Cookson Hills Community Action Foster Grandparent Program P.O. Box 745 Tahlequah, OK 74465 918-456-0574 Janice Laws, Director |
| What do Foster Grandparents do? |
Foster Grandparents are stipend volunteers who provide person to person support to special needs
children. Special needs may include the mentally handicapped, learning disabled, emotionally troubled,
developmentally delayed, physically handicapped, abused children, children who lack proficiency in the
English language, and some who simply need the extra attention a loving and caring Foster Grandparent
can provide.
Foster Grandparents are assigned one to three children -- they do not work with entire classes. They
normally sere a minimum of fifteen hours per week and those who meet income guidelines receive a
stipend of $2.64 per hour, as well as reimbursement for travel expenses for those who drive their own
cars. A free meal is provided each workday for each Foster Grandparent. Other benefits include paid
vacation and sick leave; some paid holidays; a free physical examination each year; and supplementary
insurance coverage.
children. Special needs may include the mentally handicapped, learning disabled, emotionally troubled,
developmentally delayed, physically handicapped, abused children, children who lack proficiency in the
English language, and some who simply need the extra attention a loving and caring Foster Grandparent
can provide.
Foster Grandparents are assigned one to three children -- they do not work with entire classes. They
normally sere a minimum of fifteen hours per week and those who meet income guidelines receive a
stipend of $2.64 per hour, as well as reimbursement for travel expenses for those who drive their own
cars. A free meal is provided each workday for each Foster Grandparent. Other benefits include paid
vacation and sick leave; some paid holidays; a free physical examination each year; and supplementary
insurance coverage.
| "Everybody can be great because anybody can serve." -- Martin Luther King Jr. |
The requirements for participation in the Foster Grandparent Program are: Be age sixty or over, be in
reasonably good health, meet income guidelines to receive the stipend, and have a love of and a desire
to help children. There are no educational requirements; initial and on-going training is provided.
The modest hourly stipend is tax free and is disregarded in determining benefits such as Social Security,
food stamps, subsidized housing or any other benefits.
reasonably good health, meet income guidelines to receive the stipend, and have a love of and a desire
to help children. There are no educational requirements; initial and on-going training is provided.
The modest hourly stipend is tax free and is disregarded in determining benefits such as Social Security,
food stamps, subsidized housing or any other benefits.
| Who Can Serve? |
| Why a Foster Grandparent Program? |
Who does the FGP help? The FGP does the impossible by pleasing nearly everyone involved. The
program turns tax dollars into a sound investment in people, improving the life of everyone it touches --
everybody winds.
OLDER PERSONS BENEFIT: The Foster Grandparent Program provides an additional income,
free meals while in service, daily social contact and free yearly physicals, but these are only practical
benefits. Most will agree the real benefits are in the work! FGPs develop improved self-esteem by feeling
useful through meaningful and needed work, and demonstrate that older Americans are a tremendous
reservoir of skill, wisdom and moral strength desperately needed by the community and nation.
CHILDREN BENEFIT: Through the nurturing and one on one help of a FGP, the child improves skills
and develops a better self-image. The child's behavior and attitude toward learning often improves
because his special needs are being met.
VOLUNTEER STATIONS BENEFIT: Special needs children who normally require more staff time
are less demanding. Why? Because so many of their needs are being met by the Foster Grandparent.
Foster Grandparents add a note of freshness, informality and intimacy at the worksites in which they
serve.
COMMUNITIES BENEFIT: People develop a greater awareness of the needs of both elderly adults
and special needs children through exposure to the Foster Grandparent Program. Many generations are
touched by the FGP care, helping all to develop a greater respect for each other.
program turns tax dollars into a sound investment in people, improving the life of everyone it touches --
everybody winds.
OLDER PERSONS BENEFIT: The Foster Grandparent Program provides an additional income,
free meals while in service, daily social contact and free yearly physicals, but these are only practical
benefits. Most will agree the real benefits are in the work! FGPs develop improved self-esteem by feeling
useful through meaningful and needed work, and demonstrate that older Americans are a tremendous
reservoir of skill, wisdom and moral strength desperately needed by the community and nation.
CHILDREN BENEFIT: Through the nurturing and one on one help of a FGP, the child improves skills
and develops a better self-image. The child's behavior and attitude toward learning often improves
because his special needs are being met.
VOLUNTEER STATIONS BENEFIT: Special needs children who normally require more staff time
are less demanding. Why? Because so many of their needs are being met by the Foster Grandparent.
Foster Grandparents add a note of freshness, informality and intimacy at the worksites in which they
serve.
COMMUNITIES BENEFIT: People develop a greater awareness of the needs of both elderly adults
and special needs children through exposure to the Foster Grandparent Program. Many generations are
touched by the FGP care, helping all to develop a greater respect for each other.
| Forty Years of Service |
The Foster Grandparent Program (FGP) began in 1965 under the Office of Economic Opportunity,
during the War on Poverty years, as an employment program for older people. It was later transferred to
the Administration on Aging, and in 1971 the FGP was transferred to the federal volunteer agency,
ACTION. In 1993, the Foster Grandparent Program became a part of the Corporation for National and
Community Service.
The Cookson Hills Community Action Foster Grandparent Program began on September 1, 1967.
Funding for the Foster Grandparen Program is provided through a grant from the Corporation for
National Service, the Federal volunteer agency. Ten percent of the Federal amount must be matched
by local cash and in-kind contributions. A contract with the State of Oklahoma Department of Human
Services, Aging Services Division, furnishes a large part of these required matching funds. The
additional comes through in-kind and some contributions from participating worksites.
during the War on Poverty years, as an employment program for older people. It was later transferred to
the Administration on Aging, and in 1971 the FGP was transferred to the federal volunteer agency,
ACTION. In 1993, the Foster Grandparent Program became a part of the Corporation for National and
Community Service.
The Cookson Hills Community Action Foster Grandparent Program began on September 1, 1967.
Funding for the Foster Grandparen Program is provided through a grant from the Corporation for
National Service, the Federal volunteer agency. Ten percent of the Federal amount must be matched
by local cash and in-kind contributions. A contract with the State of Oklahoma Department of Human
Services, Aging Services Division, furnishes a large part of these required matching funds. The
additional comes through in-kind and some contributions from participating worksites.
| Where Do They Serve? |
Cookson Hills Community action Foster Grandparent Program currently operates in eleven counties in
Eastern Oklahoma: Adair, Delaware, Cherokee, Haskell, Mayes, McIntosh, Muskogee, Ottawa, Pittsburg,
Sequoyah and Wagoner.
The Program provides service opportunities for approximately 190 Senior Citizens, and benefits over 500
children each school day.
Worksites include 46 public schools, three Native American Boarding Schools, seven Head Start
classrooms and the Oklahoma School for the Blind.
Eastern Oklahoma: Adair, Delaware, Cherokee, Haskell, Mayes, McIntosh, Muskogee, Ottawa, Pittsburg,
Sequoyah and Wagoner.
The Program provides service opportunities for approximately 190 Senior Citizens, and benefits over 500
children each school day.
Worksites include 46 public schools, three Native American Boarding Schools, seven Head Start
classrooms and the Oklahoma School for the Blind.
| Foster Grandparent of the Year Myrna Kelly, Stilwell Grade School with Janice Laws, Director |