HOW does the CFAA process work?
This life span approach to community building involves three phases:
Public awareness- Workshops are held that educate the public about the value of this life span approach to community building.
Assessment and Planning- The Communities for All Ages community building process brings together key stakeholders- organizations representing different constituencies (e.g. aging, education, libraries, environmental groups, family service, early childhood, faith-based, neighborhood associations), policymakers, and residents of all ages- to identify common concerns and develop strategies that benefit multiple generations and honor the limits on our financial and environmental resources.CFAA teams use the Viable Futures Toolkit (www.viablefuturestoolkit.org) to conduct a community assessment, identify issues of concern for all generations, create a shared vision, and develop an action plan.
Implementation- CFAA teams implement multi-generational strategies that address priority issues. These strategies draw upon the collective assets of stakeholders and promote the sharing of resources. Examples include:
- developing multi-generational learning centers in rural areas;
- creating an Intergenerational Leadership Academy for residents of low-income housing developments;
- transforming a silo-ed settlement house into a neighborhood center that promotes health and wellness across the life span;
- forming a network of organizations that provides ongoing training and technical assistance to small towns interested in promoting intergenerational linkages; and
- organizing a community-wide coalition to promote lifelong health and wellness.