The Foster Grandparent Program is gearing up for the upcoming school year. Last year 61 volunteers served 162 children in classrooms, child care centers and Head Start sites across the state. An additional 672 students were positively impacted by having a Foster Grandparent at their site.
Penquis Family Enrichment Services Director Tamar Mathieu said, “Although the challenges were many this past year due to COVID-19, Penquis leadership and staff stayed focused and committed to our goal of supporting our volunteers and serving the children of Maine. We became adept at working through the challenges by maintaining contact with our volunteers via phone calls, Zoom calls, emails, and meetings. Thanks to the dedication of our volunteers, as well as support from AmeriCorps Seniors, our Foster Grandparent program continues to be strong and viable,” according to a news release from the organization.
Penquis FGP provides quality early learning experiences to eligible Maine children, supporting intellectual/emotional and social development as well as promoting school readiness. For over 35 years, the Foster Grandparent Program has provided opportunities across 14 Maine counties for income-eligible adults age 55-plus to become involved in their community by sharing their time with children who benefit from additional nurturing support. The program also provides a stipend for its volunteers, allowing them to meet housing, food, car, and miscellaneous expenses, and helping to increase their financial stability.
Volunteers work approximately 15-40 hours a week with children 6 weeks to 21 years of age who have disabilities, emotional challenges, a history of abuse or neglect, or who have been impacted by poverty, language barriers, or other social, developmental, and academic challenges. Foster Grandparents are role models who read to, mentor, and tutor children to improve social and emotional development, school engagement, and academic skills, providing support and comfort that sets children on the path toward successful futures.
In May, the Penquis Foster Grandparent Program received a one-year allocation of $5,000 from United Way of Kennebec Valley. The funds come from the agency’s Community Care Fund and will allow Penquis to directly serve 24 youngsters in southern Kennebec County. 69.8% of children under age 6 have all available parents in the workforce, relying on child care/pre-school programs to prepare their children for kindergarten.
Maria Staples, Foster Grandparent Program Director, states, “United Way of Kennebec Valley recognizes the importance of creating intergenerational bonds that improve children’s confidence, academic skills, and sense of belonging and support the physical, emotional, and financial well-being of adults age 55-plus through volunteering and community engagement with the Penquis Foster Grandparent Program.”
To learn more about the program and volunteer opportunities, contact Maria Staples at 207-973-3611 or mstaples@penquis.org.
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