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SPRING 2002

FALL 2001

2000-2001 YEAR IN REVIEW By Scott Prange, Special Projects Manager Open hearts can open minds. And, during the last year, it was the open hearts of 272 Foster Grandparents that empowered The Foster Grandparent Program to substantially expand its presence to meet the diverse needs of the Central Florida community. Under the leadership of Ann Smith, program director, staff successfully executed an aggressive campaign to pursue new community partnerships, secure additional funding, and to recruit and train additional senior volunteers. As a result of this concerted effort, the program was able to accomplish the following tasks in 2000-2001. Community Partnerships As a new partner of The Winter Park Neighborhood Center For Families (NCF), the program was able to place Foster Grandparents to volunteer through NCF services to support the health and well being of children and families in the Winter Park community. The Foster Grandparent Program and The Winter Park Health Foundation drafted an agreement to place Foster Grandparents at Lakeside Alternatives, an emergency shelter for juveniles located in Eatonville. The program and The Mental Health Association of Central Florida formed a partnership to train staff and Grandparents to employ I Can Problem Solve at volunteer sites. I Can Problem Solve is a practical approach to teach children how to evaluate and resolve interpersonal conflicts inherent to their relationships with peers and adults. Funding The Foster Grandparent Program applied for and was awarded a Program of National Significance (PNS) grant through The Corporation for National Service. The $76,331 award will allow the program to place teams of at least three Grandparents in after school/out-of-school programs at 3 sites in Orange County. These Grandparents will serve as role models to assist at-risk youth to utilize time out of school in a productive manner. In addition, the Foster Grandparent Program has secured increased funding for the 2001-2002 fiscal cycle through the Heart of Florida United Way, the Washington Shores-West Orlando Partnership (WOWS), Orange County and the Corporation for National Service to expand the scope of the program in the community. Recruitment 73 additional Foster Grandparents were recruited and trained to volunteer with special needs children. Lutisha Thompson, a new Grandparent assigned to the Coalition for the Homeless, Orlando, notes, "Being a Foster Grandparent will allow me to stay active while helping the children." In improving the lives of the children, these Foster Grandparents will undoubtably enrich their own lives. 2000-2001 has served as a remarkable year of growth for the Foster Grandparent Program of Central Florida. It has been said that the most important thing is not so much where you are but in what direction you are moving. It is with great pride that The Foster Grandparent Program has moved and is moving to meet the demands of the Foster Grandparents and the children and families they serve throughout Central Florida. Seminole County Grandparent: "It's a Very Good Feeling" By Dr. Girvan Shirley, Senior Volunteer Coordinator Up until recently, Gladys Rivers never imagined working with children in a classroom setting, let alone doing it and having fun. Today, the unthinkable has become a reality and according to her, "It's a very good feeling." The satisfaction of witnessing the slow learner come to life, savoring his or her success, according to Rivers, "is truly amazing." Rivers, who works with the ESOL (English as a Second Language) Program at Spring Lake Elementary School in Altamonte Springs, echoes a sentiment shared by the more-than-sixty Foster Grandparents serving at a variety of locations in Seminole County. "Seeing the children run to me and say Grandma! Grandma! Makes me feel I'm doing something good," says Idella Sykes, a volunteer at Child Develpment Day Care in Sanford. In addition to schools and day care centers, Foster Grandparents also volunteer atBoys & Girls Clubs, shelters, after-school programs and other community-based organizations catering to the needs of targeted populations throughout the county. On any given day, FGP volunteers can be found at twenty-four such locations providing one-on-one attention to kids who would otherwise go without that extra dose of tender loving care. And as these dedicated Grandparents are quick to tell you, unconditional love more often than not makes the difference between failure and success for these children. But Foster Grandparents are much more than mere loving hands or caregivers in the traditional sense; they are also instrumental in promoting learning of essential life skills including reading, listening and socialization. Case in point: Carrie June, who volunteers at Sanford Middle School, fondly recounts the story of children crowding around and begging her to read to them. One child went a little further threatening to put her in a headlock if she refused to comply; another clung to her, pleading "Tell them I'm your favorite, Grandma!" Similar stories are told of other children competing not only for Grandma's attention but also for her approval and help with just about everything including homework. So while they are by no means replacements for parents, guardians and teachers, these FGP volunteers obviously play an important role as mentors and over time become an integral part in the education and upbringing of the clientele they faithfully serve. Susie Mae Williams, who also serves at Child Development Day Care, captures the essence of the Foster Grandparent Program and the spirit of its Seminole County volunteers, by reflecting on what she calls her "bad days." Noting that she is not the healthiest person in town, Williams further explains that "Even when I'm not feeling well, I'm still going (to her site); I look forward to being with those kids, and they like me too." That of course is the intent of the program--to provide a mutually-beneficial experience for the Foster Grandparent and the children being served. In Seminole County, that mission clearly has been accomplished. New Advisory Council Members Dr. Patricia Spaulding, Orange County Head Start Director, Fredricka Wilson, Home Builders Institute, and Jane Lane, Dividends Coordinator, Seminole County Schools have been elected to our Advisory Council through 2004. We would like to extend a warm welcome to each of them. The Advisory Council meets on the fourth Thursday every other month, 11:30 a.m., at the program office. If you or someone you know might be interested in becoming a member, please call the program office at 407-298-4180.

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