Neighbor to Neighbor (N2N) was launched in 1997. Vermont Area Agencies on Aging (AAAs) and DAIL (Vt. Dept. of Disabilities, Aging, and Independent Living) are the major sponsors for this national service program.   Member's ages range from 20 to 68 years. The term of service begins in Sept. and runs for 11 months. Full time members serve 1700 hours; half time members serve 900 hours.

Teams of 3-5 members serve at each AAA under the direction of the N2N regional coordinators. Members receive training and direction from AAA case managers and attend agency staff meetings as well as N2N team meetings.                                                             

Members do direct service with elders and people with disabilities, carrying through on service requests that are generated by AAA case managers and other caregivers. Visiting elders' homes to assist with household tasks accounts for a significant portion of a member's time.    

Members circulate to senior centers and meal sites, getting to know the staff and the community members who participate in the activities and meals. Each member is expected to organize successful aging programs at senior centers and meal sites, involving volunteers as they present information, lead exercise programs, and arrange social activities.

Volunteer recruitment and management are also key activities. To find volunteers, members do community outreach, speaking at local service clubs, churches, and organizations. Once volunteers are signed up, members keep them informed about a variety of activities with seniors and people with disabilities.

Members build partnerships and work on projects to promote intergenerational interaction and enhance a community's recognition of its elders and individuals with disabilities. This community outreach involves public speaking and getting media coverage.

Neighbor to Neighbor AmeriCorps is a community service learning program. Members build skills every time they do a service at an elder's home or make a presentation. N2N members learn to communicate, collaborate, and compromise. They acquire leadership eciate the power of teamwork. They attend trainings with case management staff at the Agencies on Aging as well as AmeriCorps trainings, starting with the two day pre-service orientation.