AN ESTIMATED 38 UNDUPLICATED FG VOLUNTEERS, 37 FEDERAL AND ONE SPONSOR FUNDED, WILL SERVE IN K-12 AND SCHOOL READINESS OUTCOME-BASED ASSIGNMENTS TO ADDRESS THESE NEEDS THROUGH TUTORING, MENTORING, CLASSROOM SUPPORT, AND SOCIAL AND EMOTIONAL SUPPORT. AT THE END OF THE THREE-YEAR GRANT, 240 YOUTH WILL HAVE IMPROVED TARGETED LEVELS. THE CNCS FEDERAL INVESTMENT OF $224,950 WILL BE SUPPLEMENTED BY $24,995 OF NON-FEDERAL SPONSOR MATCH THAT INCLUDES A SPONSOR FUNDED VSY. FGP VOLUNTEERS WILL SERVE AS TUTORS/MENTORS IN SCHOOLS, NON-PROFIT DAY CARE CENTERS, HEAD START CENTERS AND EXTENDED TIME PROGRAMS THAT SERVE AT-RISK YOUTH THROUGH AFTER SCHOOL/SUMMER PROGRAMS. ACTIVITIES WILL INCLUDE HELPING WITH CLASSROOM ASSIGNMENTS, READING WITH CHILDREN, AND PROVIDING ENCOURAGEMENT AND SUPPORT. THE PRIMARY FOCUS IS TO IMPROVE SCHOOL READINESS AND K-12 SUCCESS FOR STUDENTS WHO ARE TESTING BELOW GRADE LEVEL OR WHO ARE IDENTIFIED BY SITE STAFF AS BEING AT RISK. ACCORDING TO KRISTA HERTZ, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE EDUCATION FOUNDATION FOR BILLINGS PUBLIC SCHOOLS, ?FG VOLUNTEERS ARE A VALUABLE COMMUNITY RESOURCE TO THE CLASSROOMS. PROVIDING MUCH NEEDED ASSISTANCE TO STRUGGLING STUDENTS, FGS BECOME PART OF AN INTERVENTION PLAN FOR STRUGGLING STUDENTS, HELPING TO FILL IN THE EDUCATION GAPS. WITHOUT THAT EXTRA HELP, STUDENTS ARE AT RISK OF FALLING EVEN FURTHER BEHIND AS THEY GO TO THE NEXT GRADE LEVEL. COMMUNITY PARTNERS, SUCH AS FGP, ARE CRITICAL TO THE SUCCESS OF OUR STUDENTS.? ST. VINCENT HEALTHCARE WAS FOUNDED IN 1898 WITH A MISSION OF SERVING OTHERS, ESPECIALLY THOSE WHO ARE POOR OR VULNERABLE. CELEBRATING 48 YEARS OF SERVICE IN MT, THE ST. VINCENT HEALTHCARE FOSTER GRANDPARENT PROGRAM (FGP) SUPPORTS THIS MISSION, TARGETING AT-RISK YOUTH WHO HAVE BEEN IDENTIFIED AS BEING BELOW IN SOCIAL, DEVELOPMENTAL, OR ACADEMIC LEVELS.