EXECUTIVE SUMMARY NAME OF APPLICANT: EAST END NEIGHBORHOOD HOUSE DESCRIPTION APPLICANT AGENCY: A SETTLEMENT HOUSE THAT PROVIDES DIRECT SERVICES TO INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES INTEGRATED WITH NEIGHBORHOOD ORGANIZING, NETWORKING, SUPPORTIVE SERVICES AND OUTREACH EFFORTS TO FACILITATE A PROCESS OF COOPERATION AND SELF-HELP. MISSION OF APPLICANT: EAST END NEIGHBORHOOD HOUSE PARTNERS WITH DONORS, VOLUNTEERS AND OTHER ORGANIZATIONS TO FOSTER COMMUNITY PRIDE TO ASSIST FAMILIES IN BECOMING SELF-SUFFICIENT AND TO SUPPORT INDIVIDUALS THROUGH LIFE'S PASSAGES FROM BIRTH TO ELDERSHIP. VSY'S REQUESTED: 82 DOLLAR AMOUNT REQUESTED: $405,540 THE SERVICE CATEGORIES OUR PROJECT WILL ADDRESS ARE: 1) SCHOOL READINESS INCLUDING HEAD START AND EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION, 2) PRE-ELEMENTARY DAY CARE, 3) ELEMENTARY EDUCATION, 4) PHYSICAL DISABILITIES PROGRAMMING, AND 5) CHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECT. COMMUNITY NEEDS ADDRESSED: CLEVELAND CONTINUES TO RANK HIGH AMONG AMERICAN CITIES WITH THE HIGHEST RATE OF POVERTY. CHILDREN ENROLLED IN THE CLEVELAND MUNICIPAL SCHOOL DISTRICT SUBSTANTIATE DATA ON THE CORRELATION BETWEEN POVERTY AND POOR ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE. POOR CHILDREN BEGIN SCHOOL AT A DISADVANTAGE AND THE DISPARITIES IN THEIR READINESS AND SUCCESS RATES CAN GROW WORSE IF SCHOOLS ARE NOT PREPARED TO ADDRESS THEM EARLY. BUT SCHOOLS ALONE CANNOT PREVENT OR ADDRESS EVERY FACTOR THAT CONTRIBUTES TO OHIO'S HIGH CHILD POVERTY RATES. SCHOOL AND COMMUNITY LEADERS CAN LEAD THE WAY IN PROMOTING AND IMPLEMENTING PROVEN METHODS TO BETTER SERVE THE NEEDS OF CHILDREN WHO GROW UP IN LOW-INCOME FAMILIES. THESE EFFORTS BENEFIT ALL CHILDREN BECAUSE SCHOOLS THAT SERVE POOR STUDENTS WILL PERFORM BETTER AND DEVELOP HEALTHIER AND MORE RESPECTFUL CLIMATES THAT ALLOW ALL CHILDREN TO DEVELOP THEIR SKILLS TO THE BEST OF THEIR ABILITY. ACCORDING TO THE 2014 - 2015 SCHOOL REPORT CARD FOR THE CLEVELAND SCHOOL DISTRICT, CLEVELAND SCHOOLS CONTINUE TO RECEIVE A FAILING GRADE IN THE PERFORMANCE INDEX AND HAVE NOT MET ANY INDICATORS. HIGH CONCENTRATIONS OF POVERTY MANIFEST CRITICAL COMMUNITY NEEDS FOR EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMMING AND SOCIAL SERVICES THAT ADDRESS THE EMOTIONAL WELL-BEING OF CLEVELAND'S CHILDREN AND SENIOR CITIZENS. AS A RESULT EAST END NEIGHBORHOOD HOUSE WILL IMPLEMENT THE FOSTER GRANDPARENT PROGRAM TO ADDRESS THE NEEDS OF SOCIETY'S MOST VULNERABLE POPULATIONS, CHILDREN AND SENIORS. FOSTER GRANDPARENT VOLUNTEERS WILL SERVE AS MENTORS, TUTORS AND SOCIAL GUIDES TO CHILDREN TO BE "AT-RISK". THEY WILL SPEND A MINIMUM OF 15 HOURS PER WEEK WORKING ONE-ON-ONE WITH THESE CHILDREN THAT HAVE BEEN PRE-SELECTED BY THEIR CLASSROOM TEACHER AS NEEDING EXTRA ASSISTANCE IN THE CLASSROOM. THE PROGRAM HAS 22 ESTABLISHED SITES IN THE CITY OF CLEVELAND AND SURROUNDING NEIGHBORHOODS, INCLUDING11 ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS. ANTICIPATED OUTCOMES FOR THE CHILDREN INCLUDE IMPROVEMENT IN READING AND MATH, A REDUCTION IN BEHAVIORAL PROBLEMS AND AN INCREASE IN SELF-ESTEEM. VOLUNTEER ASSIGNMENT PLANS WILL SERVE AS INDICATORS FOR THESE OUTCOMES AND ARE COMPLETED BY THE CLASSROOM TEACHER FOR EACH CHILD SERVICED BY A FOSTER GRANDPARENT VOLUNTEER.