Homefriends

Project Title:	Homefriends
Grant/Contract Number:	90CA1577
Type of Project:	Demonstration
Funding Agency:	Office on Child Abuse and Neglect
Agency Contact Person:	Sue Sparrow (202) 205-8244
Principal Investigator:	Adam Brunner
Mailing Address:	Temple University Sponsored Projects Administration 1601 North Broad Street, 406 USB Philadelphia, PA 19122
Total Project Duration:	09/30/96 to 09/29/01
FY 98 Total Costs:	$150,000
Total Project Budget:	$1,000,000
Child Maltreatment Focus:	Primary
Type of Abuse:	Neglect
Sample Size:	125 families, 372 children over 5 years
Age of Subjects:	5+ years old
Child Abuse and Neglect Focus of This Project:	Treatment and Preventive Interventions
Summary

The Homefriends program is a collaboration between Temple University's Center for Intergenerational Learning (CIL) and the Supportive Child-Adult Network (SCAN). Homefriends is modeled after CIL's Family Friends program. Homefriends is designed to enhance supports for families that have children with disabilities or chronic illnesses who are at risk of neglect or are neglected. The program is a form of family mentoring that engages community elders as caregivers for vulnerable families in West Philadelphia. The program aims to decrease social isolation of targeted families, decrease parental stress, improve parenting skills of caregivers, improve caregiver attitudes and responses to neglected children, increase caregivers' knowledge and access to community resources, and increase the community's response to the needs of targeted families and their children. Families will be referred to SCAN from the Philadelphia Department of Health and Human Services. Key program components include connecting families with older volunteers from their neighborhoods, coordinating parent support groups, and involving community businesses and social services in planning and intervention. The Homefriends program will recruit 25 older volunteers annually, to serve a total of 125 families and 372 children over 5 years. The volunteers will visit families in their homes weekly, provide social-emotional support, model positive parenting, offer respite care, and connect families with community resources. Family support groups and an advisory committee will serve as added resources.