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Friends@Home
We pair up trained teenage volunteer “buddies” and children with disabilities for weekly visits in the comfort of their own homes.
Friends@home provides your child with the chance to bond with their Friendship Circle volunteers in the environment they are most comfortable, their own homes.
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Trained volunteers work with their "buddy" and their family to establish a schedule that works for everyone.
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Children and their volunteers spend an hour each week baking cookies, playing games, creating arts ‘n crafts, reading books or doing just about anything fun!
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​While they hangout and develop meaningful relationships, parents receive valuable time to rest and recharge.
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​With so much to look forward to at these visits, children wait all week for their volunteers to show up at their door. ​
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What is the Friends at Home program?An opportunity for volunteers to have fun and develop meaningful friendships with children with disabilities through weekly home visits. These visits often become the highlight of your buddy’s week!
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How old do I need to be to volunteer for the Friends@home program?The Friends@home program is for volunteers grades 9th-12th.
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What is the requirement?Commit to visit your buddy once a week throughout the school year, be consistent, arrive on time and have fun! We understand that occasionally you will need to cancel or reschedule, we just ask that you be responsible and communicate this to your buddy’s parents in advance.
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How are the matches made?After you have registered as a Friends at Home volunteer*,* the Friends at Home coordinator will contact you to schedule a time to meet. At the meeting we will go through everything that you need to know, talk about what is expected of you and answer all questions. Some of the things taken into consideration when creating a match are; geographical location, interests, gender, as well as personalities and needs. It can take a couple of weeks before the best match is found for you!
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What type of activities can I do with my Friends at Home buddy?You will receive some general information about your buddy and as you get to know them and their interests you can decide on activities together / choose activities together. You may also find it helpful to get input from your buddy’s parents. If you ever find yourself looking for activity ideas to do with your buddy please do not hesitate to reach out to the Friends at Home coordinator or any of the Friendship Circle staff. The main thing is to have fun and be yourself!
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Important-There is NO screen time or texting while you are with your buddy. This rule is in place so that you can connect with your buddy and form a true friendship. -Please respect your buddy's privacy and do not post pictures of your buddy on any form of social media. -Your buddy’s parent must always be at home while you are visiting.
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What is the Friends at Home program?An opportunity for your child to have fun and develop meaningful friendships with their teen "buddy" through weekly home visits. Often, these visits also offer you the possibility to spend time with your other children, or take a few moments for yourself.
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What ages is the Friends@home program for?The Friends@home program is for children ages 4-18.
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How are the matches made?After you have registered for Friends at Home, the Friends at Home coordinator will contact you to schedule a time to meet. At the meeting we will get to know your family and the needs of your child and determine the best match for your family. Some of the things taken into consideration when creating a match are; geographical location, interests, gender, as well as personalities and needs. It can take some time before the best match is found.
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Who are the volunteers?Trained teenagers grades 9th-12th from the Kansas City Metropolitan area.
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What type of activities will my child do with their Friends@Home buddy?ANYTHING that interests your child (as long as you approve of it and it's safe).
FAQS
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