Project Grant 20SFSNC005

BLUE RIDGE COMMUNITY ACTION, INC (BRCA) IS A PRIVATE, NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION ESTABLISHED IN 1965 TO ADDRESS AND RESPOND TO THE CONCERNS AND NEEDS OF LOW -INCOME FAMILIES AND INDIVIDUALS WITHIN THE COMMUNITIES THEY SERVE. COMMUNITY ACTION AGENCIES (CAAS) ARE NON-PROFIT PRIVATE AND PUBLIC ORGANIZATIONS ORIGINALLY ESTABLISHED UNDER THE ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY ACT OF 1964 TO FIGHT AMERICA?S WAR ON POVERTY. TODAY THERE ARE NEARLY 1,000 CAA?S ACROSS THE UNITED STATES. WITH THE UNDERSTANDING THAT PROBLEMS OFTEN DON'T COME ALONE AND THEREFORE AREN?T SOLVED ALONE, BRCA WORKS IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE COMMUNITY TO IDENTIFY CONCERNS AND SOLVE PROBLEMS. THE FOSTER GRANDPARENT (FG) GRANT APPLICATION REQUESTS 42 VOLUNTEERS TO SERVE 5 COUNTIES IN WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA: ALEXANDER, BURKE, CALDWELL, CATAWBA AND MCDOWELL COUNTIES. TOTAL ANNUAL FUNDING ANTICIPATED IS $302,198 THAT INCLUDES $271,983 FEDERAL AND $30,215 GRANTEE AND COMMUNITY DONATIONS. SERVICE CATEGORIES ADDRESSED ARE : PRE-ELEMENTARY (AGES 0-5), ELEMENTARY EDUCATION AND INTELLECTUAL DISABILITIES. COMMUNITY NEEDS INCLUDE SUPPORTING EARLY INTERVENTION IN LOCAL HEAD START AND DAY CARE PROGRAMS TO INCREASE CHILDREN'S SUCCESS IN KINDERGARTEN. HEAD START AND PRE-SCHOOL CHILDREN IDENTIFIED THROUGH DEVELOPMENTAL ASSESSMENT PLANS, RECEIVE GREATER KINDERGARTEN SUCCESS. IN SCHOOL, FG VOLUNTEERS WILL MENTOR SPECIAL NEEDS CHILDREN, IDENTIFIED BY THEIR TEACHERS, IN ACTIVITIES TO STRENGTHEN LITERACY, ACADEMIC CONFIDENCE AND INCREASE EOG READING SCORES WITH THE FINAL OUTCOME OF PASSING TO THE NEXT GRADE LEVEL OR ACHIEVING IEP GOALS. THE INTELLECTUALLY DISABLED SERVICE AREA WILL ASSIST RIDDLE CENTER RESIDENTS THROUGH INCREASING SOCIAL ACTIVITIES, CLASS SITE ACHIEVEMENTS AND CONFIDENCE AND SAFETY FOR RIDDLE CENTER RESIDENTS WITH OUTCOMES TO ENRICH THEIR QUALITY OF LIFE AND REFLECT PROGRESS IN THEIR PERSONAL CARE PLAN GOALS.