began volunteering with
particular, the com- at-risk students and implemented a new program at the alternative high school aimed at reach-
ing these students using non-traditional methods. He recruited additional volunteers and began
ing “age wave,” a mentoring program designed to teach students basic woodworking skills using power tools.
would bring pro- The goal of the program is to instill an interest in learning. Annually, Charles serves over 500
found changes and hours volunteering with youth. He has been an inspiration to many juveniles who, through him,
set personal goals to pursue after leaving the detention center.
opportunities for
which the entire
community would Senior Community Service Employment Program
need to be pre- At age 93, Mildred Mazander came to the senior employment program in Hot Springs, Arkansas
looking for a way to increase her income after her car insurance rate increased, due not to her
pared. As a mem-
age but instead due to the purchase of a newer car. She was placed at the St. Michael’s Day
ber of the school Care Center where she worked 20 hours a week, preparing salads, serving beverages and
board at the time, I clearing and washing dishes for the children at the center. After lunch, she watched over the
knew our three-year-olds during their naptime. She was a tireless worker and role model for the children.
community’s ability
to attend to the FISH (Friends in Schools Helping)Program
needs and desires In 2006, the Jefferson Area Board for Aging (JABA) began FISH (Friends in Schools Helping)
of today and program to engage older volunteers to mentor students who were identified as “at-risk.” The
program now serves 18 public schools with an after school program which takes place at one of
tomorrow's older
JABA’s housing facilities. Volunteers primarily tutor in reading and math and help English as
population was Second Language students providing needed personal attention, enabling students to close the
linked in so many achievement gap. An additional benefit is that elders who no longer have children in the
ways to the schools become advocates for the schools because of their renewed association with this public
institution.
well-being of
children and youth.”
Recommendation: Coordinate and integrate the various transit programs serving chil -
Gordon Walker, dren, youth, older adults, low income workers and persons with disabilities to increase
Chief Executive Officer, critically needed transportation services and improve availability in a cost effective and
Jefferson Area Board efficient manner.
for Aging,
Charlottesville, VA People of all ages and abilities need transportation to get them to school, jobs, health care cen-
ters and appointments of all kinds. But in too many communities, buses and vans sit idle while
many people go without critical transportation. Sharing transit resources and dollars can
increase the ability to serve multiple age groups and purposes. Those purposes include assist-
ing low-income individuals get to and from jobs in suburban areas from their inner city, urban or
rural neighborhoods; transporting children to and from schools and programs such as Head

12
A Results Ready Agenda for Improving the Futures of Vulnerable Children, Elders, Families and Communities
Start; helping older persons to get to and from health care and other services and to programs
where they volunteer; and, assisting persons with disabilities to travel to jobs and appointments.

United We Ride (www.unitedweride.gov) coordinating council on access and mobility has

demonstrated the improved capacity created by collaboration and coordination between trans-
portation and human services programs. United We Ride was created by Executive Order in
2004 requiring multiple federal departments to work together to ensure transportation services
that are seamless, comprehensive and accessible. The program seeks ways to simplify access
to transportation services for persons with disabilities, persons with lower incomes, and older
adults. It has three goals: more rides for target populations for the same or fewer assets; simpli-
fy access; and increase customer satisfaction.

As a part of their work, they undertook a regulatory review of the 62 human service transporta-
tion programs and found little uniformity in program delivery, reporting, and eligibility require-
ments. Many of the programs cited by the 2003 General Accounting Office report support
human service transportation have uniquely different primary missions such as the provision of
employment or health care services. No single law or statute created federal human service
transportation programs, meaning that there is no single or uniform requirement on how they
are delivered, and each program developed its own idiosyncratic regulations, eligibility require-
ments, and operating procedures. Because they have developed autonomously, many Federal
programs also unwittingly fund the same type of service as other Federal programs. At least 37
programs have been identified that provide reimbursement to consumers for transportation
expenses in order to access employment, health care, or other specific types of services. At
least 26 programs fund the purchase of vehicles, the operation of vehicles, and/or facilitate con-
tractual arrangements with existing providers. Eight programs provide transportation to school.
The problem stems more from a lack of coordination between programs and the resulting gaps,
duplications, and inefficiencies in service.24

One way to accelerate serving “transportation disadvantaged” populations would be to build on

this effort and include transportation services for vulnerable children and their families. Other
federal transit programs to consider include but are not limited to the following examples.

• The Federal Transit Administration’s Job Access and Reverse Commute Program which
serves low-income individuals who find it difficult to access jobs in suburban areas from
their inner city, urban or rural neighborhoods.

• Federal Transit Law, as amended by SAFETEA-LU, requires that projects selected for fund-
ing under the Elderly Individuals and Individuals with Disabilities (Section 5310), Job Access
and Reverse Commute (JARC), and New Freedom programs develop plans that meet the
needs of people with disabilities, older adults, and people with low income.

• The Federal Head Start Program regulations require local human service agencies to coor-
dinate transportation resources across human service agencies to control costs and
improve the quality and availability of transportation services. Head Start vehicles, when not
being used to provide transportation services for children enrolled in Head Start, may be
used to transport older adults, people with disabilities, or to provide a broader level of com-
munity transportation service.

13
A Results Ready Agenda for Improving the Futures of Vulnerable Children, Elders, Families and Communities
 The concept of creating multi-purpose transportation programs is embedded in several federal
transit programs, but the concept could be broadened and improved by using an intergenera-
tional strategy to create new or additional links between these programs. Such innovations
would be consistent with and support the administration’s goals of creating job opportunities for
lower-income workers, increasing educational opportunities for vulnerable children, encouraging
older persons to volunteer in programs supporting children and families, and increasing physical
access to health care and other basic services. In addition, ways to encourage states and local
school districts to make fuller uses of school buses when not needed to transport children to
schools can be beneficial to communities. For example, one county in Pennsylvania was able
to increase the number of older adult school volunteers by allowing them to ride the buses to
school with the children. Other transportation resources can be used by multiple age groups as
well. In an unusual sharing of resources, one California town used the correction facility buses
to transport seniors to appointments and activities when they were not needed to transport
inmates.

Examples:
Community Use of School Buses
One example is the city of Vineland, New Jersey which has Policy 8651 that states: In accor-
dance with the statutes of the State of New Jersey and the regulations of the New Jersey
Department of Education, the Vineland Board of Education will permit use of school buses
owned or leased by this district for the purpose of transporting senior citizens’ groups to and
from events within the district or any contiguous district, for transporting handicapped citizens in
any district, and for transporting children and adults participating in a recreation or other pro-
gram operated by the City of Vineland. Such events shall include but not be limited to civic,
social, cultural, educational, recreational, nutritional, and health programs and activities. The
transportation of children and adults participating in a recreation or other program operated by
the City of Vineland may be beyond this district or any contiguous district.

Senior Connections
Senior Connections, which is a long-term care provider for the senior population in DeKalb
County, Georgia, entered into a partnership with the DeKalb Community Service Board (DCSB)
to provide better transportation services across age and special needs groups. Combined, the
two agencies operate over 100 vans. Senior Connections began taking welfare to work clients
to and from job sites and, on the way, drops off and picks up their children at daycare centers.
During the rest of the day the agency shuttles seniors to medical and dental appointments and
takes disabled clients to medical appointments or to job sites. For example, Senior Connections
transports a group of young mentally retarded adults to a job site where they work in an elec-
tronic assembly plant. The riders mixed well and looked forward to seeing each other when they
boarded the van.

14
A Results Ready Agenda for Improving the Futures of Vulnerable Children, Elders, Families and Communities
Recommendation: Improve access to affordable, high quality, comprehensive health
care for children, families and elders by ensuring that reform of the nation’s health
care system includes key investments across the lifespan, encourages the development of
community health centers that serve all ages, and encourages the participation of older
people in health care programs and services for children and their families.

Access to affordable, high-quality, comprehensive health care coverage has critical implications
for children, youth, families, and older adults. Yet, many vulnerable persons do not have access
to such care. Strategic investments in the health and wellbeing of all generations not only
improves the lives of individuals, their families, and communities, these investments yield very
high returns related to increased worker productivity, lower cost medical interventions at all
stages of life, and a stable public health infrastructure better prepared to handle health emer-
gencies. Expanding comprehensive health care coverage to every person while reforming the
health care system is critical.

During this time of debate, policy makers have a unique opportunity to implement reforms
throughout the country’s health care system to improve quality, increase access, and bring down
spiraling health care costs that imperil the short- and long-term financial stability of the U.S.
economy. Because health care spending is projected to consume an increasing share of the
federal budget if costs are not brought under control, timely system-wide reforms can move the
country away from an unsustainable path while improving health care quality and availability for
all people.

While major reforms are under consideration, immediate opportunities exist through the
Recovery Act that will help states direct resources now to health care programs and services for
children, older adults, people with disabilities, and their families – many of whom have lost cov-
erage because of unemployment or receive insufficient assistance because of state budget cuts.
Strengthening local health care systems to support vulnerable individuals and families can stabi-
lize communities, relieve some of the pressure on state budgets, and lay the foundation for
long-term economic recovery.

As recognized by the Recovery Act, innovations and improvements in health care delivery sys-
tems – such as the development of community health centers - are needed to provide better,
more affordable care and improve the country’s long-term fiscal outlook. While the issues of
reform and cost containment will attract considerable attention, an effort to expand and improve
the quality of care and key preventative investments provided by community health centers may
not receive the attention it deserves.

Community health centers have long provided care to vulnerable children, families and seniors
in a variety of underserved areas. As noted by the Health Resources and Services
Administration in the Department of Health and Human Services, health centers cared for more
than 16 million patients in 2007, including 2.8 million who received dental services and 617,000
who received mental health care. Health Centers also employ more than 100,000 people in
underserved communities and leverage more than $9 billion in other health resources. They
also are able to narrow or even eliminate disparities in behavioral health treatment and out-
comes by removing common barriers to care and closely coordinating their behavioral health
and primary care services.25

15
A Results Ready Agenda for Improving the Futures of Vulnerable Children, Elders, Families and Communities
 Older persons can act as mentors and aides in health care settings and improve the quality of
outcomes of care provided disadvantaged children while increasing the cost effectiveness of
delivering services. Retired health care professionals can and should be encouraged to volun-
teer their expertise at community health care centers and other health care sites serving disad-
vantaged populations.

It falls to advocates for intergenerational approaches to not only promote expansion of the com-
munity health care program, but also to ensure that the intergenerational perspective is reflected
in the approaches to providing health care in under-resourced communities.

Such efforts can be carried out within the administration’s proposals to increase the number of
community health care centers around the country and to provide additional funding for health
care in underserved rural areas. The Recovery Act’s inclusion of $155 million to help create 126
new community health centers across the country to help people in need access primary and
preventive health care is an important first step and short term response to this need.

Examples:
Volunteers in Medicine
Volunteers in Medicine was founded by a doctor who retired to Hilton Head, South Carolina and
was struck by the number of low income workers and their families who lacked access to health
care. At the same time, a group of retired medical personnel (physicians, nurses, dentists)
began expressing an interest in finding a way to continue practicing their profession on a volun-
tary, part-time basis to help those without access to care. These two groups came together to
create the Volunteers in Medicine Clinic, a 501 (c)(3) free health clinic utilizing retired health
care professionals. The clinic roots its work in a “Culture of Caring” that views how people are
treated during a clinic visit as important as the medical care they receive. The work recognizes
the strengths of those of all ages in need and respects their dignity.

CARE-A-VAN
Bon Secours Health System recruits volunteers to assist with their CARE-A-VAN program which
began in 1997 and serves the greater Richmond, Virginia area. The program consists of two
mobile health clinic vans which travel throughout the metro area to provide free primary, urgent
and preventive health care to children, families and elders. Services include health screenings,
immunizations for children, school physicals for uninsured children, and examination and treat-
ment of sick, uninsured patients. Older adults who still have active medical licenses but are
phasing out of full time work provide medical services alongside paid health professionals. In
addition, volunteers fill a number of other roles including assistance with set-up and break-down
of sites, helping with patient flow, registration, medical interpretation and other tasks as request-
ed. About 80% of the volunteers are older adults. Along with medical services, the volunteers
also help manage the Care-A-Vans“ Reach Out and Read” program that includes reading to
children who visit the van and distributing books for them to take home. The vans provide about
15,000 patient visits each year and distribute well over 3000 books. Patients speak an array of
languages including English, Spanish or Arabic and volunteers and staff on the Care-A-Vans are
available to assist diverse populations.

16
A Results Ready Agenda for Improving the Futures of Vulnerable Children, Elders, Families and Communities
Conclusion

“How far you go in life depends on your being tender with the young,
compassionate with the aged, sympathetic with the striving, and tolerant of
the weak and strong. Because someday in your life you will have been all
of these.”
– George Washington Carver

Public policies should meet the needs of all generations, and resources are more wisely used
when they connect generations rather than separate them. This intergenerational approach to
framing public policies as demonstrated in this paper is especially important now as the country
faces serious economic challenges and unprecedented investment opportunities such as those
outlined in the Recovery Act and the new Administration’s budget. The need for programs and
services that help vulnerable children, older adults and families better cope with the effects of
this recession and beyond is acute. The opportunity exists to re-think single age strategies and
make investments that help to re-weave the country’s social fabric. This agenda is designed to
remind policymakers and the public that generational interdependence, or reciprocity between
generations, is the reality in which we all live. Public policies should protect and encourage the
mutual giving and receiving of resources, which have been characteristic of societies throughout
time. Recognition of our generational interdependence, and the strengths of each age group,
will help us prevail over difficult economic conditions, promote social progress, and ensure
future economic stability.

17
A Results Ready Agenda for Improving the Futures of Vulnerable Children, Elders, Families and Communities
 Endnotes

1
Generations United. (2008). Stronger Together: A Call to Innovation for Funders of Children, Youth,
Families, and Older Adults. Washington, DC. Author.

2
Corporation for National and Community Service (November 2005). Youth Helping America.
Washington, DC. Author; Fried, L.P. et. al. (March 2004). A Social Model for Health Promotion for an
Aging Population: Initial Evidence on the Experience Corps Model, Journal of Urban Health, Vol.81,
No.1, p.64-78; Generations United (2008). Intergenerational Shared Sites: Saving Dollars While Making
Sense. Washington, DC. Author; and Hayden, C.D. (2003). Financial analysis & considerations for repli-
cation of the ONEgeneration Intergenerational Daycare Program. Oakland, CA: National Economic
Development and Law Center.

3
Shonkoff, J.P. and Phillips, D. (2000). From Neurons to Neighborhoods: The science of early child
development. Washington, DC: National Academies Press.

4
Pre-K Now (no date). Fact Sheet: The Benefits of High-Quality Pre-K. Washington, DC: Pre-K Now.
Accessed January 29. 2009 at http://www.preknow.org/advocate/factsheets/benefits.cfm.

5
Rosebrook, V. (2006). Research Indicates Intergenerational Interactions Enhance Young Children’s
Personal/Social Skills. Together. Washington, DC.

6
Generations United (2008). Intergenerational Shared Sites: Saving Dollars While Making Sense.
Washington, DC. Author

7
Generations United (2008). The 2008 Intergenerational Shared Site Best Practice Awards: Showcasing
Organizations that Successfully Unite the Generations Under One Roof. Washington, DC. Author

8
Department of Health and Human Services. (1995). Co-located intergenerational activities in
Department of Health and Human Services’ Programs. (Office of the Inspector General, ADF-IM-92-12).
Washington, DC.

9
American Community Survey. US Census Bureau.2005. Washington, DC.

10
Children’s Bureau, Administration for Children and Families, U.S. Department of Health and Human
Services, the AFCARS Report Preliminary FY 2006 Estimates as of January 2008 (Washington DC:
2008). Available online at http://www.acf.dhhs.gov/programs/cb/stats_research/afcars/tar/report14.pdf

11
This figure was calculated based on the Federal share of the 2000 average monthly foster care mainte-
nance payment, which as estimated at $545 (2000 Green Book, Committee on Ways and Means, U.S.
House of Representatives)

12
California’s Kinship Guardianship Assistance Payment Program, providing a permanency option for chil-
dren in appropriate, long-term foster care placements with relative caregivers, first became effective on
January 1, 2000.

13
National Academy of Social Insurance (February 2008). Social Security An Essential Asset and
Insurance Protection for All. Washington, DC. Author.

14
Snyder, A.R., Mclaughlin, D.K., Coleman, A.J. “Grandparent-Headed Households with Children: Poverty
and Intergenerational Income Sharing.” Presented at the 2006 Population Association of America annu-
al meetings in Los Angeles, and currently under review at Journal of Gerontology Social Sciences.

18
A Results Ready Agenda for Improving the Futures of Vulnerable Children, Elders, Families and Communities
15
Reno, V.P. & Lavery, J. (January 2009). Strengthening Social Security for Vulnerable Groups.
Washington, DC: National Academy of Social Insurance.

16
Sass, S., Munnell, A.H. & Eachruth, A. (2007) The Social Security Fix-It Book. Boston, MA: The Center
for Retirement Research, Boston College.

17
U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, Adminstiration on Aging. (2008). A Profile of Older
Americans: 2008. Washington, DC: Author.

18
National Governors Association Centers for Best Practice. (2006). Fast Facts: Civic Engagement and
Older Americans Volunteerism. Washington, DC: Author.

19
Peter D. Hart Research Associates. (August 2003). The New Face of Retirement: An Ongoing Survey
of American Attitudes on Aging. San Francisco, CA: Civic Ventures.

20
Independent Sector. (2002). Engaging Youth in Lifelong Service. Washington, DC: Author.

21
The Annie E. Casey Foundation (2005). Making what difference? How intergenerational programs help
children and families. Baltimore, MD: Author.

22
Butts, D. (2003). “Intergenerational Service Learning and Volunteering.”Philanthropy Across the
Generations. Edited by Burlingame, San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass.

23
Report to the President Human Services Transportation Coordination Executive Order 13330. (2005).
United We Ride. Accessed 4/13/2009 www.unitedweride.gov/1_866_ENG_HTML.htm

24
Health Resources and Services Administration. US Department of Health and Human Services. 2009.
Washington, DC. Available at www.hhs.gov/recovery/hrsa/healthcentergrants.html.

19
A Results Ready Agenda for Improving the Futures of Vulnerable Children, Elders, Families and Communities
Appendix

FAMILY ECONOMIC SUCCESS

Nearly one in five children grows up in poverty and increasing numbers of children and families face hardship in the cur-
rent economic crisis. Efforts that combat job losses, increases earning and invest in income support programs directly
benefit children, families and older adults in poverty and at the margins.

Priorities American Recovery FY 2010 Budget Future

Poverty reduction
Increasing income for low-
income individuals and fam-
ilies
Assistance to families in
overcoming obstacles to
keeping good jobs and
meeting the needs of their
children and other family
members
Support for under-skilled
persons and persons laid
off because of economic
downturn in competing for
new jobs created by public
investments
Give priority to funding
Senior Community Service
employment programs that
offer supports to children
and families
Improve transportation to
and from jobs
and Reinvestment
Act Opportunities
Financial Assistance to low-
income families
—$3 billion for TANF
Emergency Contingency
Fund
—$14 billion for one-time
Social Security Economic
Recovery Payment in 2009
of $250 for retirees, veter-
ans, and people with dis-
abilities
— financial incentives for
states to make programs
accessible to more low-
wage workers
An additional $2 billion in
child care funding under the
Child Care and
Development Block Grant
to help low-income working
families pay for child care
$3.95 billion for Workforce
Investment Act training and
employment services (funds
to localities for job training,
and employment services
for dislocated workers,
youth, and adults)
Opportunities
Transitional jobs and career
pathway programs
Increased investments in
YouthBuild, expanding
opportunities for disadvan-
taged young people to com-
plete high school, learn
valuable skills, and build
affordable housing; job
training support for ex-
offenders returning to their
communities
Increased funding for public
transit to support com-
muters, improve air quality,
and reduce greenhouse
gases
Opportunities
Upcoming national discus-
sion by the Administration
and Congress on the future
of the Social Security
Program
Workforce Investment Act
reauthorization expected in
the 111th Congress and
consideration of intergener-
ational training and work-
force opportunities
Exploration of joint pro-
gramming and blended
funding across FTA (Job
Access and Reverse
Commute Grant) programs
and community develop-
ment initiatives (CDBG)

$120 million for Senior

Community Service
Employment for part-time
employment pathways to
economic self-sufficiency
for older individuals and
families

Transportation infrastruc-
ture funding

20
A Results Ready Agenda for Improving the Futures of Vulnerable Children, Elders, Families and Communities
Appendix, continued

CAREGIVING, FAMILY STRENGTHENING AND SUPPORT

Intergenerational caregiving of all kinds is on the rise. If not for grandparents and other relative caregivers, millions of
children would be denied the opportunity to remain in stable, loving homes.

Priorities American Recovery FY 2010 Budget Future

and Reinvestment Opportunities Opportunities
Act Opportunities

Every child has a safe, nur-
turing and permanent family
Assistance to families in
overcoming obstacles to
keeping good jobs and
meeting the needs of their
children and other family
members
An additional $2 billion in
child care funding under the
Child Care and
Development Block Grant
to help low-income working
families pay for child care
Maintenance of additional
investment in child care
funding
Development of regulations
and policy guidance for
Fostering Connections to
Success and Improving
Adoptions Act and utilizing
opportunity to apply inter-
generational lens to array of
child welfare programs and
services

Guarantee child care assis- Scheduled reauthorization

tance to low-income fami- of the Child Abuse
lies, including grandfamilies Prevention and Treatment
Act (CAPTA) opportunity to
Make workplace policies strengthen respite care;
and practices more flexible continuing efforts on appro-
(e.g., family and medical priations to fund Lifespan
leave; intergenerational Respite Care Act
shared sites and resources)
for working parents and Increased support for
grandfamilies National Family Caregiver
Support Program, which
can provides information,
counseling, support servic-
es and respite to grandpar-
ents caring for grandchil-
dren

21
A Results Ready Agenda for Improving the Futures of Vulnerable Children, Elders, Families and Communities
Appendix, continued

HEALTH CARE
Investments in the health and wellbeing of all generations improves the lives of individuals, their families, and communi-
ties, as well as increases worker productivity and reduces the need and cost for health care interventions at all ages.

Priorities American Recovery FY 2010 Budget Future

and Reinvestment Opportunities Opportunities
Act Opportunities

Access to affordable, high-
quality, comprehensive, cul-
turally sensitive health and
mental health care services
for all generations, espe-
cially low income families
and children
$87 billion in federal
Medicaid matching funds
FMAP – the federal match
for Medicaid to help pay for
health care for families
struggling during the eco-
nomic crisis and help states
facing budget shortfalls
$155 million to help create
126 new community health
centers across the country
to help people in need
access primary and preven-
tive health care, creating
some 5,000 jobs in the
process
Establishment of a reserve National health care reform
fund of more than $630 bil- agenda provides opportuni-
lion over 10 years to ties for intergenerational
finance health care system partnerships and shared
reform sites/resources as efficient
and cost-effective vehicles
$73 million to improve
access to and quality of
health care in rural areas
by strengthening regional
and local partnerships,
expanded community-
based prevention efforts
and modernization of the
health care infrastructure in
rural areas

$19 billion for health infor-

mation technology and $1
billion for comparative
effectiveness research

22
A Results Ready Agenda for Improving the Futures of Vulnerable Children, Elders, Families and Communities
Appendix, continued
EDUCATION
Older adult volunteers provide valuable assistance to Head Start, Early Head Start, Pre-K child care and K-12 programs
to help children, especially those from families with low incomes, develop the skills they need to achieve success in
school and beyond.
Priorities
Learning opportunities sup-
port healthy brain develop-
ment and functioning.
Support for education and
other initiatives that close
achievement gaps, improve
successful early and later
learning, and boost high
school completion
Expand service learning
efforts in schools that
involve older adults as
teachers and mentors
Increase multigenerational
learning opportunities
In retrofitting or building
new schools, give priority to
projects which utilize effec-
tive and cost-saving shared
site/shared resources
approach
Retool teacher preparation,
recruitment, retention and
rewards and support pro-
grams that attract and train
retired persons to assist in
schools
Policy development and
support to improve teacher
preparation, recruitment,
and retention
A Results Ready Agenda for Improving the Futures of Vulnerable Children, Elders, Families and Communities
American Recovery
and Reinvestment
Act Opportunities
$13 billion additional fund-
ing for Title I including $3
billion for school improve-
ments to finance the addi-
tional academic support
and learning opportunities
to help disadvantaged stu-
dents progress along with
their classmates
Increased funding for IDEA
Parts B, C and Section 619
(Preschool)
Increased funding for edu-
cation and for community
service initiatives
Increased funding for
Education of Homeless
Children and Youth
$40 billion in state stabiliza-
tion funds to help avert
education cuts and given to
states in exchange for a
commitment to begin
advancing education
reforms; $8.8 billion for
other key services, includ-
ing school modernization;
and additional funds for
school construction
FY 2010 Budget Future
Opportunities Opportunities
Incentives and supports for Reauthorization of the
States to build comprehen- Elementary and Secondary
sive, coordinated, high- Education Act potential for
quality early childhood increased focus on inter-
“Zero to Five” systems, generational approaches
building on the early child-
hood investments in the Policy language related to
American Recovery and parental role and involve-
Reinvestment Act of 2009 ment should include
grandparents and other rel-
Investments in school sys- atives raising children in
tems and non-profit organi- addition to other
zations with demonstrated guardians
track records of success in
raising student achievement
and in implementing new
innovative approaches
through the “Innovation
Fund, ” that will include
support for “Promise
Neighborhoods,” modeled
after the Harlem Children’s
Zone
Scaled-up support for suc-
cessful models for turning
around low-achieving
schools
Investments in efforts to
strengthen teacher and
principal preparation pro-
grams
23
Appendix, continued

CIVIC AND COMMUNITY IMPROVEMENT

Younger and older people are proven resources for their communities, bringing volunteer and paid assistance and
expertise to address community issues and strengthen community ties.

Priorities American Recovery FY 2010 Budget Future

Surrounding children and
youth with the opportuni-
ties, resources, supports,
and role models they need
to become successful and
contributing citizens
Recognizing and engaging
local opportunities for well-
defined neighborhood-
based family strengthening
efforts aimed at improving
results for children and fam-
ilies facing economic and
social disadvantage
Increased opportunities for
intergenerational engage-
ment to achieve results by
engaging young and old in
meaningful civic life
and Reinvestment
Act Opportunities
$201 million to support
expansion of AmeriCorps
state and national and
AmeriCorps Vista pro-
grams, including initiatives
as part of Faith-based,
urban and community
efforts
$1 billion in additional
Community Development
Block Grant Funding for
some 1,200 state and local
governments to invest in
their own community devel-
opment priorities
Opportunities
Funding that sets
AmeriCorps on a path to
expand from current 75,000
slots to 250,000
Creation of a new Social
Innovation Fund charged
with testing new approach-
es, leveraging resources
and scaling up research-
proven programs
Expansion and improve-
ment of Senior Corps to tap
experience of “baby
boomers”
Additional resources for
Learn and Serve America
Opportunities
Implementation of the
newly reauthorized
Corporation for National
and Community Service
(CNCS) and expanded
national service programs
CNCS development of new
strategic plan to guide
efforts beginning in 2011
–opportunity to expand
focus on innovation, inter-
generational efforts and
shared site/resources
approaches

24
A Results Ready Agenda for Improving the Futures of Vulnerable Children, Elders, Families and Communities
Appendix, continued

DATA COLLECTION
Better information required to correctly assess needs and impact of programs and services, as well as to refine existing
and develop new policies and programs to benefit children, families, and older adults.

Priorities American Recovery FY 2010 Budget Future

Fragmented and differing
funding and eligibility crite-
ria for services and sup-
ports across agencies and
programs are major prob-
lems and require national
focus to reduce barriers
Updating poverty measure
Ensure good data to help
make good decisions with
an accurate 2010 census
to provide low-income
population and communities
their fair share of public
resources and representa-
tion
and Reinvestment Opportunities Opportunities
Act Opportunities
$1 billion funding for $4 billion of additional fund- Ongoing discussions in
Census effort ing in budget proposal academic and policy circles
about restructuring poverty
measure, population cate-
Broad funding measure gories, etc.
does not address specific
barriers Data requests in scheduled
reauthorizations and
agency reporting in areas
that provide support for
intergenerational programs
and services

Maintain Census collection

of data on children in rela-
tive care, including grand-
families, and expand data
collection to include infor-
mation on other relatives
raising children

Improve data and reporting

on grandfamilies across
programs

25
Generations United1331 H Street, NW,
Suite 900
Washington, DC 20005

www.gu.org