Many science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) outreach programs focus on children, but relatively few efforts are dedicated to voting-age populations. These groups are important to reach because misinformation about science is widespread and difficult to detect, often interfering with informed voting on science-related issues. Science…

The Intergenerational Leadership Institute (ILI) is a yearlong certificate training program developed by Pennsylvania State University for older adults (55-plus) seeking new lifelong learning and civic engagement experiences and opportunities to contribute to innovation and change in their communities. Data from participant surveys and…

We designed a cross-disciplinary interdepartmental volunteer program, which involved student participation in "community care teams for the elderly living alone." Our aim was to enhance communication between students and the elderly. Students were expected to meet and learn to get along with the elderly, to develop listening and…

The Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program, sponsored by the IRS, offers free tax services for individuals with low-to-moderate incomes, the elderly, disabled and/or those who lack English language proficiency. Although established by the IRS in 1969, it is administered by partnering community based volunteer organizations throughout U.S.,…

Developing educational programs for older adults who are highly educated and healthy is necessary in order to meet the learning needs for this specific group. One response to this demand for educational programs is the Learning in Retirement Organization (LIR). LIR began in New York City in 1962 as an educational program for retired professionals.…

Few people are willing to admit that senior adults and young children share many common characteristics, including: (1) changes in development; (2) need for companionship; and (3) the desire to be understood. These two groups are connected mostly through direct interaction with middle-aged adults. One very practical way to build a greater sense of…

This manual, prepared by the Michigan Office of Services to the Aging, is intended to aid agencies concerned with aging in planning volunteer programs. This second of three volumes helps the volunteer coordinator design and implement a successful training program for the volunteer network. The training process described here begins with the…

Asserting that America's senior citizens make up the largest untapped source of talent that can be utilized to assist the schools, this booklet proceeds to provide practical guidelines for recruiting and using older volunteers. The document opens with an exploration of the range of roles older volunteers can fill, then considers the process of…

Potential sources of volunteers over the age of 65 for tutoring in remedial or compensatory reading programs include retired teacher associations, local councils on aging, and local chapters of the American Association for Retired People. Personal contact is generally responsible for volunteers' participation in a tutorial program. When addressing…

This third of three booklets was prepared by the Michigan Office of Services to the Aging to help agencies concerned with aging to plan volunteer programs. This volume is a compendium of resources, including materials from seven different volunteer programs. It contains a wide variety of training tips and techniques to help the person(s) in charge…

This manual was developed by the staff of the Read Aloud Programs for the Elderly of the Seattle Public Library. It is based on a year's experience of conducting read-aloud programs in nursing homes and is meant to be a guide for setting up similar programs in other library systems. The first half of the manual, addressed to program managers,…

This report describes Project OASIS (Older Adults Sharing Important Skills), a project designed to provide paraprofessional mental health services to nursing home residents by providing training for older adult volunteers in areas related to mental health and the elderly, supervision by OASIS staff, and consultation by staff. The background of the…

Ideas for orienting and training elderly adults to work as volunteers with children in school and nonschool settings are given in this manual. In addition, ideas for planning the goals of an intergenerational program, recruiting volunteers, and preparing children, teachers, and child care staff for interaction with volunteers are provided.…

Recruiting mentors is a continuous challenge for most programs. A systematic recruitment plan, carefully developed and implemented, will increase a program's chances for success. Drawing from effective practices used by volunteer-based organizations and research findings about mentoring, the material in this document describes recruitment…

"Guide of Ideas for Planning and Implementing Intergenerational Projects," is for all professionals that are or wish to be enrolled in the development of intergenerational activities. This "Guide" is the main product of the Project MATES--Mainstreaming Intergenerational Solidarity, co-financed by the Lifelong Learning…