Project Grant 18SFSWV001

THE COUNCIL OF THE SOUTHERN MOUNTAINS, AN I.R.S. 501 C (3) NON-PROFIT WEST VIRGINIA CORPORATION, IS A COMMUNITY ACTION AGENCY ESTABLISHED IN 1964. THE AGENCY IS GOVERNED BY A VOLUNTEER TRIPARTITE BOARD OF DIRECTORS, WITH MEMBERS FROM THREE AREAS: 1) LOW-INCOME AND MINORITY, 2) ELECTED OFFICIALS AND 3) COMMUNITY REPRESENTATIVES. THIS BOARD SERVES AS THE ADVISORY COUNCIL FOR THIS FGP PROPOSAL, WHICH CSM HAS SUCCESSFULLY OPERATED FOR OVER A DECADE IN MCDOWELL, MERCER, MINGO, MONROE, RALEIGH, SUMMERS AND WYOMING COUNTIES IN SOUTHERN WEST VIRGINIA, AN ECONOMICALLY DISTRESSED AREAS. THE MISSION STATEMENT OF THE AGENCY IS: "THE COUNCIL OF THE SOUTHERN MOUNTAINS STRIVES TO PROVIDE QUALITY SERVICES AND OPPORTUNITIES TO HELP PEOPLE ACHIEVE THE DIGNITY OF SELF-SUFFICIENCY." AN ESTIMATED 62 FOSTER GRANDPARENT VOLUNTEERS WILL SERVE THIS SEVEN COUNTY SERVICE AREA. OF THIS NUMBER, 62 FOSTER GRANDPARENTS WILL BE PLACED IN OUTCOME ASSIGNMENTS. SOME OF THEIR ACTIVITIES WILL INCLUDE ACADEMIC, READING, ATTENDANCE SOCIAL AND EMOTIONAL DEVELOPMENT SKILLS, AND ASSISTING IN HEAD-START CLASSROOMS. THE PRIMARY FOCUS AREA OF THIS PROJECT IS EDUCATION K-12 SUCCESS AND SCHOOL READINESS. AT THE END OF THE THREE-YEAR GRANT CYCLE, 117 CHILDREN WILL RECEIVE (TUTORING, MENTORING, ONE-ON-ONE ASSISTANCE, ETC., SERVICES FROM FGP VOLUNTEERS). 50% OF CHILDREN SERVED WILL SHOW IMPROVEMENT IN ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE, SCHOOL ATTENDANCE, ETC. THE CNCS FEDERAL INVESTMENT OF $309,527.00, PER ANNUM SUPPLEMENTED BY $34,392 IN LOCAL NON-FEDERAL IN-KIND.