Helping children succeed

NEW VIDEO

Executive Director, Hue Jacobs, talks about VCI’s Foster Grandparent program on Orange TV!

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A 2012 study by the Annie E. Casey Foundation found that 16% of children who are not reading at grade level by third grade will not graduate high school. In crowded classrooms, teachers are often unable to provide these children the attention they need to succeed. The Foster Grandparent program enables caring, mature adults, often from their neighborhood, and from limited income households, to support these children and help them advance to the next grade level with their peers. You can be a hero to a child struggling to learn.

Foster Grandparents assist children with their studies and socialization to guide them towards a path to success. 100% of children mentored by Foster Grandparents during 2015 showed positive relationships with their mentor and improvement in behavior. 92% were promoted to the next grade level as a result of the help their Foster Grandparent provided them. 328 volunteers gave more than 270,000 hours to support the academic, emotional, and social achievement of Central Florida’s youth. Not only do the Foster Grandparent volunteers improve the lives of Central Florida’s children, they have a feeling of accomplishment for dedicating their time to these children and forming a positive bond.

Foster Grandparents serve 15 to 40 hours a week in locations such as schools, Boys and Girls Clubs, daycare centers, or Head Start centers. Each volunteer completes a pre-service orientation and training. Volunteers meeting certain income guidelines also receive a small stipend. Contact the VCI’s office to be connected with the volunteer coordinator for your county. Together, you and your volunteer coordinator will determine your eligibility for the program and they will answer your questions. Begin making your impact on Central Florida’s by filling out this simple informational form.