Project Grant 19SRNWI003

RSVP OF ROCK COUNTY, INC. IS AN ORGANIZATION PROVIDING OPPORTUNITIES FOR PERSONS 55 AND OLDER TO VOLUNTEER WITHIN THEIR COMMUNITY. THE MISSION OF RSVP IS TO ENHANCE THE LIVES OF PERSONS AGED 55 AND OLDER THROUGH MEANINGFUL SERVICE OPPORTUNITIES THAT MATCH THEIR LIFE SKILLS AND INTERESTS TO COMMUNITY NEEDS. RSVP IS PROPOSING THAT AT LEAST 560 VOLUNTEERS WILL VOLUNTEER IN THE ROCK COUNTY, WI AND NORTHERN WINNEBAGO COUNTY, IL COMMUNITIES. RSVP IS REQUESTING $84,480 FROM THE CNCS TO ACHIEVE OUR MISSION. WE RECEIVE $122,235 IN NON-FEDERAL FUNDING. THIS AMOUNT IS LOWER THAN 2017 LEVELS DUE TO CUTS IN FUNDING FROM THE COUNCIL ON AGING AND UNITED WAY BLACKHAWK REGION. TO COMPENSATE FOR THIS WE HAVE LEFT THE PROGRAM ASSISTANT POSITION VACANT IN 2018. WE HAVE ADDED A PART TIME (20 HRS.) PROGRAM ASSISTANT POSITION IN OUR PROPOSED 2019 BUDGET. WE DO NOT HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO INCREASE UNITED WAY FUNDING UNTIL 2020 SINCE UNITED WAY HAS GONE TO A TWO YEAR FUNDING CYCLE. ROCK COUNTY INCREASED OUR FUNDING LEVEL FOR 2018 TO COMPENSATE FOR THE LOSS WHICH ALLOWED US TO KEEP MILEAGE REIMBURSEMENT THE SAME FOR OUR VOLUNTEERS. THE SERVICE CATEGORIES ADDRESSED ARE COMMUNITY AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, DISASTER RECOVERY/RELIEF, EDUCATION, ENVIRONMENT, HEALTH/NUTRITION, HOMELAND SECURITY, HOUSING, HUMAN NEEDS AND PUBLIC SAFETY. OUR FOCUS AREA IS HEALTHY FUTURES. COMMUNITY NEEDS ADDRESSED ARE ALCOHOL AND OTHER DRUG AWARENESS, FOSTERING STUDENT'S COMPREHENSION OF LOCAL AND STATE HISTORY, ASSISTING NON-PROFITS IN FULFILLING THEIR MISSIONS, PROVIDING CARING RELATIONSHIPS FOR YOUTH BY ADULTS OUTSIDE OF THEIR HOME TO DISPEL STEREOTYPES OF BOTH YOUNG PEOPLE AND SENIOR CITIZENS, READING PROFICIENCY FOR ELEMENTARY STUDENTS, CONGREGATE MEAL SITE SUPPORT WHICH FOSTERS IMPROVED NUTRITION AND INCREASES SOCIALIZATION FOR SENIORS, DELIVERING MEALS TO HOME BOUND SENIORS, SUPPORTING FOOD PANTRY OPERATIONS SERVING THE NEEDY, PROVIDING VOLUNTEERS FOR DISASTER RELIEF AND ASSISTANCE, AND HELPING SENIORS REMAIN INDEPENDENT. OUR INTERGENERATIONAL PROGRAMS INCORPORATE RESEARCH BASED METHODS IN PROVIDING SERVICES THROUGH OUR FOUR SUB PROGRAMS ACHIEVING READING PROFICIENCY BY THE END OF THIRD GRADE, HANDS ON EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING DOVETAILING WITH SCHOOL CURRICULUM, PROVIDING SAFE AND STRUCTURED ACTIVITIES DURING THE TIME OF DAY WHEN CHILDREN ARE MOST VULNERABLE, AND EARLY DRUG AWARENESS HAVE ALL BEEN SUPPORTED BY NATIONAL AND LOCAL RESEARCH. OUR COMMUNITY REFERRALS PROGRAM USES LOCAL AND NATIONAL RESEARCH TO NOT ONLY HELP FILL COMMUNITY NEEDS BUT TO MODIFY PROGRAMS AS NEEDS CHANGE. OUR IN-HOME/GROUPS PROGRAM IS SUPPORTED BY AN ARRAY OF DATA SHOWING THAT ACTIVE SENIORS ARE HEALTHIER AND OBTAIN A SENSE OF PURPOSE. THIS SUPPORTED BY NATIONAL AND LOCAL DATA (I.E. SEARCH INSTITUTE, COMMUNITY ACTION SURVEYS). OUR OUTCOMES ARE LISTED SPECIFICALLY IN THE WORK PLANS SECTION OF THIS APPLICATION. GENERALLY, OUR PROJECTED OUTCOME IS TO MOBILIZE SENIORS TO HELP ADDRESS THE EVER INCREASING COMMUNITY NEEDS, REACHING THOUSANDS OF CHILDREN EACH SCHOOL YEAR, ASSISTING NEARLY 100 NON-PROFITS, AND PROVIDING DONATED CLOTHING ITEMS TO THE NEEDY.