Generations of Hope: Creating Nurturing Intergenerational Communities
Due to their age or problems resulting from the trauma they have experienced, many children in the child welfare system are considered hard-to-place and face long-term foster care. Even when these children are adopted, their situation may be precarious, because adoptive families traditionally receive little if any help in dealing with challenges that may arise. The Generations of Hope Community model was created precisely to provide such support. In the pilot site, Hope Meadows, about twelve families, each of whom has adopted three or four children and many of whom also have biological children, live in an intentionally arranged community that also includes about sixty seniors. Housing for the families is free, and the seniors pay reduced rent in exchange for volunteering in various ways that support the children and families. Annie E. Casey Foundation staff were intrigued by the close bonds that were being formed among people of different ages, races, incomes and backgrounds, and were attracted to a unique idea that combined the Foundation’s interests in housing and community development, promoting the adoption of foster children, and supporting and strengthening families. This also was a "bet" on the creativity and determination of the program's founder.
- Since it opened in 1994, Hope Meadows families have adopted almost sixty children. Both the families and the seniors are thriving.
- Hope Meadows has received high-visibility publicity, and there appears to be growing interest in the model. With support from the W.K. Kellogg Foundation, a newly established Generations of Hope Development Corporation (GHDC) is pursuing replication, and other nonprofit organizations also are planning or have launched similar communities. As yet, however, there appears to have been little effect on the way major public and private systems serving children and the elderly operate. This may change in the future, though, now that the founder has turned over responsibility for Hope Meadows to a successor and is concentrating on refining and promoting the Generations of Hope Community model.
- The W.K. Kellogg Foundation awarded Generations of Hope almost $4 million for replication and committed another $4 million to a revolving loan fund to assist prospective replicators with predevelopment costs. Other foundations have expressed interest, as well. From the public sector, in addition to a special start-up allocation from the Illinois legislature, beginning in 2008, the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services is providing about $360,000 a year to Generations of Hope for post-adoption services.
For more information, read the full Generations of Hope Program Profile, which includes background on the program, why this was of interest to the Casey Foundation, and our return on investment. Also, Brenda Krause Eheart, executive director, and Tina Calhoun, participant, discuss the program In Their Own Words.
Contact:
Generations of Hope Community
www.generationsofhope.org