Project Grant 21SFICA006

THE GRANT RENEWAL PERIOD FOR THE CATHOLIC CHARITIES FOSTER GRANDPARENT PROGRAM IS 2021-22 AND THE REQUEST FOR FUNDING IS $522,862 TO SUPPORT 82 VSYS. AGENCY WIDE PRIORITY OUTCOMES WILL BE THE PRIMARY FOCUS AREAS FOR THE PROJECT INCLUDING EDUCATION K-12 SUCCESS: - IMPROVED PERFORMANCE, OTHER- MENTORING (OTHER: NUMBER OF YOUTH SERVED) AND SCHOOL READINESS: ED23A - SOCIAL AND EMOTIONAL SUPPORT. OTHER WILL ADDRESS ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT GAINS AMONG AT RISK YOUTH. THESE OUTCOMES WILL NOT BE REPORTED BUT WILL BE DOCUMENTED. SERVICES WILL TARGET PRESCHOOL AND ELEMENTARY SCHOOL AGED CHILDREN WHO ARE LIVING IN POVERTY AND WILL CONTINUE ADDRESSING THE ONGOING COMMUNITY PROBLEM OF LOW READING SCORES IN GRADES K-12 AND UNDER ACHIEVEMENT IN SOCIAL-EMOTIONAL DEVELOPMENT AMONG PRESCHOOLERS. SERVICE ACTIVITIES WILL INCLUDE: SKILL BUILDING AND TUTORING IN READING, COMPREHENSION, AND LANGUAGE SKILLS, MENTORING TO SUPPORT ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT, PROBLEM SOLVING, ENHANCING SELF-AWARENESS AND CONFIDENCE AND SOCIAL SKILL DEVELOPMENT. AT THE END OF THE THREE-YEAR GRANT PERIOD, THE PREDICTION IS THE CATHOLIC CHARITIES FOSTER GRANDPARENT PROGRAM WILL HAVE SERVED APPROXIMATELY 1,065 CHILDREN AND YOUTH IN THE RESPECTIVE PERFORMANCE AREAS. IT IS ANTICIPATED THAT 65% OF THE CHILDREN SERVED IN GRADES K-12 WILL MAKE PROGRESS TOWARD GRADE LEVEL PROFICIENCY IN READING; MENTORED YOUTH WILL SHOW IMPROVEMENT IN BEHAVIOR, SOCIAL SKILLS AND ATTITUDES TOWARD SCHOOL AND 80% OF PRESCHOOL CHILDREN WILL HAVE MET OR EXCEEDED THEIR TARGET GOALS IN SOCIAL/EMOTIONAL DOMAINS. IT IS ESTIMATED THAT THE ANNUAL FEDERAL INVESTMENT OF $522,862 WILL BE AUGMENTED WITH APPROXIMATELY $17,000 IN NON-FEDERAL CASH AND $89,773 IN-KIND TO SUPPORT THE COST OF MANAGING A SUCCESSFUL PROGRAM WITH PROVEN OUTCOMES. DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC FOLLOWING THE STAY AT HOME ORDERS FROM GOVERNOR NEWSUM OUR PROGRAM HAS CONTINUED AND MOVE OUR SUPPORT TO A VIRTUAL SETTING. WE WILL CONTINUE TO FOLLOW THE STATE GUIDELINES AND WORK WITH OUR MANAGERS TO SUPPORT THE CHILDREN WHILE THE SCHOOLS ARE CLOSED AND CLASSES THAT HAVE MOVED TO A VIRTUAL PLATFORM.