Project Grant 19SFSAL003

EAST ALABAMA SERVICES FOR THE ELDERLY, INC. HAS SERVED AS THE SPONSOR AGENCY FOR THE FOSTER GRANDPARENT PROGRAM (FGP) SINCE 1981 AND IS APPLYING FOR RENEWAL OF APPLICATION OF SPONSORSHIP FOR FGP. THE MISSION THE EASE-FOSTER GRANDPARENTS PROGRAM IS TO PROVIDE VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES FOR INDIVIDUALS AGES 55 AND OLDER REGARDLESS OF EDUCATIONAL AND/OR SOCIAL BACKGROUND TO SERVE CHILDREN WHO HAVE SPECIAL OR EXCEPTIONAL NEEDS, OR WHO WOULD BENEFIT FROM THE ONE-TO-ONE ATTENTION PROVIDED, ESPECIALLY CHILDREN OF MILITARY FAMILIES OR VETERANS, FOSTER GRANDPARENT'S PRIMARY FOCUS AREA WILL BE EDUCATION WITH EMPHASIS IN SCHOOL READINESS AND K-12 SUCCESS. AN ESTIMATED 60 UNDUPLICATED FGP VOLUNTEER WILL SERVE WITHIN THE GEOGRAPHICAL LOCATION OF LEE & RUSSELL COUNITES: AUBURN, OPELIKA, SMITHS LOCATED IN LEE COUNTY; HURTSBORO, FORT MITCHELL, SEALE, PHENIX CITY LOCATED IN RUSSELL COUNTY. FORTY-EIGHT VOLUNTEERS WILL BE PLACED IN OUTCOME ASSIGNMENTS. VOLUNTEERS WILL ENGAGE APPROXIMATELY 250 CHILDREN IN ONE-TO-ONE OR GROUP DIRECTION/INSTRUCTION AND MENTORING ACTIVITIES TO HELP THE CHILDREN DEVELOP EMOTIONALLY, SOCIALLY AND ACADEMICALLY IN THE CLASSROOM SETTINGS. AT THE END OF THE 3-YEAR GRANT CYCLE 86% OF THE IDENTIFIED CHILDREN RECEIVING SERVICES OF THE FGS WILL COMPLETE THE PROGRAM OF STUDY WITH IMPROVED ACADEMIC ENGAGEMENT. VOLUNTEERS WILL SERVE IN 3 DAY CARES/EARLY LEARNING, 3 PRE-K SCHOOLS, 3 HEAD STARTS, 8 ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS, 1 MIDDLE SCHOOL AND 2 RECREATIONAL CENTERS FOR A TOTAL OF 20 STATIONS RECEIVING TUTORING/MENTORING SERVICES IN THE AREAS OF SOCIAL, EMOTIONAL, DEVELOPMENT, LITERACY AND MATH. CNCS INVESTMENT OF $285,755.00 WILL BE SUPPLEMENTED BY $32,306 IN MATCHING FUNDS.