Project Grant 20SRANJ001

AN ESTIMATED 215 RSVP VOLUNTEERS WILL SERVE. OF THIS NUMBER, 165 RSVP VOLUNTEERS WILL BE PLACED IN OUTCOME ASSIGNMENTS. SOME OF THEIR ACTIVITIES WILL INCLUDE CLASSROOM SUPPORT TO INCREASE LITERACY, MENTORING, COMPANIONSHIP, AND COUNSELING/COACHING. THE PRIMARY FOCUS AREA OF THIS PROJECT IS EDUCATION. CHILDREN REQUIRE STRONG COMMUNITY SUPPORTS AND PERSONAL RESOURCES TO ACHIEVE THEIR FULL POTENTIAL AS HEALTHY, PRODUCTIVE ADULTS. THE RSVP CENTER OF ESSEX AND HUDSON COUNTIES TAKES A TWO-PRONGED APPROACH THROUGH TWO TIME-HONORED PROGRAMS. THE FIRST IS A SCHOOL-BASED MENTORING PROGRAM ENTITLED LISTEN TO CHILDREN WHICH PAIRS OLDER ADULT VOLUNTEER "LISTENERS" WITH AT-RISK YOUTH, CREATING A SAFE NON-JUDGMENTAL ENVIRONMENT AND A SECURE SOUNDING BOARD FOR CHILDREN TO EXPRESS CONCERNS OR ANXIETIES. THE SECOND, A READING PROGRAM THAT PROVIDES CLASSROOM SUPPORT IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS, PLACES VOLUNTEER "READING BUDDIES" IN CLASSROOMS TO READ TO CHILDREN IN SMALL GROUP SETTINGS ON A WEEKLY BASIS THROUGHOUT THE SCHOOL YEAR. IN ADDITION TO IMPROVING SOCIAL SKILLS AND ACADEMICS, BOTH PROGRAMS ENABLE CHILDREN IN NEED TO FORM AN INTERGENERATIONAL RELATIONSHIP WITH RSVP VOLUNTEERS. THE SECONDARY FOCUS AREA IS HEALTHY FUTURES. THE TARGET AUDIENCE FOR THIS FOCUS AREA IS FRAIL, HOMEBOUND, ECONOMICALLY DISADVANTAGED OLDER ADULTS. IT IS COMMONLY UNDERSTOOD THAT WITHOUT COMMUNITY-BASED SUPPORTS, OLDER ADULTS RESIDING IN THEIR OWN HOMES WHO STRUGGLE FINANCIALLY MAKE RISKY DECISIONS ABOUT WHETHER TO FOREGO DOCTOR VISITS AND PRESCRIPTION MEDICATIONS. THEY MIGHT CONSUME CHEAP, LESS NUTRITIOUS FOODS, DEFER BILL PAYMENT AND LET INTEREST EXPENSES ACCUMULATE IN ORDER TO MAKE ENDS MEET. FOR THOSE WITHOUT NEARBY FAMILY, SOCIALIZATION IS CONSIDERED A LUXURY THEY CANNOT AFFORD. THESE PRACTICES LEAD TO POOR HEALTH AND PREMATURE INSTITUTIONALIZATION. THE RSVP CENTER ADDRESSES THESE NEEDS THROUGH A MULTI-LAYERED APPROACH: MONEY MANAGEMENT, A SERVICE WITH WHICH JFS OF METROWEST HAS A SUCCESSFUL TRACK RECORD IN VOLUNTEER MANAGEMENT AND OUTCOME MEASUREMENT; AND THE NEW JERSEY STATE HEALTH INSURANCE ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (SHIP), PROVIDING ASSISTANCE WITH MEDICARE GUIDANCE. ADDITIONALLY, THE RSVP CENTER ADDRESSES OTHER COMMUNITY PRIORITIES AS NEEDED IN PARTNERSHIP WITH LOCAL AGENCIES. AT THE END OF THE THREE-YEAR GRANT, 850 STUDENTS WILL HAVE IMPROVED ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE; 8 WILL HAVE IMPROVED ACADEMIC ENGAGEMENT OR SOCIAL-EMOTIONAL SKILLS; 18 OLDER ADULTS WILL REPORT HAVING INCREASED SOCIAL SUPPORT OR AN IMPROVED CAPACITY FOR INDEPENDENT LIVING; AND, 250 OF OLDER ADULTS WILL REPORT INCREASED HEALTH KNOWLEDGE. THE CNCS FEDERAL INVESTMENT OF $146,690 WILL BE SUPPLEMENTED BY $99,546 IN NON-FEDERAL RESOURCES.