Project Grant 19SFAMA003

SINCE 1913, THE URBAN LEAGUE OF SPRINGFIELD (ULS) HAS FULFILLED ITS MISSION TO ADVOCATE FOR AND PROVIDE SERVICES TO ENHANCE THE ACADEMIC, ECONOMIC, AND SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT OF YOUNG PEOPLE, FAMILIES, AND SENIORS THROUGH THE PROMOTION OF ECONOMIC SELF-SUFFICIENCY, QUALITY EDUCATION, HEALTHY HABITS AND SOCIAL JUSTICE. ULS IS REQUESTING $675,175 TO PROVIDE SERVICES IN GRADES KINDERGARTEN THROUGH 12TH IN THE FOLLOWING CATEGORIES: GED/DROPOUTS, PRE-ELEMENTARY DAY CARE, TUTORING AND CHILD (ELEMENTARY) LITERACY, ELEMENTARY EDUCATION, SPECIAL EDUCATION AND MENTORING THROUGH THE FOSTER GRANDPARENTS PROGRAM. THE FGP PROGRAM WILL ASSIST WITH THE CAMPAIGN TO MAINTAIN COMMON CORE STANDARDS - K-12. THE GOAL IS FOR ALL CHILDREN TO GRADUATE AND BE ABLE TO COMPETE GLOBALLY. THE FGP PROGRAM WILL ADDRESS CRITICAL NEEDS INCLUDING IMPROVING EARLY EDUCATION, HEALTH EDUCATION AND RESOURCES, PROVIDING READING AND LITERACY ASSISTANCE TO STUDENTS AND OFFERING TRAINING, COMPANIONSHIP AND TRANSPORTATION TO HOME BOUND SENIORS. THE PROGRAM WILL UTILIZE THE SKILLS OF 45 VOLUNTEERS TO PROVIDE TUTORING TO HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS, 10 VOLUNTEERS TO PROVIDE SUPPORT TO PRE-ELEMENTARY SCHOOL AGED CHILDREN; 35 VOLUNTEERS TO TUTOR/IMPROVE LITERACY IN K-4 STUDENTS; 40 VOLUNTEERS TO TUTOR IN AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAMS; 10 VOLUNTEERS TO PROVIDE SUPPORT TO SPECIAL EDUCATION STUDENTS AND 2 VOLUNTEERS TO MENTOR CHILDREN OF INCARCERATED PARENTS. THE FGP WILL CONTINUE TO BUILD SERVICES USING RESEARCH-BASED METHODS THAT PROVIDE TRAINING WHICH EFFECTIVELY DELIVERS SERVICES AND MAINTAINS A RESILIENT VOLUNTEER FORCE. STRONG PROGRAM MANAGEMENT AND PROGRAM EVALUATIONS WILL HELP ENSURE THAT COMMUNITY NEEDS ARE MET. OUTCOMES WILL INCLUDE IMPROVEMENTS IN SOCIAL SKILLS, LITERACY, GRADUATION RATES AND LOWER THE DROPOUT RATE FOR OVER 800 ECONOMICALLY DISADVANTAGED YOUNGSTERS, AS WELL AS DECREASED EMOTIONAL, AND DISCIPLINARY PROBLEMS. EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS/DISASTER RECOVER TRAINING WILL BE OFFERED TO ALL FGP VOLUNTEERS. WE ARE COLLABORATING WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICE FOR CITY OF SPRINGFIELD TO ASSIST WITH THE OPERATION OF AN EMERGENCY DISPENSING SITE. FGP VOLUNTEERS WILL BECOME MEDICAL RESERVE CORP. VOLUNTEERS TO ASSIST WITH ANY MAJOR PUBLIC HEALTH MASS CASUALTY EVENT. ADDITIONALLY, WE WILL INSTITUTE IN-SERVICE TRAINING ACTIVITIES TO PROMOTE THE ASPECT OF A HEALTHY LIFESTYLE. NUTRITIONAL WORKSHOPS WILL BE PRESENTED BY VARIOUS HEALTH AND WELLNESS PROFESSIONALS THROUGHOUT HAMDEN, HAMPSHIRE, BERKSHIRE, AND FRANKLIN COUNTIES. THE WORKSHOPS WILL PROVIDE THE LATEST NUTRITIONAL AND WELLNESS INFORMATION TO ENSURE THAT THE FGP VOLUNTEERS RECOGNIZE THE VALUE OF PROPER NUTRITION. PROPER FOOD PROVIDES THE FUEL AND ENERGY IT TAKES TO WORK WITH MENTORING AND TUTORING CHILDREN ON A DAILY BASIS. WE WANT OUR FGP VOLUNTEERS TO LOOK GREAT AND FEEL GOOD AND EVEN BECOME DISEASE FREE.