An estimated 400 rsvp volunteers will serve

The Retired and Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP) operated by Marshall County, Alabama will provide volunteer engagement opportunities for approximately 400 volunteers ages 55 and older through a $766,727 AmeriCorps Seniors RSVP grant from the Corporation for National and Community Service. Under the AmeriCorps Seniors RSVP (Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance number 94.002) program, which supports volunteers serving community needs, 165 RSVP volunteers will contribute to economic opportunity, education, environmental stewardship, and healthy futures initiatives. Key activities will include tax preparation assistance valued at $441,000, computer skills classes, tutoring to improve student performance, water quality monitoring, and fall prevention education. The funding is expected to support specified outcomes such as 50 students improving skills, 110 individuals adopting environmentally-friendly behaviors, and 55 older adults gaining independence.

Of this number, 165 rsvp volunteers will be placed in outcome assignments. Some of their activities will include: *the primary focus area is *economic opportunity - tax preparation? 50 internal revenue service trained volunteers will prepare 1,500 federal and state tax returns for free for rural, elderly, low income and limited english taxpayers, - job training and skill development - 25 other rsvp volunteers will provide 3,500 hours this year teaching over 50 computer classes to 200 economically disadvantaged individuals. 90% of the participants will self-report greater computer awareness and new job skills learned. *education - tutoring/mentoring marshall county rsvp will place 50 volunteers as reading buddies in 10 elementary schools working one-on-one with kindergartner through fourth grade students to help improve their academic performance and socialization skills. *environmental stewardship - improving waterways - 35 environmental protection agency evidence based trained water quality monitors will collect over 2,500 water quality data samples on 54 stream sites and 5 enbayments during the year, practicing what they learned. - proper disposal of unused medicines and recycling to protect the environment - opioid abuse - 20 rsvp volunteers will work with the marshall county DEU, district attorney and all four police departments to host a 'medicine roundup' to explain the problems of flushing unwanted medicines down the toilet which effects our water supply or placing substances in household garbage, that can lead to inadvertent access by children and animals, which will eventually end up in landfills and contaminate ground water. *healthy futures - aging in place - 20 rsvp volunteers will coach or assist 60 older adults in an eight-week the a matter of balance evidence based program designed to reduce the fear of falling and increase the activity levels of older adults. Rsvp volunteers will offer continuing balance for life and arthritis foundation exercise classes twice a week after participants have completed the 8-week class. ****anticipated outcomes each year: education - 50 students will improve academic engagement or social emotional skills. Environmental stewardship - 110 individuals will change their behavior to better protect the environment. Healthy futures - 55 individuals will report increased social support and capacity for independent living. Economic opportunity - 1,500 families saved $441,000 in tax preparation costs, freeing money for use to meet needs such as food, housing, utilities, medicine, etc. ***the cncs investment of $165,000 will be matched by $70,714 of non-federal resources.