Best Buddies Delaware

Mission

To establish a global volunteer movement that creates opportunities for one-to-one friendships, integrated employment and leadership development for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD).

Vision

To put Best Buddies out of business.

Citizens Program

Best Buddies recognizes the power of one-to-one friendship to develop people's self-esteem, improve their outlook on life, and increase their integration into society. Best Buddies Citizens pairs adults with IDD in one-to-one friendships with adults without IDD from their community. This program is much more than community service. Citizens changes lives. Over the last several years, the Best Buddies Citizens program has not only enhanced the lives of adults with IDD, but it has also changed the lives of the participants without IDD. Through learning to see things from a new perspective, people become more understanding, patient, and accepting of others within our community. Without love, support, and friends our lives would be empty--a life people with IDD have been forced to live throughout history. Volunteers are changing this by simply sharing their time with new friends.

Volunteer Eligibility

All Best Buddies Citizens Participants Must:

• Be over the age of 18
• Participate in a phone screening
• Submit a completed membership application
• Have two referral forms completed
• Complete a home visit interview with the Program Manager
• Complete a criminal background check (Citizens Buddies Only)
• Have genuine interest in forming a new friendship