Title
Resolution Approving Participation In and Appropriation by the City of Hampton, Virginia of the 2016-2017 Foster Grandparent Program through the Corporation for National and Community Service
Purpose
PURPOSE/BACKGROUND:
The Peninsula Foster Grandparent Program is a non-profit program, which is funded by the Federal and local governments. The Program provides the opportunity for limited income and other qualified senior citizens, age 55 and older, to work with and mentor children 15 or 20 hours weekly and to be involved in their communities. The Program will begin its 44th year of operation in 2016 and it remains one of over 300 national Foster Grandparent Programs managed by the Corporation for National and Community Service. The Cities of Hampton and Newport News, continue to sponsor the Program locally. The service areas represented by the Program includes; the City of Hampton, Newport News, Williamsburg and the Counties of Yorktown and James City.
Our senior volunteers work with children who may have multiple needs such as juvenile delinquents, children who are mentally and physically challenged, abused or who are from violent homes (at risk children), and many others. The Program primarily focuses on the area of literacy and many of our volunteers help prepare children for PAL’s and SOL testing. Overall our volunteers serve as mentors and help to provide the love that all children need to succeed in life. Furthermore; the program strategic initiative is to engage at risk students in their communities by mentoring and academic assistance.
Volunteers are assigned to such environments as elementary and primary schools, head start programs, daycare centers, before and after school programs, juvenile detention, just to name a few. Additionally our volunteers help to meet the needs of children and in turn the needs of the community. These needs are identified through performance measures, and work plans which are tools used to evaluate and measure our success and to help meet program goals and objectives.
Discussion:
The Peninsula Foster Grandparent Program provides volunteer opportunities to senior citizen who provide academic, tutoring and nurturing to at risk children. The City of Hampton has identified 285 children of low income families that lack the necessary academic, social, emotional, and cognitive skills to be successful in elementary schools and head start centers. The funding will provide additional support to 57 volunteers serving 285 students, provide active stipend volunteer a non-taxable hourly stipend of $2.65 or $121.00 monthly of a minimum of $2,767.00 yearly, and monthly transportation reimbursement to each volunteer in the amount of $55.00 per month if budget permits. Provide other benefits to include physical reimbursement once per year, training, criminal back ground checks and annual recognition. If funding request is not approved the program may reduce the number of volunteers serving which will impact the number of students served.
This is the third year of the three year grant period.
Impact:
Students who are reading below below their level and who demonstrated a need for assistance in improving their reading skills have been identified by teachers. These students have been targeted as a result of their Benchmark and PALS assessments. Providing early literacy strategies and interventions are essential to academic success. FGP volunteers will assist in targeting skill development in reading and other content areas. Volunteers will serve 20 hours per week and are required to serve 5 students each. Each student will receive a minimum of 4 hours of one to one assistance per week. Teachers will administer standardized Pre and Post test. The anticipated outcome is that 75 % of the students served will demonstrate an improvement in their Benchmark and PALS assessment test.
Recommendation:
Rec
Approve.
Body
WHEREAS, the Corporation for National and Community Service has awarded a 2016-2017 FGP Grant Continuation in the amount of $345,138.00; and
WHEREAS, The FY16/17 Foster Grandparent Program (year 3 of multiyear grant 3 year cycle); and
WHEREAS, this program will provide limited income and other benefits to qualified senior citizens on the Peninsula with the opportunity to volunteer to serve and mentor children; and
WHEREAS, the Foster Grandparent Program’s required local match is being provided by anticipated in-kind contributions and anticipated cash support from the Cities of Hampton and Newport News and York county and that the specified use of the grant funds are in keeping with the goals and responsibilities of the City of Hampton and the Corporation for National and Community Service;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the City Council of the City of Hampton, Virginia:
1. accepts and appropriates the grant application in the amount of $ 345,138.00 which includes the City of Hampton’s cash contribution of $ 69,770.00, City of Newport News cash contribution of $20,000.00 and in-kind match of $1,560.00 and $9,000.00 meals; and
2. accepts and appropriates any supplemental grant awards made from the Corporation for National and Community Service in accordance with the grant agreement; and
3. accepts and appropriates any donations made on behalf of this grant in accordance with the grant agreement; and
4. accepts and appropriates any local reserve funds designated by the program’s Advisory Council.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the City Council authorizes the City Manager or her designee to take the necessary steps to implement this grant award.