Who are VIP Kids?
VIPs are kids with special needs, which include any physical, cognitive, medical or hidden disability, chronic or life-threatening illness, or those who are medically fragile. This program is for VIP children birth ages: 2-16 years old, and their siblings: 4 years old to 5th grade. Some Buddy Break locations expand their program based on their need to serve a wider age range.
Who are Buddies?
Buddies are friends of VIPs. No previous experience with VIP kids is necessary to be a Buddy, just a loving heart, open arms, and a willingness to learn. Screened volunteer Buddies are paired one-to-one with a VIP kid. Buddies must be at least 14 years of age, complete a two-hour Buddy Training 101 program, and agree to have a background check run. Doctors, nurses, therapists, and special education teachers are invited to participate.
How did Buddy Break begin?
Nathaniel’s care was very involved – twenty four hours a day and seven days a week – filled with sleepless nights, feeding tubes, medications, doctor’s visits, therapies, and needless to say, a great deal of stress. Though a tremendous blessing, the life of raising a VIP Kid can be all-consuming with very little support available, even from friends and family, forcing many VIP families to travel the journey overwhelmed and alone.
Buddy Break was created to provide respite care for families who had little or no support system to give them a break when they need it the most. Buddy Break is a program that gives VIP parents that break, while allowing people to get involved by being a Buddy friend to a child and their family. The program is carried out in partnership with local churches, since we believe that the local church has the greatest opportunity, desire, and responsibility to provide these families with practical assistance within their own communities.
Buddy Break was first introduced at Calvary Assembly in Winter Park, Florida in 2004. Since its inception, Calvary has served as a model and training ground for the other locations that are extending now across the nation. Our hope is to create a nationwide Buddy Break network that will be available to VIP families wherever they may go!
Check out this video "Nathaniel's Hope at a glance" to hear what other people think about Buddy Break.
VIPs are kids with special needs, which include any physical, cognitive, medical or hidden disability, chronic or life-threatening illness, or those who are medically fragile. This program is for VIP children birth ages: 2-16 years old, and their siblings: 4 years old to 5th grade. Some Buddy Break locations expand their program based on their need to serve a wider age range.
Who are Buddies?
Buddies are friends of VIPs. No previous experience with VIP kids is necessary to be a Buddy, just a loving heart, open arms, and a willingness to learn. Screened volunteer Buddies are paired one-to-one with a VIP kid. Buddies must be at least 14 years of age, complete a two-hour Buddy Training 101 program, and agree to have a background check run. Doctors, nurses, therapists, and special education teachers are invited to participate.
How did Buddy Break begin?
Nathaniel’s care was very involved – twenty four hours a day and seven days a week – filled with sleepless nights, feeding tubes, medications, doctor’s visits, therapies, and needless to say, a great deal of stress. Though a tremendous blessing, the life of raising a VIP Kid can be all-consuming with very little support available, even from friends and family, forcing many VIP families to travel the journey overwhelmed and alone.
Buddy Break was created to provide respite care for families who had little or no support system to give them a break when they need it the most. Buddy Break is a program that gives VIP parents that break, while allowing people to get involved by being a Buddy friend to a child and their family. The program is carried out in partnership with local churches, since we believe that the local church has the greatest opportunity, desire, and responsibility to provide these families with practical assistance within their own communities.
Buddy Break was first introduced at Calvary Assembly in Winter Park, Florida in 2004. Since its inception, Calvary has served as a model and training ground for the other locations that are extending now across the nation. Our hope is to create a nationwide Buddy Break network that will be available to VIP families wherever they may go!
Check out this video "Nathaniel's Hope at a glance" to hear what other people think about Buddy Break.