Foster Grandparent Program in need of volunteers for coming academic year at local schools

The Foster Grandparent Program is looking for a few good men and women to serve in Franklin County and Russellville City Schools in the coming academic year.

Foster Grandparent Volunteers serve as mentors, tutors, and caregivers for at-risk children and youth with special needs.

Foster Grandparents volunteer between 15-40 hours per week, receive a modest tax-free stipend, reimbursement for transportation at $.40/mile, a daily meal at their workstation, two personal leave days each month while working, and supplemental accident and liability insurance during service hours. Foster Grandparents also receive t-shirts, a vest, name tags at no cost.

Once a Foster Grandparent is placed at a workstation, the supervisor or teacher evaluates their children for special needs and then a volunteer is placed with an assigned child. The workstation provides volunteers with educational training based on their assigned child’s needs and reviews workstation policy and procedure with the Foster Grandparent.

Teachers observe the volunteers in their service activity daily.

Foster Grandparent volunteers, through their work, can help students’ motivation, attendance, grades and skill levels that show progress.

If the volunteer has a good evaluation and the workstation agrees there is still a need for the Foster Grandparent Program at the end of the year, the volunteer continues voluntary assignment at the workstation the next year.

As a new Foster Grandparent volunteer, you will meet and mingle with other Foster Grandparents Program volunteers at your workstation, in-service meetings, senior events and banquets.

“You will make new friendships and provide encouragement to others along the way,” said Jessica Latham, Foster Grandparent Program Director.

The Foster Grandparent Program is open to people age 55 and over with limited incomes.  Income limits for a one person household are $31,920 and $43,280 for a two person household. Certain medical expenses are allowed and may be deducted from income.

The Foster Grandparent Program covers Franklin, Colbert, Lauderdale, Winston, and Marion Counties. The program is headquartered in Russellville, with the rented office building located at 100 Westside Plaza.

The City of Russellville has sponsored the program since 1974. There are two paid staff members. In addition to Lawler, with her 22 years of service, is Coordinator Rena Irons-Prince, with almost 18 years of service to the program.

The mentoring and tutoring provided is a full-circle fulfilling experience for the volunteers, the worktsations and the students who benefit from the program.

Volunteers don’t need any particular expertise or skills, as Lawler explained.

“If you have a kind heart and a willingness to serve and make the difference in the life of a child, we want you as a Foster Grandparent,” Lawler said.

Those interested in volunteering for the Foster Grandparent Program should call 256-332-6800. Positions are needed now for local schools, pre-K’s, Head Start Centers and daycare centers.