An outgrowth of the Older Americans Act, the AmeriCorps Seniors Foster Grandparent Program is a unique intergenerational volunteer program that matches limited-income seniors with young students with special and exceptional needs. Under the guidance of the classroom teacher, each Foster Grandparent mentors and/or tutors 4 to 5 students who need a little extra help. Last year our 100 Foster Grandparents helped more than 400 students achieve improvement academically and/or behaviorally. The Program has a dual purpose - to enhance the lives of children through a caring relationship and to provide a high-quality experience that enriches the lives of the volunteers and the children they serve.
When you share your love, time, and experience, you have the power to help a child who needs you. As a Foster Grandparent, you’re a role model, a mentor, and a friend helping children learn to read, providing one-on-one tutoring and guiding children at a critical time in their lives. Put simply, you give the kind of instruction, comfort and love that sets a child on the path toward a successful future.
Funded primarily by a grant from AmeriCorps Seniors, with local support from the Children Services Councils of St. Lucie County and Okeechobee County, the Foster Grandparent Program is in its 27th year serving children in Okeechobee, Palm Beach and St. Lucie counties.
