Foster Grandparent Program (FGP)

Who Are Foster Grandparents?
Foster Grandparents are caring seniors who volunteer about 20 hours per week at school, day care and Head Start sites throughout Broome County.

What Do Foster Grandparents Do?
Foster Grandparents work directly with children: listening, reading stories and helping with academic work. The activities they engage in depend on the age of the children and their needs. Some Foster Grandparents feed and rock infants. With older children, they reinforce lessons taught by teachers and act as a role model of appropriate behavior. Foster Grandparents are not paid staff so they do not discipline children. Mainly, Foster Grandparents provide the love, support, and extra attention a child may need.

What Are the Requirements of the Program?
Foster Grandparents must:

• Be 60 or over,
• Be able to volunteer 20 hours per week,
• Meet income guidelines,
• Enjoy children. (Ages range from infant to 21. Foster Grandparents work with the age group with which they are most comfortable.)

What Are the Benefits?
Foster Grandparents receive:

• Orientation
• Non-taxable hourly payment
• Reimbursement for travel costs
• A meal at their volunteer site
• Paid time off
• An annual physical
• Regular in-service training
• The opportunity to socialize with other Foster Grandparents.
• The joy of making a difference in a child's life.

Why Be a Foster Grandparent?
Because it's an opportunity to do truly rewarding work. As one Foster Grandparent recently said:

“Initially I was interested because I needed to supplement my income, but after I started I fell in love with the children. I feel loved, appreciated, needed, and missed when I'm not there. I feel I have the opportunity to give love and approval to children who really need it.”

For more information call 607.778.2089.

What Else Should I Know?
The Foster Grandparent Program is a national program originally created in 1965. Broome County has operated the local Foster Grandparent Program since 1972.

The Foster Grandparent Program is designed to:

• Assist children with special needs who need additional help to succeed. The program works by matching these children with a caring volunteer, the Foster Grandparent, who works with them to reach goals set by the children's teachers.
• Make it possible for low-income seniors to make a meaningful contribution to their community by providing the economic support they need to be able to volunteer.

Be part of something big.
Be a Foster Grandparent.

Funds provided by the Corporation for National and Community Service, New York State Office for Aging, and Broome County Office for Aging.

Photos courtesy of CNCS Photo Office

Links
Foster Grandparents Brochure
Find out more about Foster Grandparent Programs across the nation: CNCS Senior Service Corps
Find out about other volunteer opportunities with the Office for Aging or in the community.

Foster Grandparent Program (FGP) Frequently Asked Questions