Project Grant 21SFHSC003

OUR MISSION STATEMENT AT AIKEN/BARNWELL COUNTIES COMMUNITY ACTION AGENCY, INC., IS "TO MOBILIZE RESOURCES AND TO PROVIDE OPPORTUNITIES, SERVICES, AND ADVOCACY THAT WILL EMPOWER PEOPLE TO REALIZE AND SUSTAIN SELF-SUFFICIENCY AND SELF-DIGNITY". EACH DAY WE CONTINUE TO OFFER THE BEST SERVICE AND PROGRAMMATIC ACTIVITIES TO THE LOW-INCOME AND OLDER POPULATIONS IN OUR COMMUNITY. WE STRIVE TO PROVIDE QUALITY SERVICES TO PEOPLE WITH SPECIAL NEEDS BY PRODUCING THE ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL SUPPORT THAT SO MANY ARE MISSING. THE MISSION OF THE AMERICORPS SENIORS FOSTER GRANDPARENT PROGRAM (FGP) IS TO DEVELOP AND BUILD BRIDGES BETWEEN TWO GENERATIONS WITH THE PURPOSE OF PROVIDING OPPORTUNITIES FOR CHILDREN AND SENIORS TO INTERACT AND LEARN FROM EACH OTHER, AS WELL AS TO ENJOY MEANINGFUL EXPERIENCES AND RELATIONSHIPS. EDUCATION, FRIENDSHIPS, AND CARING ARE MAIN COMPONENTS OF OUR PROGRAM. FOSTER GRANDPARENTS WILL SERVE AS MENTORS, TUTORS, AND CAREGIVERS FOR AT-RISK CHILDREN AND YOUTH WITH SPECIAL NEEDS THROUGH A VARIETY OF COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS INCLUDING PUBLIC SCHOOLS, HEAD START CENTERS, AFTER-SCHOOL PROGRAMS, NON-PROFIT DAY-CARE CENTERS, AND FAITH-BASED STATIONS. THE PROGRAM ALLOWS CHILDREN WITH EXCEPTIONAL OR SPECIAL NEEDS OR CHILDREN WHO SEEM TO BE AT-RISK, TO BE ABLE TO ACHIEVE IMPROVED ACADEMIC, PHYSICAL, MENTAL, EMOTIONAL, AND SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT WHILE ASSISTING THEM TO LEARN AND GROW WITH A POSITIVE SELF-IMAGE. PUT SIMPLY, THE ONE-ON-ONE ATTENTION IS IMPORTANT IN HELPING SET A CHILD ON THE PATH TOWARDS A SUCCESSFUL FUTURE. IN RETURN, FOSTER GRANDPARENTS RECEIVE THE JOY OF BEING NEEDED WITHIN THEIR COMMUNITIES AND LIVING A HEALTHIER LIFE. THE FGP OF AIKEN, ALLENDALE, BARNWELL, AND EDGEFIELD COUNTIES WILL CAREFULLY AND STRATEGICALLY PLACE AN ESTIMATED 102 AMERICORPS SENIORS FOSTER GRANDPARENT VOLUNTEERS, SERVING BETWEEN 15 AND 40 HOURS A WEEK AT THEIR ASSIGNED STATIONS. OF THIS NUMBER, 101 AMERICORPS FOSTER GRANDPARENTS WILL BE PLACED IN OUTCOME ASSIGNMENTS. THEY WILL PROVIDE INDIVIDUALIZED ATTENTION, UNHURRIED HELP, CONSISTENT SUPPORT AND THE OPPORTUNITY FOR INTER-GENERATIONAL CONNECTION. SOME OF THEIR SERVICE ACTIVITIES WILL INCLUDE TUTORING AND/OR MENTORING WHILE ASSISTING IN CLASSROOM WITH ACADEMICS, (I.E. READING, WRITING AND MATH), SOCIAL SKILLS, LIBRARY SERVICES, PRE-ELEMENTARY DAY CARE, AND AFTER-SCHOOL PROGRAMS WITH HOMEWORK AND RETENTION ACTIVITIES. THE AMERICORPS PRIMARY FOCUS AREA OF THIS PROJECT IS EDUCATION. AT THE END OF THIS THREE-YEAR GRANT, WE ANTICIPATE THAT THE CHILDREN WHO RECEIVED SUPPORT FROM A FOSTER GRANDPARENT IN PRE-ELEMENTARY OR EARLY CHILDHOOD PROGRAMS WILL SHOW A POSITIVE IMPACT IN SCHOOL READINESS. ANOTHER IMPORTANT GOAL IS THAT A POSITIVE NUMBER OF STUDENTS IN KINDERGARTEN THROUGH 12TH GRADE, WHO RECEIVED ASSISTANCE FROM A FOSTER GRANDPARENT, WILL SHOW IMPROVEMENT AND SUCCEED IN ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE. WITH THE REQUESTED AMERICCORPS FEDERAL INVESTMENT OF $549,005, WE PLAN TO ENSURE THAT THE CHILDREN AND YOUTH, ALONG WITH THE SENIOR VOLUNTEERS WHO PARTICIPATE, WILL HAVE THE SUPPORT THEY NEED THROUGH QUALITY PROGRAMMING AND PARTNERSHIPS TO SUCCEED. WITH OUR DEDICATED COMMUNITY PARTNERS, WHO ARE AS PASSIONATE ABOUT OUR PROGRAM AS WE ARE, WE ANTICIPATE THAT THESE FUNDS WILL BE SUPPLEMENTED WITH AT LEAST A TEN PERCENT NON-FEDERAL RESOURCE MATCH. THESE RESOURCES WILL HELP ENHANCE AND STRENGTHEN THE PROGRAM WHILE ALLOWING US TO ACHIEVE OUR SET GOALS. RESEARCH INDICATES THAT BUILDING MUTUALLY BENEFICIAL RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN VOLUNTEERS, SCHOOLS AND COMMUNITIES HAVE A POSITIVE IMPACT AND THE FOSTER GRANDPARENT PROGRAM IS CONFIDENT IN OUR ROLE OF CONNECTOR OF THESE RELATIONSHIPS. THE PARTNERSHIPS WE HAVE FORMED CREATE A FIRM FOUNDATION FOR OUR FOCUS AREA OF EDUCATION AND ALL ASSOCIATED ASPECTS. WE KNOW THAT OUR FOSTER GRANDPARENTS CONTRIBUTE TO THEIR COMMUNITIES IN MEANINGFUL AND MEASURABLE WAYS. WE EXPECT THAT THE STUDENTS SERVED BY OUR THREE-YEAR GRANT WILL GROW TO BE PRODUCTIVE, CA