 The program provides an opportunity to provide individual assistance
and love to special-needs children in schools, day cares and Head
Start centers. Foster Grandparents provide supportive relationships,
friendship, love, encouragement, guidance, stability and emotional
support, as well as assist teachers with a variety of activities.
Foster Grandparents also listen, talk, sing, assist in feedings,
tutor and promote literacy through reading and being read to by
children. Community Action Partnership of Central Illinois
coordinates the program in DeWitt, Fulton, Logan, Macon, Mason,
Menard and Piatt counties.
Previously individuals had to be 60 and
older to participate in the program, but the age has been lowered to
55. The income eligibility has also been raised to 200 percent of
the poverty level. Participants of the program earn a tax-free
stipend, lunches, travel reimbursement, paid vacation and sick
leave, and 13 paid holidays. Annually, the Foster Grandparents are
recognized at a Thanksgiving luncheon and recognition banquet. The
biggest reward comes from giving help to the children and seeing
their improvement.
Interested individuals who love children, are at least 55 and
have 15 to 40 hours each week to volunteer, should call Paula Gregg
at 217-732-2159, ext. 237, to find out more information. Any day
cares, school districts and preschools are also encouraged to
contact Gregg to become a site for Foster Grandparents.
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 The Community Action Foster Grandparent program has been active
in the community for 43 years. Lots of children in the community
have benefited from the Foster Grandmas and Grandpas, and there are
opportunities available now.
For more information about Community Action, visit
www.capcil.org.
[Text from file received from
Community Action Partnership of
Central Illinois]
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