Project Grant 20SFSMS002

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY THE LAUDERDALE COUNTY FOSTER GRANDPARENT PROGRAM, SPONSOR IS MULTI COUNTY COMMUNITY SERVICE AGENCY, INC. (MCCSA), A 501?3 NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION. THE MISSION OF MCCSA IS TO BE A CATALYST FOR GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT FOR DISADVANTAGED INDIVIDUALS, AND AN INSTRUMENT FOR CHANGE IN THE COMMUNITY. THE LAUDERDALE COUNTY FGP OFFICE IS LOCATED AT 2906 ST. PAUL STREET IN MERIDIAN, MS. THE CONTACT PHONE NUMBER IS (601)483-4838 AND CORPORATION FOR NATIONAL AND COMMUNITY SERVICE SENIOR CORPS DIVISION IS ITS? FUNDING AGENT. AN ESTIMATED 90 FGP VOLUNTEERS WILL PARTICIPATE IN THE LCFGP, AND A MINIMUM OF 78 UNDUPLICATED FGPS IN NATIONAL PERFORMANCE BASED OUTCOME MEASURES IN THE EDUCATIONAL FOCUS AREA. THE FGP VOLUNTEERS WILL ENGAGE CHILDREN AND YOUTH WITH SPECIAL AND EXCEPTIONAL NEEDS, AND THOSE WHO WILL BENEFIT FROM THE ONE TO ONE ATTENTION GIVEN BY THE FGP VOLUNTEERS. ACTIVITIES WILL INCLUDE TUTORING, MENTORING, ASSISTING IN THE CLASSROOM, OR ENGAGE IN PROVEN EDUCATIONAL-RELATED SUPPORTIVE SERVICES. EDUCATION IS THE FOCAL POINT OF THE PROGRAM, AND WILL OCCUR AT 28 DESIGNATED VOLUNTEER STATIONS IN LAUDERDALE, CLARKE, JASPER, AND KEMPER COUNTIES. SCHOOL READINESS IS THE OBJECTIVE FOR PRE-SCHOOLS, HEAD START CENTERS AND A DOMESTIC VIOLENCE SHELTER. THE OBJECTIVE OF LCFGP IS SUCCESS FOR KINDERGARTEN THROUGH 12TH GRADE AT RISK CHILDREN AND YOUTH IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS, FAITH-BASED SCHOOLS, AND OTHER EDUCATIONAL FACILITIES WHICH INCLUDES AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAMS. FGP VOLUNTEERS WILL ASSIST THE ASSIGNED AT-RISK CHILDREN AND/OR YOUTH WITH COGNITIVE ACTIVITIES INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO PUZZLES, COLORING ACTIVITIES, READING COMPREHENSION, AND WRITING. THEY WILL ALSO ASSIST IN STORY-TELLING, TEACH AND RECOGNIZE ALPHABETS, NUMBERS, SHAPES, AND OTHER CLASS WORK ASSIGNED BY THE TEACHER. THE FGP WILL REINFORCE LEARNING THROUGH POSITIVE ENCOURAGEMENT, MODELING SOCIAL SKILLS AND GOOD BEHAVIOR. THE EXPECTED OUTPUT IS TO ASSIST THE STUDENTS TO COMPLETE CNCS-SUPPORTED EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS, AND THE ANTICIPATED OUTCOMES SHOULD BE 200 AT RISK CHILDREN AND YOUTH WITH IMPROVED LITERACY SKILLS, ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE AND ENGAGEMENT, AS WELL AS, IMPROVED SOCIAL AND EMOTIONAL SKILLS.