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family friends
Bringing Caring Individuals
and Families Together.
Family
Friends
is an intergenerational program based on the principle that Family
Friends — active, committed, mature people— give
of themselves to improve the lives of children and families with
special needs, the quality of their own lives and the community
as a whole.
Currently
there are at least 26 Family Friends
projects established in the US. Efforts to pioneer a Family
Friends program in Louisville began in 2004 by the
Council on Mental Retardation. The goal of the Council’s Family
Friends program is to match mature volunteers, age
55 +, with families which includes a child with a disability who
is age 16 or under. Funding for this program is provided in part
by the U.S. Administration on Aging (AOA), grant no. 90AM2770.
Family
Friends National
Low
Bandwidth (Dial-Up) | Medium
Bandwidth (DSL/Cable)
High Bandwidth (Cable)
Family
Friends Brochure
To
learn how you can become a Family Friends volunteer or to be matched
with a Family Friend, please call
Sandy
Woolen
Family Friends Program Director
at (502) 584-1239
or e-mail her at swoolen@councilonmr.org.
Sign
up for the Family Friends Newsletter, The Friendly Connection, by
sharing your Contact Information
Who can be a Family
Friend ?
- If
you are 55 +
- Can
spend 2-4 hours a week as a mentor/friend
- Enjoy
children
- Are
willing to participate in a free training program
- If
you are interested in an on-going relationship with a child
and family in your community
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What happens when a Family
Friend visits a Family’s home?
Family
Friends
offer time and attention to a child by playing games, reading stories,
drawing pictures, practicing school skills, listening and talking,
or perhaps helping with a child during a busy time in the parents
day. Family Friends offer life
experiences, skills, time and knowledge as a general support to
the family, while meaningful relationships with individuals in the
family begins.
Each relationship will be unique based on the child and family’s
need(s) and the Family Friends' willingness, abilities and comfort
level. Parents usually remain at home during the Family Friends'
visit.
The time Family Friends spend with a child offers the parent
an opportunity to spend time with another sibling, catch up on household
chores, or do something for themselves!
Who is eligible to
have a Family Friend?
- Families
living in Louisville and surrounding counties, which includes
a child, age 16 or younger, with a disability.
- There
is no cost to the family
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Family
Friends Benefits Everyone Involved:
Volunteer:
- Opportunity
to build a genuine, caring relationship with a child with special
needs and his/her family
- Opportunity
to share experience, skills, wisdom, time, knowledge, and compassion
with the next two generations
- Opportunity
to receive training and support from Family Friends staff, volunteers,
and families served
Child:
- One
on one attention
-
Friendly Support
-
Opportunity to learn from the Family Friend
- Receives
compassion, concern, and possibly, love
Parent/Family:
- Friendly
support
-
Time to spend with another child, tend to another responsibility,
or do something for their self
Child, Volunteer, & Family:
- Enlarged
social networks
-
Opportunity to give & receive affection and appreciation
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Someone to talk to
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Someone to listen to
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Someone to spend quality time with
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Opportunity to strengthen and improve his/her community by promoting
the principals of friendship and civility
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