FOSTER GRANDPARENT PROGRAM 

The Foster Grandparent Program of Berks County is an initiative of the Corporation for National and Community Service, under the umbrella of the USA Freedom Corps.  The Berks County Office of Aging is the local sponsor.  The Foster Grandparent Program offers volunteer opportunities for men and women aged 60 and over, with a limited income, to earn a non-taxable stipend for 20 hours of service each week.  The stipend does not affect eligibility for other benefit programs.  Foster Grandparent volunteers work with children in a variety of settings, such as childcare centers, Head Start centers, elementary schools, and after school programs throughout Berks County.  Foster Grandparents develop one-on-one relationships with children, giving them individual care and attention.  Head Start and elementary aged students receive individualized and small group attention from a caring adult to develop reading, socialization, and language skills.  Children in after school programs have a mentor and role model in the Foster Grandparents who are an active presence in their lives.
 
After being accepted into the Program, applicants are provided with 40 hours of training on a variety of subjects, such as rules and regulations of the Program, child development, and health and wellness issues of aging.  Monthly training is provided to Foster Grandparents by the Program and volunteers are included in trainings scheduled at their sites.  In addition to the stipend, other benefits include a meal at the volunteer site, 10 paid holidays and 20 benefit days per year, reimbursement for transportation costs, and a yearly physical examination.  Perhaps the greatest benefit is that our volunteers know that they are making a difference in the lives of the children they serve.  Foster Grandparents relate stories of meeting teenagers on the bus or in a store, getting a greeting and often a hug as they recognize their “Grandma” or “Grandpa” from earlier days.  Some students express their appreciation to their Foster Grandparents for helping with reading difficulties, spelling words, math problems, or just being there when a child needed to talk.  Each of our volunteers has more than one story to tell about the relationships that develop with children they serve.  They find that getting up and going out to “work” each day keeps them active, makes life interesting and promotes their own sense of health and well-being.
 
We presently have about 100 volunteers at about 60 sites throughout Berks County.  Half of the grandparents are Spanish speaking.  They have become a valuable asset for students who are learning English and need support from someone who can speak their own language, and for younger children who are Spanish-speaking.  It can be an opportunity to express their thoughts and feelings to someone who will understand.  We are proud of all our Foster Grandparents for the service they provide to children in our community.  We continue to recruit, train, and place volunteers to meet the needs of children and to give seniors an opportunity to make a positive impact in their local community.