THE PAOLA ASSOCIATION FOR CHURCH ACTION, INC. (PACA) SPONSORS THE FOSTER GRANDPARENT PROGRAM OF MIAMI, LINN, FRANKLIN AND JOHNSON COUNTIES IN THE STATE OF KANSAS. IT IS OUR MISSION TO PROVIDE ELIGIBLE, LOW-INCOME, OLDER AMERICANS (55 YEARS AND UP) THE OPPORTUNITY TO VOLUNTEER WITH "AT RISK" CHILDREN/YOUTH AND "SPECIAL NEEDS" CHILDREN/YOUTH. IT IS THE TARGET OF THIS PROGRAM TO FOCUS PRIMARILY IN THE AREA OF ACADEMICS, I.E., LITERACY AND MATH, WHILE AT THE SAME TIME TAKE THE OPPORTUNITY TO BUILD A MEANINGFUL RELATIONSHIP WITH THOSE WITH WHOM THEY VOLUNTEER. THE TOOLS THE FOSTER GRANDPARENTS USE ARE PRAISE, MOTIVATION AND ENCOURAGEMENT. THE FOSTER GRANDPARENTS USE THIS TO ASSIST CHILDREN AND YOUTH TO STRIVE AND ACHIEVE THE GOALS THEY HAVE AND TO REACH THEIR FULL POTENTIAL AT AN AGE APPROPRIATE LEVEL. PACA IS REQUESTING $305,716 TO SUPPORT 48 VOLUNTEER SERVICE YEARS. WITH THE 48 VSY THE SERVICE CATEGORIES OF INTELLECTUAL DISABILITY (FORMERLY MENTAL RETARDATION), ELEMENTARY EDUCATION, HEAD START SCHOOL PREPAREDNESS, HEALTHY LIFESTYLES AND ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITIES WILL BE ADDRESSED. THE NEED IS GREAT FOR THE FOSTER GRANDPARENTS TO WORK WITH THE MENTALLY CHALLENGED TO KEEP THEM FOCUSED ALONG WITH HELPING THEM MAKE STRIDES IN THEIR EVERYDAY LIVES. THE NEED IS ALSO GREAT FOR THE FOSTER GRANDPARENTS TO PREPARE THE CHILDREN BEFORE BEGINNING KINDERGARTEN, CONTINUE WITH THEM THROUGH THEIR ELEMENTARY EDUCATION TO MAKE SURE THEY RECEIVE A HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA AND/OR GED. A NEWLY DEVELOPED CHILD TREATMENT PLAN WILL HELP US IDENTIFY THOSE THAT ARE BEING SERVED AND THE PROGRESS THEY HAVE MADE BY HAVING A FOSTER GRANDPARENT ASSIST WITH THEIR NEEDS. PROGRAM EVALUATIONS DONE BY SITE STAFF, ADVISORY COUNCIL MEMBERS AND MEMBERS OF PACA ALONG WITH CONTINUED EDUCATION AND RESEARCH WILL HELP US DETERMINE THE CONTINUED NEEDS OF THE COMMUNITY AND ANY AREAS THAT WE NEED TO IMPROVE OR CHANGE SO THAT WE CAN CONTINUE TO REACH THE OUTCOMES THAT WE HAVE SET FORTH IN OUR WORK PLANS. AT THE SAME TIME, ALL OF THE COMMUNITY IS INCLUDED IN THE OUTCOMES OF THE PROGRAM IN THE SUCCESS OF THE CHILDREN AND THE USE OF THE MOST PROLIFIC EXPERIENCE IN OLDER PEOPLE.