Corporate Volunteers

While Silver Lining’s primary focus is to enhance lives through volunteer visits, the program also provides opportunities for partnerships with businesses and organizations.

Business partners are needed to help promote health and wellness in nursing homes, assisted living facilities and state schools/centers. The program also promotes self-determination, independent living and employment opportunities for people living in state schools/centers.

Partner benefits

Silver Lining creates ongoing opportunities for increased awareness of DADS programs and services as people in nursing homes, assisted living facilities or state schools/centers continue to receive essential quality of life benefits – the gift of companionship. A mutually beneficial partnership between DADS and a corporate partner enriches the quality of life for people served by DADS, partner associates and people across Texas.

More specifically, the partnership will:

Create statewide visibility
Increase employee awareness of resources available through DADS
Grow and strengthen the community through strong, solid company volunteer programs
Build employee relationships and skills through company sponsored volunteer events

Silver Lining is about connections

Here are just a few examples of what Silver Lining can do for your company:

Involve a group of employees in a team mentor program with college students where the team learns about “healthy aging” concepts while volunteering together in a nursing home, assisted living facility or state school/center.
Host an annual event at a nursing home, assisted living facility or state school/center during a time of year that is special to your group’s interest.
Meet with the nursing home or assisted living facility’s activity director or the state school/center community relations director to find out how your corporation can complete a long-term project on the facility’s “wish list.”
Increase employee awareness and knowledge about aging resources available in the local community through the DADS network.

Silver Lining serves people living in nursing homes and assisted living facilities

Individuals, families and groups bring a variety of social engagement opportunities to people who often lack companionship on a regular basis. In 2006, the program began a partnership with the Girl Scouts of Texas. DADS and the Girl Scouts have a long-term goal for every troop to adopt a nursing home or assisted living facility in the state of Texas. DADS and their partners created an essay contest for Girl Scouts participating in the program to write about their volunteer experiences for a chance to win airline tickets donated by DADS partner Southwest Airlines.

In the fall of 2007, a new mentor program that pairs volunteer adult mentors and freshman at St. Edward’s University was implemented whereby a small mentor team designed and planned volunteer visits to a nursing home. The volunteer activities and course curriculum focused on culture change in long-term care and healthy aging concepts. Silver Lining has plans to expand this program for online use in other college environments where community service is part of course curriculum, as well as further develop the mentor component for larger groups participating in Silver Lining.

Silver Lining serves people living on state school/center campuses

These 12 state schools/centers — Abilene, Austin, Brenham, Corpus Christi, Denton, El Paso, Lubbock, Lufkin, Mexia, Richmond, San Angelo and San Antonio — provide supports for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities who benefit from 24-hour residential services. Each state school/center has its own volunteer program with activities unique to the local area. Financial contributions provide support for necessary programs (rehabilitation, athletic and physical fitness); renovations of campus facilities contributing to quality of life enhancement; and funds for the purchase or repair of medical equipment, wheelchairs and wheelchair-accessible vehicles.

Examples of health and wellness initiatives operating on state school campuses:

Equestrian Program at Richmond State School – The school serves a 13-county area and provides services for more than 500 adults with developmental disabilities. The Therapeutic Riding Center offers individuals equine and pet-assisted activities as part of the school’s rehabilitative therapies.

Putt-Putt Golf Course at Austin State School – The school is home to more than 400 people with developmental disabilities. The newest addition to the campus is a putt-putt golf course for residents. Other health and wellness options also are available, including nature trails, indoor pool, Jacuzzi, athletic field, theater and a chapel.

Silver Lining assists the Long-Term Care Ombudsman program

The Long-Term Care Ombudsman program trains and certifies volunteers to advocate for resident rights for people living in nursing homes and assisted living facilities. Local programs provide the training. State level volunteer certification is issued once the training is successfully completed. More than 800 certified volunteers across Texas identify, investigate and resolve concerns and act as one of the primary resources for the family caregiver, as well as the person living in the facility.

For more information, visit the Tough Enough to Care website.

For more information

For more information about other volunteer or partnership opportunities with DADS, call 1-800-889-8595 or visit Volunteer at DADS.

Updated: March 31, 2008