..With three million residents strong, the County of San Diego believes in the need to support intergenerational connections. In 2001, it backed up that belief with serious funding by adding a full-time staff position of Intergenerational Coordinator at the county’s department of Aging & Independence Services (AIS). That investment has paid big returns: through intergenerational programs it has employed residents’ strengths to expand services and address serious challenges.

.....In San Diego today, all types of county services and programs have an intergenerational aspect. Libraries and Parks and Recreation offer intergenerational art, math, reading and jazz programs. Older adults take part in a Workforce Academy for Youth, mentoring foster youth for six months as they get ready to leave the foster system and join the work world. Young people have the opportunity to join the Legacy Corps Program where they serve caregivers and learn about the aging process.

.....On June 15 county agencies, non-profit organizations, for-profit agencies and faith communities conducted a summit: Live Well, San Diego! Building a Healthy Community for All Ages. Speakers and activities focused on how to make healthy choices and create living environments that encourage safe, active lifestyles.

.....San Diego’s efforts have resonated well with residents of all ages. As retired volunteer and community gardener Rich Rogers noted, community gardening “has turned into a labor of love. Gardening is as “grass roots” as you can get and teaching and mentoring kids of all ages increases my desire to be a positive influence and asset in my community.”

.."The theme of this year’s summit was “Building Better Health through the Ages.” The event included a televised webcast from the Town and Country Hotel from where the attendees heard useful information on intergenerational programs, veterans benefits, Social Security, Medicare, and featured speaker – noted actor and activist Richard Dreyfuss gave a speech. After the webcast ended, the South Region Summit focused on our region’s intergenerational volunteer opportunities with an excellent panel of volunteers. During this session people were asked to join us in exploring how we can expand the intergenerational opportunities in the South region.

At every site, Summit participants also had the opportunity to learn about innovative ways to bring the generations together to address important issues in our community. After the session, there were $10,000 available in each of our communities to help ‘jump start’ new intergenerational programs and encourage community partnerships.

As a community, we have adopted the Live Well, San Diego! initiative to ensure that all our residents are healthy, safe and thriving. As a community, we will work together to reduce our chronic illnesses through education and prevention."

..By Pamela B Smith Director, Aging and Independence Services

.....Youngsters may not be able to spell “intergenerational,” but they know what it means to have extra time and attention from an older adult who also values that interaction. The concept of intergenerational programs is simple: Bring youth and older adults together for their mutual benefit. Our society needs older adults to mentor the future generations, and youngsters can teach their grandparents’ generation a thing or two, particularly about technology.

.....Intergenerational used to be the way our families were. Many ages lived together, learning from one another, helping out. But that lifestyle is more uncommon now. Both ends of the age ... . Continued

.By Denise Nelesen LCSW, Aging and Independence Services

.....Actor Richard Dreyfuss will be the keynote speaker at the “Live Well, San Diego! Summit: Building a Healthy Community for All Ages”. One of his notable roles was as the teacher in Mr. Holland’s Opus, for which he received Academy Award and Golden Globe nominations. At 29, he won the Best Actor Oscar for The Goodbye Girl. He also starred in The Apprenticeship of Duddy Kravitz, Jaws, and Close Encounters of the Third Kind.
In his personal life, Dreyfuss has been a political and social activist. He sits on the board of the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia, which built the first national museum dedicated to our Constitution. He has also spoken in venues across the country about the need for civic engagement.
.....Another featured speaker will be Nancy Henkin, director of the Intergenerational Center at Temple University that has developed a range of cross-age programs, including: Five and Fit: Mobilizes older adults to fight early childhood obesity; and Project Shine: College students from diverse backgrounds help older immigrants acquire citizenship.

Generation Learning from One Another

By County of San Diego Health and Human Services

 

..Would you believe there are more than 24,000 grandparents in San Diego County who have primary responsibility for meeting their grandchildren’s daily needs? As surrogate parents, they must re-learn and navigate a complex network of health, educational and social services, often making the journey alone. As part of the Live Well, San Diego! 10-year initiative to build better health in the region, the County of San Diego’s Health & Human Services Agency, First 5 San Diego and community partners hosted a Grandparents Raising Grandchildren event to help these families connect with the services and assistance available to them.

More information comming soon