Foster Grandparent Program

EDITOR’s NOTE: Each week, we’ll feature intergenerational program ideas that were tried and successful. This series is a tool to highlight various age-optimized programs and practices. The program descriptions are provided by representatives of the programs. Inclusion in this series does not imply Generations United’s endorsement or recommendation, but rather encourages ideas to inspire other programs.

In part 18 of our series, we feature the Foster Grandparent Program, an initiative of NOrth Coast Opportunities, Inc. in Ukiah, CA.

(Check our archives for parts 1-17.)

The Foster Grandparent Program places low income, older adults as tutors and mentors to special needs children in preschools, Head Start Centers, public schools, after school programs like Boys and Girls Clubs, and juvenile detention centers.

Volunteers serve a minimum of 15 to a maximum of 40 hours per week in supervised settings. Pre-service orientation is provided as well as monthly in-service training.

All volunteers receive a criminal history background verification, and an annual physical examination.

The mission of the program is to empower older adults, to promote healthy aging and economic self-sufficiency for low income older adults while tutoring and mentoring special needs children to enhance their physical, mental, emotional and social development.

Classroom teachers assign specific children to each foster grandparent and complete an assignment plan that identifies activities to be completed with each child daily to assist the children to achieve identified goals and objectives in the areas of social, academic and emotional development.

Currently the program provides service in Del Norte, Humboldt, Lake, Mendocino and northern Sonoma counties in northern California. The program is been sponsored by North Coast Opportunities, a community action agency since 1973.

Got something cool you tried that was successful? Why not tweet your cool intergenerational ideas to #cooligideas? You can also post them to our Intergenerational Connections Facebook Group or just text us through the Facebook Messenger app (friend me to join our Cool Intergenerational Ideas group discussion). We want to highlight innovative age-optimized programs and practices through our blog, social media and weekly e-newsletter!  Share the inspiration.

Lemoore Adult Day Care Center

EDITOR’s NOTE: Each week, we’ll feature intergenerational program ideas that were tried and successful. This series is a tool to highlight various age-optimized programs and practices. The program descriptions are provided by representatives of the programs. Inclusion in this series does not imply Generations United’s endorsement or recommendation, but rather encourages ideas to inspire other programs.

In part 14 of our series, we feature Lemoore Adult Day Care Center, an intergenerational  shared site based in Lemoore, CA.

(Read parts 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12 and 13)

Their program shares a building with a Head Start program that serves around 78 children.

Throughout the year, Head Start participants collaborate with Lemoore Adult Day Care Center seniors on projects.

Middle school and high school students, who need service hours for their graduation requirements, also visit the Adult Day Program to work directly with seniors. Over the summer, school age children work in Lemoore’s youth program to help their low income families.

“Our program is the center of many generations, and we are proud to say that our seniors of our rural community,” explained Lemoore’s Director Pam Chin. “Also, our youth benefit from coming together and learning lessons to take with them as they become important citizens of our country.”

Got something cool you tried that was successful? Why not tweet your cool intergenerational ideas to #cooligideas? You can also post them to our Intergenerational Connections Facebook Group. Youth Jumpstart Grantees can share ideas here. Or just text us through the Facebook Messenger app (friend me to join our Cool Intergenerational Ideas group discussion). We want to highlight innovative age-optimized programs and practices through our blog, social media and weekly e-newsletter!  Share the inspiration.

Generations United Responds to Obama’s FY2013 Budget Request

Looking to “build an economy to last,” President Obama has released his proposed budget for FY 2013. Many of its provisions won’t come as a surprise: the President began laying the groundwork for his budget with his economic speech in Kansas in December and again during the State of the Union Address in January. The budget simply serves as the plan to put his aspirations into action.

After a preliminary review, Generations United’s Policy Team by and large gives the budget a thumbs up, cautioning that it does contain some cuts to social service programs. Here’s a brief summary of the major provisions that affect children, youth and older adults.

• The President’s budget provided important increases in Early Education Investments and Community Supports through increased funding for Head Start and Early Head Start and for an early learning challenge focus within the Race to the Top program. Generations United supports the continued integration of early childhood programs and the increased investment in these programs.
• The budget continues to fund our nation’s Commitment to Programs Serving Vulnerable Populations through important programs such as Woman, Infants, and Children (WIC) and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). Unfortunately the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) was not given sufficient priority in a time of rising home energy costs and stressed family budgets.
• The budget takes important steps toward College Affordability and Tax Relief efforts by increasing the maximum Pell Grant award and making expansions of several tax credits permanent.
• The budget proposes a modest increase to continue the Support for Volunteerism, for important programs like Senior Corps, that does great work engaging seniors to serve children and at-risk youth in our communities.
• The FY13 budget provides funding to continue the implementation of the Affordable Care Act (ACA), which provides critical health care coverage and support for our youngest and oldest generations.
• The President’s 2013 budget also includes a commitment to strengthen Social Security. Generations United urges the Administration to continue their commitment to this issue and pledge not to cut Social Security.

Generations United will continue to work with Members of Congress and the Administration on improving/supporting these and other critical programs for children and older adults in order to strengthen our country and support an economy built to last. 

Sign up here to receive Generations United’s Policy Alert on the President’s FY2013 budget on Thursday.

Applauding SCHIP and Staying Vigilant on Economic Recovery Act

Legislation is moving at a fast place on Capitol Hill and each day brings its own opportunities and challenges.

Yesterday, a vital expansion of the Children’s Health Insurance Program was signed into law by the President Obama. The new law will provide health insurance to four million uninsured and vulnerable children. This is a crucial victory for children and the country, particularly during this economic downturn. During the signing-ceremony President Obama said providing health care for children was the, “duty of any decent society.” I couldn’t agree more.

Today, the news was decidedly different. The Senate is debating the economic recovery plan to kick start the economy and provide for long-term investments that will grow our economy for years to come. While no bill is perfect, especially one that has almost a trillion dollars of spending in it, I believe that funding initiatives like Head Start and school construction are the epitome of what Congress should be trying to pass. These initiatives provide tremendous intergenerational opportunities that should be promoted rather than pared.