Project Grant 18SRWNM001

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY: NEW MEXICO IS LOCATED IN THE SOUTHWESTERN PART OF THE UNITED STATES. VALENCIA COUNTY, CONSISTING OF LOS LUNAS, BELEN, RIO COMMUNITIES AND 12 PRIMARILY RURAL COMMUNITIES, IS SITUATED IN THE CENTRAL PART OF THE STATE. IN 2010- 2012, VALENCIA COUNTY WAS HOME TO 77,000 INDIVIDUALS - 26% WERE 18 AND YOUNGER AND 14% WERE 65 YEARS AND OLDER. VALENCIA COUNTY IS STRUGGLING WITH: HUNGER/POVERTY ISSUES (37% OF CHILDREN UNDER 18, AND 19% OF RESIDENTS 65 AND OLDER WERE LIVING IN POVERTY); ISOLATION OF DISABLED AND ELDERLY INDIVIDUALS (24% OF RESIDENTS LIVED ALONE); ILLITERACY (IN 2012-2013, ONLY 45% OF BELEN STUDENTS AND ONLY 50% OF LOS LUNAS STUDENTS WERE PROFICIENT OR ABOVE IN 4TH GRADE READING); AND LACK OF SUPPORT FOR THE 6,886 VETERANS3 AND THEIR FAMILIES. THE MID-RIO GRANDE RETIRED SENIOR VOLUNTEER PROGRAM (RSVP) HAS BEEN SPONSORED BY THE CITY OF BELEN, IN VALENCIA COUNTY, SINCE 1990. IN 2015-2016, THE PRIMARY FOCUS AREAS FOR THE 169 VOLUNTEERS WILL BE: INCREASING FOOD SECURITY TO CHILDREN, OLDER ADULTS, PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES, AND FAMILIES; TUTORING CHILDREN DURING THE SCHOOL YEAR, AFTERSCHOOL AND SUMMER BREAK IN ORDER TO IMPROVE LITERACY SKILLS; PROVIDING COMPANIONSHIP AND TRANSPORTATION ASSISTANCE TO OLDER PERSONS AND PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES AND RESPITE TO THEIR CAREGIVERS; PROVIDING SUPPORT TO VETERANS; MAINTAINING THE ENVIRONMENT; AND MEETING ADDITIONAL COMMUNITY NEEDS. THE CNCS FEDERAL INVESTMENT OF $32,436 WILL BE SUPPLEMENTED BY $32,436 FROM LOCAL GOVERNMENT, AND $16,000 FROM STATE GOVERNMENT.