THE NUTMEG BIG BROTHERS BIG SISTERS FOSTER GRANDPARENT PROGRAM IN THE GREATER HARTFORD AND EASTERN CT REGIONS WILL CREATE MEANINGFUL CONNECTIONS WITH PARTICIPATING EARLY CHILDHOOD CENTERS AND SCHOOLS BY PROVIDING SUPPORT TO CHILDREN AT RISK OF NEGATIVE EDUCATIONAL AND/OR LIFE OUTCOMES DUE TO CONNECTICUT'S ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT GAP. IT WILL ALSO PROVIDE LOW-INCOME SENIORS WITH STIPEND-SUPPORTED OPPORTUNITIES FOR MEANINGFUL COMMUNITY SERVICE. EIGHTY-SIX LOW-INCOME SENIORS (APPROXIMATELY 50 IN THE HARTFORD AREA AND 36 IN EASTERN CT) WILL SERVE IN THE PROGRAM AND WILL BE PLACED IN CLASSROOMS PRIMARILY FOCUSED IN THE FOLLOWING CONNECTICUT COMMUNITIES: BLOOMFIELD, EAST HARTFORD, HARTFORD, MIDDLETOWN, NEW BRITAIN, NEW LONDON, NORWICH, AND WINDHAM. FOSTER GRANDPARENTS WILL PROVIDE ACADEMIC AND SOCIAL SUPPORT TO CHILDREN AGES 1-10, AND ASSIST IN CLASSROOMS OF YOUNG CHILDREN THROUGH A NETWORK OF PLACEMENT SITES. THE PRIMARY FOCUS AREA OF THIS PROJECT IS EDUCATION. AT THE END OF THE THREE YEAR- GRANT, THE PUBLIC SCHOOL STUDENTS SERVED WILL SHOW IMPROVEMENT IN ACADEMIC ENGAGEMENT, AND THE EARLY CHILDHOOD POPULATION WILL IMPROVE IN SOCIAL/EMOTIONAL SKILLS. THE CNCS FEDERAL INVESTMENT OF $516,140 WILL BE SUPPLEMENTED BY A NON-FEDERAL SHARE OF $57,349.