Welch Office: (304) 436-6800
Bluefield Office: (304) 327-5305
Foster Grandparent
Program
The Foster Grandparent Program is a volunteer program that offers seniors age 60 and older a paid non-taxable stipend to serve as mentors, tutors and caregivers for children and youth with special needs.
It takes a lot to raise a child, and Foster Grandparents are here to help.
$567K
of free services provided by CSM Foster Grandparents
64,838
Hours of Service Provided
63
CSM Foster Grandparents
159
Special needs children served in seven counties
$38K
In-kind contributions received
About the Program
Since its conception over three decades ago, the Foster Grandparent Program has provided young and old the chance to grow together. Together, nearly 24,000 older Americans volunteer as Foster Grandparents. They give care and attention every day to more than 80,000 children and youth with special needs.
Non-Taxable Stipend
The Foster Grandparent Program is a volunteer program that offers seniors age 60 and older a paid non-taxable stipend to serve as mentors, tutors, and caregivers for children and youth with special needs.
The Stipend is non-taxable. It is not included in any income calculations relating to receipt of any other benefits by the Foster Grandparent.
Foster Grandparents Are a Valuable Asset to their Communities
According to Corporation for National and Community Service statistics, please consider the following:
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87 percent of children and youth report showing a lot or fair amount of improvement in their academic performance since establishing a relationship with a Foster Grandparent.
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66 percent of children and youth report having kept out of trouble a lot or a fair amount since establishing a relationship with a Foster Grandparent.
Foster Grandparents work with children and youth who have special needs which may include: Developmental Disability, Emotional Disorder, Hearing Impairment, Learning Disability, Language Disorder, Mental Retardation, Orthopedic Impairment, Physical Disability, Speech Impairment.
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58 percent of children and youth report showing a lot or a fair amount of improvement in their school attendance habits since establishing a relationship with a Foster Grandparent.
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66 percent of children and youth report reducing risky behaviors a lot or a fair amount since establishing a relationship with a Foster Grandparent.
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90 percent of children and youth report showing a lot or a fair amount of improvement in their self-image since establishing a relationship with a Foster Grandparent.
Building Bridges Across Generations
Foster Grandparents serve 20 hours per week in community-based organizations such as elementary schools, hospitals, daycare programs, after-school programs, and Head Start programs.
Foster Grandparents tutor elementary school students to improve reading skills, offer emotional support to children who have been abused and neglected, mentor troubled teenagers and young mothers, and care for infants and children with physical and developmental disabilities.
In the process, they strengthen communities by providing youth services that community budgets cannot afford and by building bridges across generations.
The Benefits of the FGP Program
Express Energy Plan
The Foster Grandparent Program plays a very important role in the Energy Express Program. The program is a six-week learning experience for children living in rural and low-income communities. Some of the activities for "grannies" may include but are not limited to: friend, grandparent, tutor, mentor, role model, experienced helper, active listener, and companion.
Benefits to Foster Grandparents
The Foster Grandparent Program helps seniors obtain and receive annual physical exams, daily meals while in service, transportation, a stipend, accident insurance,
pre-service orientation, in-service monthly training, annual recognition, and long-term relationships with children.
Volunteerism
In the past year, ten Foster Grandparents were placed at various sites throughout McDowell and Mercer Counties for 20 hours a week to provide one-on-one assistance to 40 children in read aloud activities, participating with family style meals, helping children with art activities, listening to children read and sharing their special interests.
Participation in Summer Activities
Having Foster Grandparent Volunteers involved in summer activities will help these children maintain their reading levels and keep them from falling behind their peers. This intervention will also allow them the opportunity to receive nutritional family-style meals that will improve social competencies resulting in improved self-care.
For more information about being a Foster Grandparent, contact:
Marcia Mullins, FGP Director
P: (304) 862-3144 Ext. 1232