Youth TimeBanking

Our Youth TimeBanking program received exemplary recognition from CARF.

Excerpt: CARF Accreditation Report: Page 8, April 2019.

Monmouth Cares, Inc. also demonstrated exemplary conformance to the standards as set forth below. Recognition of exemplary conformance indicates a practice that produces outstanding business or clinical results and/or is innovative or creative and beneficial to be shared with the field.

MonmouthCares has implemented a variety of practices in the individualized plan, including Youth TimeBanking (YTB), an innovative approach linked to the wraparound model to foster community connections and informal supports that are reflective of the informed choice of the child/youth served and his/her parent(s)/legal guardian, if applicable. The plan is based on the child’s/youth's strengths, needs, abilities, and preferences and specific service objectives that are reflective of the voice and choice of the child/youth and family served and the service team. As the model is strengths-based, plans are individualized and responsive to the person’s disabilities/disorders or concerns.

  

A Youth/Family TimeBank Passport documents goals and tangible and intangible rewards, leading to enhanced personal support systems through relationships and community connections.  Thus, plans are understandable, measurable, and achievable. Families and youth report high levels of overall satisfaction with the program and increased access to community resources. 

MonmouthCares’ YTB program is based on a TimeBanking concept created by Edgar Cahn in 1980 and used worldwide. MonmouthCares’ success with the program has resulted in implementation in other case management organizations in the state as well as at state, regional, and national professional conferences addressing best practices and innovative uses of technology; e.g., “Youth TimeBanking Presents: Help Your Youth Build a Community Plan” (Family Based Services Association of New Jersey); “Wraparound and Youth TimeBanking: A Tool for Increasing Youth Participation in Transition/Community Planning”; and 14th Annual Transformational Collaborative Outcomes Management Conference, October 3 – 5, 2018.  This system demonstrates outstanding results; reported satisfaction among youth, families, and care providers; and the use of innovation and community transition.

 

CARF International, a group of companies that includes CARF Canada and CARF Europe, is an independent, nonprofit accreditor of health and human services. Founded in 1966 as the Commission on Accreditation for Rehabilitation Facilities, the accrediting body is now known as CARF. www.carf.org. All of MonmouthCares' programs including our Care Management and Health and Wellness Team have received the highest level (Three-Year) accreditation from CARF.

Youth TimeBanking

What is TimeBanking

The focus of Timebanking is on our value as human beings. It seeks to connect us through the relationships we create through giving and receiving.

Youth Timebanking helps youth move from Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) into Amazing Childhood Experiences!

TimeBanking Core Values

  1. Asset: Every one of us has something of value to share with someone else.
  2. Redefining Work: There are some forms of work that money will not easily pay for, like building strong families, revitalizing neighborhoods, making democracy work, advancing social justice. Time credits were designed to reward, recognize and honor that work.
  3. Reciprocity: Helping that works as a two-way street empowers everyone involved – the receiver as well as the giver. The question: “How can I help you?” needs to change so we ask: “Will you help someone too?” Paying it forward ensures that, together, we help each other build the world we all will live in.
  4. Social Networks: Helping each other, we reweave communities of support, strength & trust. Community is built by sinking roots, building trust, creating networks. By using TimeBanking, we can strengthen and support these activities.
  5. Respect: Respect underlies freedom of speech, freedom of religion, and everything we value. Respect supplies the heart and soul of democracy. We strive to respect where people are in the moment, not where we hope they will be at some future point.

Youth TimeBanking Steps

  1. Youth participates in an activity that benefits family or community
  2. The youth keeps a log of activities.
  3. Youth earns 1 credit for each hour of service or each experience.
  4. When 10 credits reached youth will receive a YTB gift card. 
  5. Youth can earn 1-2 credits/week to reach get 10 credits in 2 months. 
  6. Support youth to do more things, visit more places, meet more people.

Small Investment with Big Returns

What do we get for this modest investment?

  • Youth with a higher social capital index.
  • Youth with greater community awareness.
  • Youth, potentially, with a government ID, a resume, registered to vote (if old enough), …
  • Youth with a community plan.
  • Youth with hope, optimism, confidence; and evidence that they matter and can do things that matter. 
  • Youth who are wanted and know that they are wanted.
  • Youth who have experienced gratitude for the service they give.

Scalability

Youth/Community Timebanking works anywhere and leverages every principle of Wraparound.

The YTB experience is self-determined (Family Voice-Choice, Cultural Competence, Individualized), connects with others (Natural Supports), increases community awareness (Community Based), has incremental stepping stones (Outcomes-Based), helps youth discover hidden interests (Strengths Building), infinite possibilities (Unconditional Care), broad support (Collaborative, Team-Based).

YTB provides the opportunity for youth to reach credit-award levels within the cycles of team meetings. Data is being collected on YTB to show how it drives Wraparound Fidelity and improves CANS ratings.