JS Cascada

Interfaith volunteer caregiving programs have been established according to a successful model:

BLOCK 1 - INTERFAITH

• Involve houses of worship in the coalition that represent the diversity of the community including Buddhist, Eastern Orthodox, Islamic, Jewish, Protestant and other faiths
• Engage a minimum of three different congregations in the coalition -- the more, the better
• Build partnerships with congregations and social service, health, and civic organizations
• Over time a coalition can grow to 30-40
• Do not discriminate on the basis of faith, age, gender, race, or sexual orientation
• Do not proselytize

BLOCK 2 - VOLUNTEER

• Use volunteers from the community and faith congregations
• Support volunteers through training and screening
• Do not use health professionals to provide formal medical services
• Do not pay stipends to volunteers; reimbursement for expenses is allowed
• A full-time, paid program director organizes, trains, and supervises volunteers

BLOCK 3 – CAREGIVING

• Focus on informal care and help with everyday activities...
  - transportation
  - shopping and other errands
  - friendly visiting
  - respite for caregiver
  - light housework
  - telephone reassurance
• Build ongoing, one-to-one relationships
• Do not focus on prevention, education, research, or professional health care

BLOCK 4 – LONG-TERM ILLNESS AND DISABILITY

• Provide services for people of any age
• A program's focus can be age or disability specific, but it is not required
• Serve people with any type of long-term health need such as:
  - Alzheimer's
  - HIV/AIDS
  - arthritis
  - diabetes
  - cancer
  - mental Illness
  - frail/elderly

BLOCK 5 – HOME BASED

• Provide care where people reside...
  - private home or apartment
  - nursing home
  - Hospice home
  - group home
• Do not provide services at a day center or clinic. However, transportation to and from is appropriate
• Serve the "community at large," not a restricted population