Executive summary forty-one foster grandparent program (FGP) volunteers will serve during this grant cycle

The Corporation for National and Community Service awarded a $127,241.42 Project Grant to the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation under the AmeriCorps Seniors Foster Grandparent Program (CFDA 94.011). Forty-one volunteers will provide mentorship and academic support to youth at a California correctional facility through June 2022. Volunteers aged 55 and over will each serve 24-40 hours per week tutoring youth, assisting with behavior management, and building relationships. The primary goals are to sustain mentoring relationships with at least 400 youth and demonstrate improved math and reading performance for 20% on standardized tests. The State of California Controller's Office will supplement the federal funds with a minimum of $151,570 per year from the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation.

Our volunteers are very dedicated to the program and our youth, they serve 24 to 40 hours per week at the correctional facility. Some of their activities will include developing positive relationships with the youth, tutoring the youth at school, assisting the youth in making better decisions regarding behavior when angry or apathetic, and offering a perspective influenced by the wisdom of years in teachable moments. The primary focus area of this project is school-based tutoring and 1:1 or group mentoring within their hall. At the end of the three-year grant, we expect that our FGP volunteers will have sustained mentoring relationships with at least 400+ youth and at least 20 percent (25% of the youth are enrolled in school) of these youth will demonstrate improved academic performance in the areas of mathematics and reading based upon results of the test of adult basic education (tabe) assessment. The cncs federal investment will be supplemented by a minimum of $151,570 from the california department of corrections and rehabilitation (cdcr), division of juvenile justice (DJJ) per grant year.