Families, neighbors, established organizations that have volunteers who provide emotional support, e.g., hospitals, Big Brothers/Big Sisters, hospice, churches.

DearNeighbors: A Course on Helping is now available as a free online resource or for 3 credits from Kansas State University (beginning January 2007). The course begins with an examination of emotions and the vitality of human experience and then focuses on the skills and principles related to four phases of helping:

1. Threshold: The first contact in crisis
2. Stabilization: The emergence of narrative
3. Mobilization: The illumination of power
4. Transformation: The restoration of stability and recognition of new strength

The noncredit version of the course is available at no charge and is based on the "conversational format" pioneered in FireWorks: Anger Management and I'm Positive: Nurturing Self-Respect. If you are interested in the credit version, contact my office and we will let you know how to register.

Additional tools will be developed for use by program leaders who want to implement DearNeighbors programs in their community. These might include Developing a local structure, Recruiting and selecting Dearneighbors, Teambuilding among Dearneighbors, and Supporting participating Dearneighbors.

Charles. A. Smith
School of Family Studies and Human Services
Kansas State University
Manhattan, Kansas 66503
785-532-5773