Supportive Older Womens Network

SOWN STRENGTHENS COMMUNITY SUPPORT NETWORKS, REDUCES SOCIAL ISOLATION, AND IMPROVES THE WELL-BEING OF OLDER ADULTS, ESPECIALLY WOMEN AND THEIR FAMILIES.

GRANDFAMILY RESOURCE CENTER PROVIDES A MYRIAD OF SERVICES TO GRANDPARENTS RAISING THEIR GRANDCHILDREN. SOWN CONNECTS AT-RISK CHILDREN AND THE GRANDPARENTS WHO ARE RAISING THEM TO OUR COMPREHENSIVE CONTINUUM OF EDUCATION, HEALTH, AND SOCIAL SERVICES DESIGNED ESPECIALLY FOR THESE FAMILIES. SOWN PROVIDES GRANDPARENTS SUPPORT GROUPS, PARENTING EDUCATION PROGRAMS, EDUCATIONAL WORKSHOPS FOR GRANDPARENTS AND GRANDCHILDREN, CRISIS INTERVENTION, AND INDIVIDUAL SUPPORT TO ACCESS RESOURCES AND SERVICES. DURING THE PANDEMIC, ALL THE SERVICES WERE OFFERED VIA PHONEGROUPS. THESE PROGRAMS REACH OVER 40 FAMILIES WITH 56 CHILDREN.

PHILLY FAMILIES READ TOGETHER IS AN INTERGENERATIONAL PROGRAM FOR GRANDPARENTS ENRICHING THE EDUCATION OF THEIR GRANDCHILDREN. THE MAIN FOCUS OF THE PROGRAM IS TO IMPROVE LITERACY SKILLS FOR CHILDREN AND ALSO TO IMPROVE THE DIGITAL LITERACY SKILLS OF GRANDPARENTS. PHILLY FAMILIES READ TOGETHER PROVIDES WEEKLY FAMILY LITERACY WORKSHOPS. THESE WORKSHOPS TEACH GRANDPARENTS HOW TO HELP CHILDREN BUILD READING, WRITING, SPEAKING, AND LISTENING SKILLS. DURING THE PANDEMIC, THE WORKSHOPS WERE OFFERED VIRTUALLY. AS OF JUNE 2022, SOWN OFFERS VIRTUAL AND IN-PERSON WORKSHOPS. PFRT SERVES OVER 25 FAMILIES WITH 50+ INDIVIDUALS

HOMEBOUND GROUP TELEPHONE COUNSELING CONNECTS ISOLATED OLDER ADULTS WITH THEIR PEERS IN WEEKLY SESSIONS FACTILITATED BY LICENSED CLINCAL SOCIAL WORKERS. THESE GROUPS PROVIDE ESSENTIAL SUPPORT AND 'SAFETY NET' SERVICES THROUGH CONSISTENT CONTACT TO IDENTIFY ISSUES, DISCUSS SOLUTIONS AND ACCESS TO NEEDED SERVICES BEFORE A CRISIS OCCURS. THIS PROGRAM REACHES 21 ISOLATED CLIENTS WEEKLY.

HEALTHY LIVES COMMUNITY-BASED SUPPORT GROUPS CONNECT OLDER ADULTS WITH THEIR PEERS. THE WEEKLY GROUPS ARE FACILITATED BY PEER LEADERS OR VOLUNTEERS WHO ARE TRAINED AND MENTORED BY SOWN STAFF. MEMBERS DISCUSS COMMON CONCERNS, PROBLEM-SOLVE, PROVIDE EMOTIONAL SUPPORT, AND EXCHANGE INFORMATION AND RESOURCES. THE SOCIAL CONNECTIONS GAINED ARE PROVEN TO REDUCE OR STABILIZE DEPRESSION, INCREASE COPING SKILLS AND PROMOTE INDEPENDENCE. DURING THE PANDEMIC THE GROUPS TRANSITIONED FROM MEETING IN 4 SENIOR CENTERS AND 10 SUBSIDIZED APARTMENT BUILDINGS TO TELEPHONE GROUPS. AS OF JUNE 2022, SOWN OFFERS BOTH TELEPHONE AND IN-PERSON GROUPS. OVER 200 INDIVIDUALS PARTICIPATE IN THESE GROUPS.