AN ESTIMATED 180 RSVP VOLUNTEERS WILL BE RECRUITED BY YEAR THREE BY THE RSVP CENTER OF ESSEX AND HUDSON COUNTIES, 139 OF WHOM WILL SERVE IN OUTCOME BASED PERFORMANCE MEASURES. THE RECRUITMENT EFFORT WILL BE ENHANCED BY A BROAD ARRAY OF VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES. THE PRIMARY FOCUS AREA OF THIS PROJECT IS EDUCATION. CHILDREN NEED STRONG COMMUNITY SUPPORTS AND PERSONAL RESOURCES TO ACHIEVE THEIR FULL POTENTIAL AS HEALTHY, PRODUCTIVE ADULTS. THE RSVP CENTER OF ESSEX AND HUDSON COUNTIES TAKES A TWO-PRONGED APPROACH THROUGH TWO TIME-HONORED PROGRAMS. THE FIRST IS A SCHOOL-BASED MENTORING PROGRAM ENTITLED LISTEN TO CHILDREN WHICH PAIRS OLDER ADULT VOLUNTEER "LISTENERS" WITH TROUBLED YOUTH, CREATING A SAFE NON-JUDGMENTAL ENVIRONMENT AND A SECURE SOUNDING BOARD FOR CHILDREN TO EXPRESS CONCERNS OR ANXIETIES. THE SECOND, A READING PROGRAM IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS, TRAINS VOLUNTEER READING BUDDIES TO READ TO CHILDREN IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS IN SMALL GROUP SETTINGS ON A WEEKLY BASIS. A SECONDARY FOCUS AREA IS HEALTHY FUTURES. THE TARGET AUDIENCE FOR THIS FOCUS AREA IS FRAIL, HOMEBOUND, ECONOMICALLY DISADVANTAGED OLDER ADULTS. IT IS COMMONLY UNDERSTOOD THAT WITHOUT COMMUNITY-BASED SUPPORTS, OLDER ADULTS RESIDING IN THEIR OWN HOMES WHO STRUGGLE FINANCIALLY MAKE RISKY DECISIONS ABOUT WHETHER TO FOREGO DOCTOR VISITS AND PRESCRIPTION MEDICATIONS. THEY MIGHT CONSUME CHEAP, LESS NUTRITIOUS FOODS, DEFER BILL PAYMENT AND LET INTEREST EXPENSES ACCUMULATE IN ORDER TO MAKE ENDS MEET. FOR THOSE WITHOUT NEARBY FAMILY, SOCIALIZATION IS CONSIDERED A LUXURY THEY CANNOT AFFORD. THESE PRACTICES LEAD TO POOR HEALTH AND PREMATURE INSTITUTIONALIZATION. THE RSVP CENTER ADDRESSES THESE NEEDS THROUGH A MULTI-LAYERED APPROACH: FRIENDLY VISITING, A SERVICE WITH WHICH JFS OF METROWEST HAS A SUCCESSFUL TRACK RECORD IN VOLUNTEER RECRUITMENT AND OUTCOME MEASUREMENT; THE NEW JERSEY STATE HEALTH INSURANCE ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (SHIP), PROVIDING ASSISTANCE WITH MEDICARE GUIDANCE; AND, THE SUPPLEMENTAL NUTRITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (SNAP) ENROLLMENT INITIATIVE, PROVIDING ACCESS TO SUPPLEMENTAL NUTRITION SERVICES. ADDITIONALLY, THE RSVP CENTER ADDRESSES COMMUNITY PRIORITIES AS NEEDED. THE CNS FEDERAL INVESTMENT OF $139,190 WILL BE SUPPLEMENTED BY $86,628 IN STATE AND LOCAL SOURCES.