The community place of greater rochester, INC. (CPGR) delivers high-quality, cost effective programs throughout the greater rochester area

CPGR has settlement house roots that span 100 years and holds strong to its mission "to provide neighborhood-based programs, services, and resources which strengthen the greater rochester community, one person, one family at a time." the rochester city school district (RCSD) is a high-need urban district where, according to the NYS department of education (2019), 90% of students are economically disadvantaged. The same data shows that only 18% of rochester students are achieving english/language arts proficiency by third grade. That is less than half of the new york state rate. Students in the district also struggle with social-emotional needs. In 2019, 81% of RCSD students reported having one or two adverse childhood events (2019 rochester city school district youth risk behavior survey). CPGR is requesting 76 foster grandparent volunteer service years (VSY's) to address the educational and social-emotional needs of children and youth. Eighty-three (83) volunteers will be placed in outcomes based assignments (we've planned to recruit 83 to account for any attrition). The primary focus area of this project is K-12 success. Activities will include mentoring and engaging youth during out-of-school time. Volunteers will work with disadvantaged youth to provide tutoring, modeling proper social skills reading and telling stories, positive encouragement, and redirection (mentoring services), as well as reading and telling stories, mentoring, encouragement, arts and crafts, dance, music and sports (out-of-school time services). At the end of the three-year grant, 85% of students receiving mentoring services or out-of-school time services will show improved academic engagement and/or a positive change in social-emotional skills. In addition, the project will track and report the number of individuals served. CPGR is requesting a cncs federal investment of $494,000 and will be supplemented by $113,953 non-federal resources.