Volunteer Guide for After-School Programs

Posted by on July 30, 2004

[posted from Public Education Network newsblast]

EXPERIENCE AFTER SCHOOL

Experience Corps has released a resource guide designed to help community organizations develop and enhance meaningful roles for older adults in after-school programs. “We?ve seen how effective the match between older adults and after-school programs can be,” notes Experience Corps CEO John S. Gomperts. Experience Corps projects in four cities — Boston, Kansas City, San Francisco, and Washington DC — currently place Corps members in after-school programs as tutors, mentors, homework helpers, and activity leaders. With the publication of this tool kit, we hope to encourage more organizations across the country to tap the resource of older adults to meet the unmet needs of children after school,” Gomperts adds. The guide, “Experience After School: Engaging Older Adults in After-School Programs,” is designed to provide practical, hands-on information to existing after-school program staff and senior service organizations interested in partnering with after-school programs. It was funded by a grant from the Charles Stewart Mott Foundation. Contents include information on effective ways to design programs; recruit, support, and retain older adults;
estimate the costs involved, and evaluate the program?s effectiveness. In addition, the guide includes sample materials from Experience Corps sites, including recruitment fliers, volunteer applications, and training agendas.

http://www.experiencecorps.org/news/afterschoolreport/index.html