Project Grant 20SRAVT002

RSVP OF NORTHWEST VERMONT HAS BEEN MOBILIZING VOLUNTEERS IN OUR COMMUNITY FOR MORE THAN 40 YEARS. A SPONSORED PROGRAM OF UNITED WAY OF NORTHWEST VERMONT (UWNWVT), RSVP IS PART OF UWNWVT'S COMMUNITY IMPACT & VOLUNTEER MOBILIZATION DEPARTMENT WHICH ALSO INCLUDES THE UWNWVT VOLUNTEER CENTER. UWNWVT STRIVES TO UNITE OUR COMMUNITY IN ORDER TO SOLVE COMPLEX COMMUNITY PROBLEMS AND CREATE A STRONGER NORTHWEST VERMONT. UWNWVT ACCOMPLISHES THIS MISSION THROUGH STRATEGIC INVESTMENT OF FINANCIAL RESOURCES AS WELL AS VOLUNTEER INVESTMENTS THROUGH UWNWVT SENIOR CORPS PROGRAMS SUCH AS RSVP AND FGP, AND THEIR BROADER MOBILIZATION OF VOLUNTEERS THROUGH COMMUNITY-WIDE RECRUITMENT AND REFERRAL EFFORTS. THIS VOLUNTEER MOBILIZATION EFFORT AIMS TO ACHIEVE UWNWVT'S GOALS OF ENSURING THAT CHILDREN, YOUTH AND YOUNG ADULTS ACHIEVE THEIR POTENTIAL; ALL PEOPLE ARE FINANCIALLY STABLE; AND ALL PEOPLE HAVE OPTIMAL HEALTH AND WELL-BEING. AN ESTIMATED 200 RSVP VOLUNTEERS WILL CONTRIBUTE THEIR TIME AND TALENT TO THESE EFFORTS. OF THIS NUMBER, 90 RSVP VOLUNTEERS WILL BE PLACED IN OUTCOME ASSIGNMENTS. THE PRIMARY FOCUS AREA OF OUR PROJECT IS EDUCATION. AT THE END OF THE THREE YEAR GRANT PERIOD AT LEAST 45 RSVP VOLUNTEERS WILL BE WORKING WITH YOUNG CHILDREN WITHIN OUR SIGNATURE PROGRAMS "READ TO ME" AND "SCHOOL BUDDIES" PROMOTING PRE-LITERACY SKILLS IN EARLY CHILDCARE SETTINGS AND TUTORING IN ELEMENTARY AND MIDDLE SCHOOL CLASSROOMS. ANOTHER 45 VOLUNTEERS WILL SERVE IN THE AREA OF HEALTHY FUTURES: 15 PROVIDING TRANSPORTATION FOR OLDER ADULTS AND PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES TO MEDICAL AND LIFE ENRICHING APPOINTMENTS AND 30 LEADING BONE BUILDERS CLASSES TO BUILD HEALTHY PRACTICES AND REDUCE THE IMPACT OF OSTEOPOROSIS. EACH WORK PLAN WITHIN THESE FOCUS AREAS WAS DEVELOPED BASED ON A STRONG UNDERSTANDING OF OUR COMMUNITY NEEDS, ASSETS AND OPPORTUNITIES. ANTICIPATED OUTCOMES OF THE VOLUNTEER WORK OUTLINED IN OUR WORK PLANS INCLUDE: *YOUNG CHILDREN WILL DEVELOP PRE-LITERACY SKILLS THAT PREPARE THEM FOR SUCCESS IN SCHOOL; *ELEMENTARY AND MIDDLE SCHOOL CHILDREN WILL IMPROVE THEIR COMPETENCY IN LITERACY, MATH AND OTHER ACADEMIC AREAS THAT WILL HELP THEM GAIN CONFIDENCE, STAY ENGAGED AND SUCCEED IN SCHOOL; *SENIORS AND PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES WILL EXPERIENCE GREATER SOCIAL CONNECTION, LESS ISOLATION, IMPROVED NUTRITION AND HEALTH BECAUSE OF ACCESS TO TRANSPORTATION SERVICES FOR MEDICAL APPOINTMENTS AS WELL AS LIFE ENRICHING ACTIVITIES; *SENIORS WILL BE STRONGER, SAFER, BETTER CONNECTED, AND MORE PHYSICALLY ACTIVE THROUGH PARTICIPATION IN THE RSVP BONE BUILDERS PROGRAM. THE CNCS FEDERAL INVESTMENT OF $89,513 WILL BE SUPPLEMENTED BY $70,878 IN NON-FEDERAL RESOURCES.