Introduction to TimeBanking: An Innovative Community Support Network

1. Community Connections TimeBank IntroductiontoTimeBanking: An Innovative Community Support Network Mashi Blech, Director Community Connections TimeBank Visiting Nurse Service of New York Empowering Communities for Successful Aging November 13, 2008

2. TimeBanking Energizes Diverse Communities • Building bridges • Creating new relationships • Tapping hidden resources

3. The Economics of TimeBanking:All Service is Created Equal • One hour of service = One earned credit • Credits are banked and redeemed for assistance as needed • Credits can be donated to others • Can meet both short-term and long-term needs

4. Framework • Asset-based approach to social welfare directed to the creation of social capital and system change. • Empowers individuals by recognizing, validating, and rewarding their skills, capacities, and contributions.

5. Mission of TimeBanking • TimeBanking seeks to build local economies and communities that reward decency, caring, and a passion for justice by developing, testing, and assisting experiments with a new medium of exchange called Time Credits (also known as service credits or time dollars) • VNSNY TimeBank supports organization’s mission to provide innovative services enabling individuals to function independently

6. Core Values • Assets: Everyone has something of value to contribute • Redefine Work: Preserving community is real work • Reciprocity: Acknowledge and honor providers and receivers • Social Capital: Social networks require ongoing investment

7. TimeBank History • Founded in the 1980s • Pilot start up funds from Robert Wood Johnson Foundation in 1987 • Today > 300 TimeBanks in 26 Countries • > 75 TimeBanks in 28 States in U.S. > 1,000,000 hours of service exchanged each year around the world

8. GOALS OF TIMEBANKING • Mobilize available time and talent • Match unmet needs with untapped resources • Improve quality of life • Strengthen communities

10. TimeBanking Model Compared with Traditional Volunteerism • One-way giving replaced with reciprocity • Removes stigma associated with accepting help • Acknowledges skills and capabilities of providers and receivers • Fills basic human need to feel needed and valued • Highlights that participant contributions recorded in a new way • Provides additional incentives and aids retention

11. TimeBanking as a Tool for…. Strengthening social supports and networks • New opportunities, back door to companionship • Life-saving safety nets • Addresses disbursement of family • Coming closer to the ideal social network Identifying Individual Strengths • Looking beyond disability and need • Uncovering hidden talents • Converting routine tasks into assets • New lens for assessing individuals Identifying strengths of organizations and communities and matching needs and resources

12. TimeBanking as a Tool for…. Increasing access to medical care • Providing escort and/or transportation • Facilitating language translation • Assisting with pet care Assistance with instrumental activities of daily living • Helping others “age in place” • Assisting with light housekeeping, errands, transportation, mail reading, cooking Addressing health issues/Promoting wellness • Support groups • Exercise Groups • Individual peer mentors • Reducing depression

13. TimeBanking as a Tool for…. Accessing a Wide Variety of Services With No Out-of-Pocket Costs Building mechanisms for people to give back • Flexibility • Even those who are frail can contribute • Eliminating pride as barrier to receiving assistance • Changing charity to parity Transforming healthcare • Activation of patients, family and communities • Institutions and government reinventing approach to healthcare

14. TimeBanking as a Tool for…. Supporting caregivers • Broad range of services available • Access to hundreds of members with diverse skills, experiences and time to offer • Pay it forward model in which caregivers can “pay back” at a later time • Caregivers can receive time credits donated by others

15. Typical TimeBank Services

16. Typical TimeBank Services (cont’d)

17. Typical TimeBank Services (cont’d)

18. TimeBank Outcomes (NYC) • Mental Health- rate of decline slower for TimeBank members vs control group • Loneliness- TimeBank members, over time, reported less loneliness compared with control group • Engagement- overwhelming majority of TimeBank members studied had never previously volunteered or received volunteer services • 43% received or provided service at least weekly. Many relationships sustained 15+ years and over

19. TimeBank Outcomes (NYC) • TimeBank members joined to help others, to meet people, to receive help when needed and to do something meaningful • Over time, individuals providing service developed a greater willingness to see themselves as recipients as well • Over time, the credits provided an increased sense of security, added value to their work, and made them feel important

20. TimeBank Outcomes (UK) • TimeBanks are successfully attracting participants from socially excluded groups (42% retired, 20% chronically ill, 54% receiving financial assistance) • TimeBanks cross social divides • TimeBanks help members access services they would otherwise not receive

21. TimeBank Outcomes (Community Exchange, PA) • 19% TimeBank members reported improvements in physical health related to increased social interaction and access to educational and exercise classes • 33% reported improvements in mental health related to increased socialization and the ability to provide to others • 47% reported having at least one close friend or relative who is also a TimeBank member • 51% reported increased levels of social support

22. VNSNY TimeBank Fast Facts • Established in December 2006 • Fastest growing TimeBank on record • Thousands of hours exchanged • Largest number of business partners • Established in Upper Manhattan and later expanded to Lower East Side, Chinatown and Brooklyn

23. VNSNY TimeBank: Services Exchanged • Individual and group non-licensed services • Most frequently exchanged services include language lessons, cooking, shopping, computer training, companionship, escort, errands, light housekeeping, alterations

24. VNSNY TimeBank Membership Base Diverse in Age VNSNY TimeBank Membership Base Diverse in Age

25. VNSNY TimeBank Member-matches Cross All Age Groups • 67% of TimeBank matches have a 10+ year age difference • 21% of TimeBank matches have at least a 31 year age difference

26. VNSNY TimeBank Membership Base Diverse in Income

27. VNSNY TimeBank Member-matches Cross Income Groups • 86% of member-matches cross income ranges • 23% of member-matches span all 3 income groups (lowest to highest or highest to lowest)

28. VNSNY TimeBank Membership Base Diverse in Ethnic Backgrounds

29. VNSNY TimeBank Member-matches Cross Ethnic Backgrounds 67% of member-matches cross ethnic backgrounds

30. TimeBanking at VNSNY: Partnerships • Community centers Religious organizations • Schools Resource centers • Government agencies Libraries • Hospitals NORCs • Senior Centers Grass-roots groups • Social service agencies Businesses • Housing (public, coops, senior housing)

31. Resources • www.vnsny.org/timebank • www.mainetimebanks.org • www.partnersincare.org • www.timebanks.org • www.timebanks.co.uk • Email: mashi.blech@vnsny.org