Executive summary the foster grandparent program in south central indiana was established in 1976 at the muscatatuck center for the disabled

FGP moved to a classroom tutoring/mentoring program in about 1975. The FGP recently hired its 4TH director april 17, 2017. The service area covers 2,000 SQ. Miles over 5-counties. The program serves about half the school sites and head start centers with 60 FG volunteers. For 32 years FGP has served 5 indiana counties, a 2,000 SQ. Mile area including bartholomew, brown, decatur, jackson and jennings. We were currently active in 21 school sites and 4 head start centers. Until 3/13/2020 when covid 19 pandemic caused our foster grandparents to leave our school sites, we had no choice but to place our volunteers in assignments other than in classrooms, as mandated by school districts, school boards and the state of indiana CDC. Up to march 13TH, teacher-provided performance surveys consistently rated the quality of FGP outcomes and volunteer quality " most valuable and appreciated" by teachers, principals and the communities we serve. While schools teaching was carried on remotely, IT has been well documented that there are critical learning gaps, social stresses and reportedly lower than expected learning achievements related to remote teaching practices, isolation of children from their school routines and personal classroom supports and a lack of available adults to help them with their learning and keep them on track to achieve. IT has also been documented that depression among children is a significant concern, with mental health displayed in increasing risky behaviors, drug and alcohol use increasing among middle school students and an alarming increase in suicide. Stresses at home because of worsening poverty, job losses and family discord and health issues affect children because they have no voice or few outlets to address their concerns. There are still critical learning gaps related to remote learning versus 1:1. Grant funding for the final renewal period july 1, 2020-june 30, 2021 will fuel a RE-building of our ranks (needing to bring our volunteer group up to 74 or more grandparent volunteers and working to diversify service sites while expanding the visibility of our foster grandparents. Based on community needs surveys conducted recently in our five-county area (bartholomew, brown, decatur, jackson and jennings counties) we will strengthen and align FGP performance measures and activities to better support the needs of our seniors and student academic success goals as articulated by our rural indiana counties. We recognize increasing poverty and a specific need for focused education in academics and the life skills needed for life long success. Communities shared with US their concerns about the growing poverty in their communities and an alarming growth in the number of working poor. They emphasized that effective life skills education, recognizing, building and maintaining resilience along with emphasis on student proficiency at or above every grade level are two key determinants for the economic vitality of their communities. Education prepares workers who attract jobs and fund services with a healthy and sustainable tax base. Across the service area, common concerns among elderly residents included finding meaningful opportunities to volunteer, to learn new skills, and have access to productive activities. Communities recognized the value in leveraging and acknowledging the valuable experience and talents of their elderly who are best served by "aging well and in-place" for as long as they want. Community priorities will drive our cncs performance measures that ensure every child will be proficient in math, english and language arts at or above grade level. We will aggressively recruit volunteers to expand from 60 to 74 volunteers with training and skills in technology that will functionally assist students with increased capacity and confide