NAFGPD MEMBER UPDATE:

April 21, 2010

Congratulations to all the participants in the NAFGPD Art Contest!  The committee had a difficult job in selecting the top three winners from so many inspirational works of art that portrayed the loving relationship between a child and their Foster Grandparent.  We thank everyone involved for this successful endeavor.  To view the top entries, click on Whats New at www.nafgpd.org. 

NATIONAL ISSUES:  The National Association of Foster Grandparent Program Directors was created in 1971.  The purpose of the NAFGPD is to provide a national focus for issues which directly impact the quality of the services provided to FGP volunteers&to the children they serve&as well as the ability of FGP directors to manage their programs effectively.   We thank you for your 2010 membership and look forward to working with you through out the year to achieve our goals. 

ADVOCACY IS EVERYONES RESPONSIBILITY, PLEASE DO YOUR PART TO HELP ENSURE THAT WE&Increase the stipend to $3.00 per hour as authorized in the 2009 Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act&Although we were successful in receiving  a modest administrative cost increase for FY 2010, we must continue to seek adequate appropriations to cover programs administration costs&PNS grants for expansion of current programs and for new programs in un-served areas.

It takes all our members and our supporters advocating for these changes in Washington.  You can do this by communicating regularly with your Members of Congress, inviting them or their legislative staff to your recognition events, even include them on your newsletter mailing list.  I do hope all of you made contact either by phone or e-mail as you responded to the NAFGPD Alert requesting your action.

Submit your response to the Federal Register Proposed Rules, deadline is May 11^th to submit comments regarding the change for reporting requirements from two to one PPR annually.  Send your response to aroberts@cns.gov.    NAFGPD submitted comment earlier this month for lowering the 80/20 rule to 70/30 and allowing the eligibility for the Silver Scholar education awards to include foster grandparents.

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT:  We encourage experienced and new project directors to participate in the Peer Mentoring Program (PMP), its a wonderful experience.  At the end of March, the PMP has matched 126 new directors to 83 experienced directors to serve as mentors.  There are two new mentors being trained and four new directors are awaiting mentor assignments.  A pre-con workshop will be held at the National Service Conference in NYC on June 28^th for the mentors (invitation only) to discuss, process, and evaluate areas of concern identified by mentors and the PMP management team.  Also, if you desire this type of professional development to continue to be available after September 2010, please direct your thoughts or comments by e-mail to: black_sherry@chattanooga.gov.   

Requests for Presenters for the training workshops for the National Foster Grandparent Volunteer Conference on October  22-25 in Chicago, IL will be coming soon.  This is a wonderful opportunity for you to share your expertise or what has worked for you with your peers and/or volunteers.

The National Service and Volunteer Conference in New York City was designated by CNCS as the training conference for Senior Corps.  We hope you will register at the Hilton Hotel to improve networking opportunities with your peers.  Please mark your calendars; we have scheduled the NAFGPD Members Annual Meeting for Monday, June 28^th, between 5:00 and 7:00 (location to be announced).  On Tuesday, dont forget to sign up for the Town Hall Meeting (#1535) where CNCS will celebrate the 45^th Anniversary of FGP&we were told that lots of exciting things will be happening. 

Take care and on behalf of the Board of Directors, we look forward to hearing from you. 

Warmest regards,

Sherry Black, President             

YOUR INPUT IS NEEDED!

The public comment period on three important provisions of the Serve America Act related to the Foster Grandparent Program is open until Monday, April 26th:   The three issues open for comment are:  1) 80/20 rule;   2) Silver Scholarships; 3) program reporting requirements. 

1) The National Association of Foster Grandparent Program Directors (NAFGPD) is recommending that the total of cost reimbursements for Foster Grandparents should be 70 percent of the amount of the Federal share of the grant award.

2) The National Association of Foster Grandparent Program Directors (NAFGPD) recommends the eligibility of the Silver Scholar Education Award to include all national service programs, more specifically, Foster Grandparent Program participants.  

Click on link below to post your comments in the federal register.

http://www.regulations.gov/search/Regs/home.html#submitComment?R=0900006480aab964

3) The National Association of Foster Grandparent Program Directors (NAFGPD) supports the proposal to change the submission frequency of the PPR to annual, to include the progress on work plan goals and objectives, reporting volunteer and service outputs and actual outcomes related to self-nominated performance measures and data demographics.  Due to nature of foster grandparent assignments actual outcome data can not be aggregated until end of academic year.   

Written comments must be submitted and received by May 11, 2010.  Comments may be submitted through the Corporation for National and Community Service e-mail system to aroberts@cns.gov.  By fax to: 202-606-3475, Attention Angela Roberts or mail to the Corporation for National and Community Service, Senior Corps; Attention Ms. Angela Roberts, Acting Director, Room 9401; 1201 New York Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20525

Foster Grandparent Program Celebrating 45 Years - 1965-2010

Follow this link to order your 45th Commemorative Pin, Postcard, and Key Chain from GoodDeed.org

Click here to see the commemorative pin.

NAFGPD January 2010 Update:

Happy New Year, we've made it to 2010!  I believe this is going to be a dynamic year for the Foster Grandparent Program (FGP) as we celebrate throughout the year the milestones of 45 years of intergenerational mentoring as well as focusing on the bright future of FGP. 

The NAFGPD Board of Directors will be meeting February 27 March 4 in Washington, DC with Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS) executive staff and Senior Corps staff as well as sharing impacts FGP's are making in Congressional districts.  So please take a few minutes to contact your NAFGPD Cluster Representative and share your program's successes or share any concerns that you feel should to be addressed.  We want to serve you!

Here are updates on activities:

• FGP 45^th Anniversary Recognition Items - T-shirts, long and short sleeve and sweat shirts are available as well as beautiful sparkling commemorative lapel pins and key chains.  We worked hard to keep the prices low, you cant find better recognition gifts at these prices.  Check them out at  www.nafgpd.org.

• Congressional Reception - NAFGPD and Van Scoyoc and Associates will host a reception in Washington on March 3^rd.  We will recognize 45 years of achievements and honor several individuals that have been supporters and friends over the years and special awards will be presented. 

• Support Letters - Board members were asked to bring support letters from their communities on behalf of FGP to the meeting.  NAFPGD members will be asked to collect and submit their support letters in the near future, so please put that on your to do list.

• New Atlantic Cluster Representative - I have appointed Lynna Carnegie from New York City to carry out the vacant 2010 term.  Please join me in welcoming Lynna, she will be an excellent advocate for the Atlantic programs and will be a great partner to Lauri Jewell.

• 2011 Appropriations - CNCS invited Senior Corps directors to participate in a conference call on Monday, Feb. 1, 2010, 2:00-2:45 concerning the President's Budget.  Please keep in mind that Congress determines the final budget and we will advocate for the $3.00 stipend increase as authorized in the 2010 Serve America Act.  We are also advocating to CNCS to equalize the federal amount award per VSY due to the increased cost of program operations over the years.   

• Peer Mentoring Project -  In the third year of operation, we currently have 130 new program directors matched with 83 mentors.  This project has proven to be exceptional and a wonderful experience for all involved.  It is well received by CNCS, State offices and Senior Corps directors.  If you are a new FGP project director or a seasoned director and would like to participate, please contact Mary Louise Schweikert, program manager at gschweik@sunlink.net.

REMINDER:  On Monday, February 1, President Obama will release his budget request for Fiscal Year 2011.  CNCS will hold a conference call on February 1, 2010 to brief grantees about the President's budget request for the Corporation and its programs.  Each Senior Corps program is encouraged to participate on the call from 2:00 pm - 2:45 EST. Call-In Number: 888-889-5009  Participant passcode: 9984412

Take care and keep up the great work you are doing in your communities.

 Warmest regards,

Sherry Black, President

Click here for July 2009 Update