104/21/23

Boomers and Babies: Boomers and Babies: Engaging Boomer-age Volunteers Engaging Boomer-age Volunteers

in Oregon’s System of in Oregon’s System of Early Care and EducationEarly Care and Education

Prepared for The Oregon Community Prepared for The Oregon Community FoundationFoundation

by Oregon State University by Oregon State University College of Health and Human SciencesCollege of Health and Human Sciences

July 2008July 2008

OSU College of Health and Human Sciences 204/21/23

5 OSU campus faculty

Denise Rennekamp Kate Mactavish Clara Pratt Sally Bowman Bobbie Weber

4 OSU county Extension faculty

Sharon Johnson – Jackson & Josephine Counties

Fern Wilcox- Wasco County

Jeanne Brandt – Washington County

Nina Roll – Lincoln County

4 OSU doctoral students Molly Trauten Doris Cancel-Tirado Brandi Hall Rica Amity

ESPP II Parenting Ed. Programs

Kim Deck, Douglas Co. Kathy Barber, Coos Co.

Other support from OSU & Partners

Michaella Sektnan - IRB Rocci Taylor – Budget Diane Redd –OCF Dawn Norris- Child Care

Division

93 Participants

Team Effort

OSU College of Health and Human Sciences 304/21/23

Boomer Potential in 5 areasParenting: Interventions to help parents develop skills

Early literacy: Improve the literacy of young children

EC workforce: Fill gaps in the workforce Mentor and improve the workforce

Advocacy: Build the capacity of advocacy in 3 areas High quality early care and education Access to health care in early childhood Other critical family supports

Early childhood program infrastructure: Help EC organizations effectively manage business

planning, staffing, or tax completion

OSU College of Health and Human Sciences 404/21/23

Research Questions

1. What would make work in these areas of interest attractive or unattractive?

2. What barriers exist to participation?How might these barriers be addressed?

3. What structures and incentives would make this work most attractive and meaningful?

OSU College of Health and Human Sciences 504/21/23

Focus Group MethodA discussion to collect knowledgeable

participants’ perceptions in a “non-threatening environment.”

9 focus groups: • 4 Boomer volunteers• 5 EC Program Staff• Total of 54 participants

OSU College of Health and Human Sciences 604/21/23

Location of 9 Focus Groups

OSU College of Health and Human Sciences 704/21/23

Key informant interviews Gather qualitative information from a “key informant” who can provide detailed information based on his or her unique knowledge of a particular issue.

39 interviews: •19 Boomer volunteers•9 EC program directors•11 volunteer placement program directors RSVP, Experience Corps, Foster Grandparents, community volunteer centers

OSU College of Health and Human Sciences 804/21/23

Boomer Volunteer Experiences

Motivations

Life histories (families; kids/school)

Sense of obligation and purpose

“We wanted to change the world”

“Be part of the solution”

OSU College of Health and Human Sciences 904/21/23

Boomer Volunteer ExperiencesLimitations/Barriers

Personal responsibilities, energy “When my Dad needs me, I have to go.”

Getting in – difficult to find a pathway to volunteering especially for

“No one ever called me back!” “ …we have enough volunteers – we’re

full.”

OSU College of Health and Human Sciences 1004/21/23

Boomers want…“Meaning, membership and mastery”

Meaning“Do meaningful work” “Make a real difference”“Hire a volunteer to do real job – like a business hires a worker”

Membership “Be an integral part of endeavor…”

Mastery “I want to be good at what I do…” “Clear expectations”“Training and supervision”

OSU College of Health and Human Sciences 1104/21/23

Incentives/structures1. Flexibility in time

2. Opportunities for social interaction with staff and volunteers/ feel part of a team

3. Organizational support: Clarity in job, expectations, training,

positive guidance “Harriett, let’s try it this way…”

Want agency to assign meaningful work, responsibility

Procedures to keep the volunteer safe/address liability issues

Mileage reimbursement/expenses

OSU College of Health and Human Sciences 1204/21/23

Incentives/structuresStipends and job sharing not

highly ranked – meaning flexibility, organization, mileage were most important

“Staff can’t have so much on their plates that they don’t have time for the volunteers.”

“…someone to help me do a good job.”

“Be organized, be READY…”

OSU College of Health and Human Sciences 1304/21/23

Boomers see some unique barriers in EC

work High levels of need in

kids and families“Even little kids come

with baggage.”“Too draining… not

fun, not rewarding… endless.”

“These young families aren’t like ours…”

Other EC barriers Enough energy,

patience? Child illnesses Language,

cultural issues Technology gap Liability concerns

OSU College of Health and Human Sciences 1404/21/23

Boomer Advice “BE organized!!” Create flexible roles, variable levels of

commitment Get into community and clarify your

needs Match volunteer skills with your needs Maintain communication with

volunteers; include them in your team Show your appreciation “Say thanks!”

OSU College of Health and Human Sciences 1504/21/23

“Decide what the volunteer can do to really assist the program, take the time to explain why this work is important and why it must be done on time and within certain parameters, then volunteers will feel like their work matters.”

“Even if it is only pouring coffee…”

OSU College of Health and Human Sciences 1604/21/23

EC Views of Boomer Volunteers

Too little energy or personal flexibility for work in child care settings

Boomers only want short episodic jobs

“They want to come in, utilize their skills, stand back, say ‘Wow! That’s

really cool!’ and then go to Mexico for two weeks.”

OSU College of Health and Human Sciences 1704/21/23

EC volunteer recruitment and retention strategies

“We wait for them to come to us.”“We use our personal and organizational

networks.”“Offer one time task that can be done in

teams of people they know, make it a success and recognize their effort…they will come back…”

“RSVP doesn’t know we exist.”

RSVP says “we don’t have to recruit placement sites and Boomers don’t ask for EC jobs”

OSU College of Health and Human Sciences 1804/21/23

EC program expectations ‘Buy-in’ to philosophy Dependability

especially in work with vulnerable kids, families

“Trainability” and responsiveness to direction from a younger supervisor

Professional behavior; confidentiality

Pass background check; no drugs, alcohol.

“Compassion, empathy, open-minded, tolerance, patience.”

“People who have a heart for children and families.”

OSU College of Health and Human Sciences 1904/21/23

Challenges of Boomers in EC Work with young children

is challenging.

“Once kids are past being cute and cuddly, they aren’t as appealing”

“Kids say things (‘My uncle was arrested.’) that shock volunteers”

Will volunteers stay when it gets tough?

OSU College of Health and Human Sciences 2004/21/23

Challenges of Boomers in ECGenerational differences/conflicts with today’s

families

“Are they able to work with different values?”

Training and Supervision

“(They have) a lifetime of (inappropriate) responses… like - you are a bad boy!”

“(Will they) learn and understand professional practices and respect boundaries”

Confidentiality

“How much does volunteer need to know to work with a child vs. families right to privacy?”

OSU College of Health and Human Sciences 2104/21/23

Other EC concerns Preparing staff & children for volunteers“Staff have to see how volunteers are a

help, not just another responsibility.”

Letting volunteers go Liability Costs of volunteers

“Volunteer management is a whole other job…”

“Anything that costs $ is out of the question.”

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Implications & Recommendations

Reframe EC Volunteering Broaden limited views of volunteers

roles

Address concerns of EC programs

Better engage volunteer placement programs

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Implications & Recommendations

Respect Boomers’ diverse interests, needs

Offer time flexibility– balance with job structure and length of commitment

Offer a menu of viable jobs that meet diverse EC program needs- short to longer term

OSU College of Health and Human Sciences 2404/21/23

Build EC Organizational CapacityReview program models ReServe and Experience Corps

Work with partner programs to define volunteer positions and required skills

Recruit, screen & match volunteer to the job Provide skill-focused training and on-site supervision Facilitate communication Manage paperwork and bureaucracy Assess success of placement

Capacity is simply lacking in EC, especially in smaller, more rural

programs

OSU College of Health and Human Sciences 2504/21/23

Final Big messages Tap unrealized potential by reframing current

views of all parties

EC and Boomers some similar perceptions and concerns

Meet needs of both Boomer and EC

Build EC organizational capacity

Remember Boomers want:

“Meaning, membership, mastery”