History

NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF FOSTER GRANDPARENT PROGRAM DIRECTORS

HISTORY

The National Association of Foster Grandparent Program Directors, Inc.(NAFGPD), was created in 1971. Since that time, NAFGPD has served as the principal advocate for the Foster Grandparent Program in general, for the furtherance of the goals of the FGP, and for the well-being of Foster Grandparent volunteers. The Association is incorporated in the State of Michigan and has a 509(a) status under IRS Code 501 (c) (3).

PURPOSE

The purpose of the NAFGPD is to provide a national focus for issues which directly impact the quality both of the services provided to FGP volunteers and to the children they serve, as well as the ability of FGP directors to manage their programs effectively and to meet the changing needs of their communities. To this end, NAFGPD:

t Provides visibility and advocacy for the Foster Grandparent Program.

t Represents those served by FGP by speaking on their behalf before national government

bodies.

t Serves as a vehicle for FGP directors to express their opinions and concerns to

Congress,the Corporation for National Service, and other governmental and national units.

t Communicates to FGP directors information relative to national issues and events which

affect their volunteers, programs, and the broader senior and volunteer service community.

t Fosters the professional development of FGP directors through workshops and training

programs.

t Acts as a resource for and provides technical assistance to FGP directors and sponsors,

community and national organizations, and the Corporation for National and Community

Service.

STRUCTURE

Professional membership is opened to all FGP directors, coordinators, and supervisors. Sustaining membership is open to all other FGP staff, advisory council members, and other interested persons or groups. Sponsor membership is open to all public or private agencies which serve as local FGP grantees. Only professional members may vote in elections.

NAFGPD is operated through a Board of Directors composed of nationally elected officers (President, Vice-President, Secretary, Treasurer, Past President) and Cluster Representatives elected by Association members in each of the five geographical areas spanning the country. The Board of Directors meets twice annually, usually in Washington, D.C.

NATIONAL AGENDA

t Advocating for older Americans, our nations only increasing natural resource, a

population willing and able to provide service to others and to their communities.

t Promoting the purpose and value of the FGP through participation at national training

conferences.

t Developing resources through networking with both the private sector and public

agencies.

t Collaborating with the Corporation for National and Community Service on projects of

mutual interest which benefit FGP program directors, sponsors, volunteers, and the

broader age-inclusive national service agenda.

t Advocating for appropriation increases to expand existing programs and establish new

ones, thus providing more opportunities for older people to serve.

CURRENT PRIORITIES

NAFGPD firmly believes that the current structure of the programs allows individual programs to meet the needs of their local communities. For 40 years, Foster Grandparent Programs across the nation have partnered with other agencies and organizations to address the critical needs in their own communities. Herein lies the success of the program. Funding priorities include: a stipend increase for our low income volunteers, administrative increase to insure the quality of our programs, Programs of National Significance grants for expansion of existing programs, and new programs in underserved areas.

For More Information Contact:

www.nafgpd.org

Sherry Black, President

1 (423) 757-5510

THE FOSTER GRANDPARENT PROGRAM

A Part of the National Senior Service Corps

FACT SHEET

HISTORY

· 1965: Foster Grandparent Program (FGP) initiated under the Economic Opportunity Act of 1964.

· 1969: FGP designated as a volunteer program of the Administration on Aging by Title VI of the Older Americans Act.

· 1971: FGP became a program of the national volunteer service agency, ACTION.

· 1973: FGP designated along with the Senior Companion Program and the Retired and Senior Volunteer Program as ACTIONs Older American Volunteer Programs (OAVP) by Title II of the Domestic Volunteer Service Act.

· 1993: OAVP reauthorized as National Senior Volunteer Corps by National and Community Service Trust Act.

· Current: National Senior Volunteer Corps is now known informally as the National Senior Service Corps (Senior Corps) and is administered by the Corporation for National and Community Service.

MISSION: The Foster Grandparent Program provides volunteer opportunities for people aged 60 and older from all economic, educational, and social backgrounds to serve children and teenagers who have special needs as well as their families. Foster Grandparents help young people increase their self-confidence and achieve personal independence so that they can learn to overcome their problems and become productive members of society.

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION: Foster Grandparents volunteer an average of 1,044 hours every year (15 to 40 hours weekly) through local community non-profit agencies in both community-based and in-home settings. Volunteers who meet certain income guidelines (125% of the national poverty level) receive a small, non-taxable stipend of $2.65 per hour, which enables those living on limited incomes to serve at no cost to themselves. Assistance with the cost of transportation, a daily meal, an annual physical exam, and on-duty accident and liability insurance are also provided to all volunteers.

CHILDREN SERVED: School drop-outs and teen runaways; babies born HIV+; children coping with abandonment, homelessness, abuse and neglect, AIDS, chronic or terminal illness, physical, mental and emotional disabilities, drug and alcohol abuse, mental illness, illiteracy, learning and developmental disabilities, juvenile delinquency, and teen pregnancy.

VOLUNTEER ACTIVITIES: Tutoring, teaching pre-vocational and remedial academic skills, motivating, socializing and talking, mentoring, listening, counseling, serving as role models, reading aloud, holding and caring for boarder babies and children with illnesses and physical disabilities, teaching practical living and coping skills, teaching infant care.

VOLUNTEER SITES: Private homes, shelters for the homeless and abused, hospitals, substance abuse treatment centers, day care and Head Start centers, juvenile detention facilities, programs for pregnant and parenting teenagers, public schools, mental health, developmental and mental retardation centers, and after-school latch key programs.

IMPACT

¨ In FY 2003, 32,500 Foster Grandparent volunteers contributed 27.9 million hours of service through 12,600 local agencies. The value of this service is $480 million, and represents more than a 4-fold return on the federal dollars invested in FGP.

¨ 263,600 children, teenagers, and their families are supported by the services of Foster Grandparents every year.

¨ 15,000 volunteers serve in settings connected to the health care system, helping 39,200 children maintain their independence and avoid institutionalization. The annual cost of institutionalized care for a child is $44,000. The annual federal cost for one Foster Grandparent serving 20 hours per week is $3,928 -- less than $4.00 per hour!

¨ FGPs FY 2003 federal budget of $109.6 million was matched with $40.7 million dollars in cash and inkind donations from states and local communities in which Foster Grandparents volunteer. This represents a non-federal match of 37%, or $.37 for every $1.00 in federal funds invested -- well over the 10% local match required by law.

¨ Volunteers serve through 342 programs sponsored and managed by local non-profit agencies in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands. Non-federal funds support 17 of these programs totally.

Prepared by the National Association of Foster Grandparent Program Directors