In addition, special attention is being given to residents of public housing who are affected by violence, drug abuse and isolation. Family Friends is a home visiting program provided to parents of children 0 to 5 years. Families are supported to use extension and other community resources. Through the Good Neighbors program, adult and youth volunteer leaders are recruited, trained and supported to conduct community-strengthening activities. Local businesses have made in-kind contributions.
Collaborators also contribute computer hardware.
Outcomes in terms of ability to care, nurture, understand, guide and advocate are evident in the home-visited parents. Of six active, low-income Good Neighbors volunteers all demonstrated improved communications, problem solving, and ability to work within a group for mutual support. Five of the six showed improved skills in parenting, the other having only married children. All the participants demonstrated their ability to access community resources and to work effectively with youth. The Good Neighbor volunteers are working with the literacy program, helping out at the local public housing complexes by doing grocery shopping for the elderly and disable residents and serving breakfast and lunch to youth participants of the summer meal program, working with some of the young parents in the Family Friends program, judging at the fair and volunteering at the local hospital.