Project Grant 21SFEWI002

RETIRED AND SENIOR VOLUNTEER PROGRAM OF ROCK COUNTY (?RSVP?) IS A 501(C)(3) NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION. RSVP SEEKS TO ENRICH THE LIVES OF VOLUNTEERS AGE 55 AND OLDER BY WORKING TO PROVIDE MEANINGFUL SERVICE OPPORTUNITIES THAT ALSO BENEFIT THE COMMUNITY. RSVP FIRST STARTED PROGRAMMING IN 1973, MORE THAN 47 YEARS AGO, AND INCORPORATED IN 1987. IF AWARDED FUNDING, AN ESTIMATED 28 AMERICORPS SENIORS FGP VOLUNTEERS WILL SERVE IN SUPPORT OF THE PROJECT. ALL 28 AMERICORPS SENIORS VOLUNTEERS WILL BE PLACED IN OUTCOME ASSIGNMENTS. SOME OF THEIR ACTIVITIES WILL INCLUDE; (1) TUTORING STUDENTS WHO ARE STRUGGLING TO MEET SCHOOL ACHIEVEMENT LEVELS, (2) MENTORING STUDENTS WHO WILL BENEFIT FROM THE LIFE EXPERIENCE OF A CARING ADULT, (3) PROVIDING A RANGE OF OTHER CLASSROOM SUPPORT IN AN EFFORT TO BENEFIT THE LARGEST NUMBER OF STUDENTS POSSIBLE, (4) OUT-OF-SCHOOL TIME TO ALLOW THE VOLUNTEER TO MAINTAIN AN ONGOING, INTENSIVE RELATIONSHIP WITH THE CHILDREN AND YOUTH SERVED, AND (5) FAMILY INVOLVEMENT, WORKING TO SUPPORT TEEN-AGE MOTHERS AND THEIR YOUNG CHILDREN. THE PRIMARY FOCUS OF THIS PROJECT WILL BE EDUCATION. AT THE END OF THE THREE YEAR GRANT A MINIMUM OF 70 STUDENTS WILL DEMONSTRATE IMPROVED ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE, A MINIMUM OF 20 STUDENTS WILL EXHIBIT IMPROVED ACADEMIC ENGAGEMENT OR SOCIAL-EMOTIONAL SKILLS AND A MINIMUM OF 6 TEEN-AGE STUDENTS WILL HAVE CHILDREN EXHIBITING GAINS IN SCHOOL READINESS. THE AMERICORPS ANNUAL FEDERAL INVESTMENT OF $139,571 WILL BE SUPPLEMENTED BY $19,511 IN FUNDING FROM NON-FEDERAL RESOURCES.