Focusing on Families in Need
Family Strengthening Neighborhood Transformation Initiative: An Update

By Bandana Shrestha

Volunteering plays a critical role in improving outcomes for low-income children and families. Every tax season, volunteers across the country work in free tax clinics to assist working families in accessing the earned income tax credit and help them toward long-term financial security. Throughout the year, local volunteers run after-school and tutoring programs to keep kids safe and help them do better in school. Every day in rural and urban communities, neighbors are helping neighbors making doctor appointments, rebuilding homes after a disaster, or meeting child cares needs that enable parents to go to work.

These examples of service demonstrate how both formal and informal volunteering helps vulnerable families overcome disconnection, isolation, and tough circumstances by providing invaluable connections to reliable services, expanded economic opportunities and positive social networks. The Points of Light Foundation & Volunteer Center National Network is committed to being the catalyst for such family strengthening initiatives. We aim to create, build upon, and sustain the political and social will across the nation to promote volunteering as one of the most effective methods of building family supportive communities.

In 2005, the Points of Light Foundation proudly continues to be a national civic partner with the Annie E. Casey Foundation in its campaign to strengthen families and transform neighborhoods. In doing so, we are fulfilling our commitment to advance volunteer practices and neighboring programs that help low-income children and families do better. This year, our work is focused on engaging and encouraging Volunteer Centers to advance and implement strategies that engage and serve low-income families and communities.

Volunteering can make a great impact in the lives of low-income communities by engaging and empowering residents to find innovative local solutions to challenges. It can be the tool to bring more services to under-served areas, bridge disconnections, and also be the glue that holds together and strengthens the bonds of community and neighborhood. By sharing our discoveries about neighboring in rural and urban low-income communities, developing new resources, and providing a forum for Volunteer Centers to collectively define and share their goals and accomplishments in this arena, we are working to create a common agenda and a common language that helps us better articulate our work in this arena, share effective practices, and draw inspiration from one another.

From becoming part of a leadership committee to participating in technical assistance calls, there are many opportunities planned for Volunteer Centers and other Foundation members to become involved in the initiative this year. Visit our website, www.PointsofLight.org/neighboring, regularly for more information. To learn more about this initiative, contact Bandana Shrestha, Director, Model Programs and Partnerships, BShrestha@PointsofLight.org, 202-729-8271.