Project Grant 20SFSMS001

PART II SECTION A. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY THE LAUREL-JONES COUNTY COUNCIL ON AGING, INC. HAS SERVED AS THE SPONSOR OF THE FOSTER GRANDPARENT PROGRAM SINCE 1972. THE MISSION OF THE LAUREL -- JONES COUNTY COUNCIL ON AGING IS TO PROMOTE VOLUNTEER SERVICES BY SENIOR CITIZENS IN THE PINE BELT AREA. THROUGH ITS SPONSORSHIP OF THE FGP OF THE PINE BELT THE LAUREL -- JONES COUNTY COUNCIL ON AGING, INC. ENCOURAGES CITIZEN INVOLVEMENT, CIVIC RESPONSIBILITY AND VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES FOR RESIDENTS AGE 55 AND OLDER. SERVICE AREAS AFFECTED BY THE FGP PROGRAM OF THE PINE BELT INCLUDE JONES AND WAYNE COUNTIES IN SOUTH MISSISSIPPI. VOLUNTEER ACTIVITIES WILL INCLUDE ONE-ON-ONE TUTORING OF ELEMENTARY STUDENTS IN MATH AND READING IN THE JONES AND WAYNE COUNTY SCHOOL SYSTEMS, ENHANCING SOCIAL AND COGNITIVE SKILLS WITH STUDENTS AND PROVIDING ONE-ON-ONE EDUCATIONAL SUPPORT FOR STUDENTS IN SPECIAL EDUCATION PROGRAMS AT ELLISVILLE STATE SCHOOL AND KIDS KINGDOM LEARNING CENTER. WITH THE ASSISTANCE OF THE FGP VOLUNTEERS IN TUTORING AND MENTORING THE CHILDREN RECEIVING THESE SERVICES WILL IMPROVE OR MAINTAIN THEIR FUNCTIONING LEVEL, SHOW IMPROVED READING AND OR MATH SKILLS AND BE PROMOTED TO THE NEXT LEVEL IN SCHOOL. 93 FGP WILL BE PLACED IN OUTCOME BASED ASSIGNMENTS. SOME OF THEIR ACTIVITIES WILL INCLUDE (1) ASSISTING IN CLASSROOMS (2) TUTORING IN PUBLIC SCHOOL (3) SCHOOL BASED MENTORING. THE PRIMARY FOCUS AREA OF THE PROJECT IS EDUCATION. AT THE END OF THE THREE-YEAR GRANT, 93 FOSTER GRANDPARENTS WILL HAVE SERVED APPROXIMATELY 1,300 STUDENTS. THE CNCS FEDERAL INVESTMENT OF $598,220.00 WILL BE SUPPLEMENTED BY $147,972.00 IN NON-FEDERAL RESOURCES.