“Jessica” is a child whose father is in long-term incarceration. Her mother is a drug user who does not provide a stable home for Jessica and her younger sister. Jessica usually cooks the dinner, washes the clothes for school and sees to the other needs of herself and her sister. Because of the stress and worries of home, Jessica had difficulty focusing on her work at school. She didn't have someone encouraging her to do homework, even if she had time at night to do it, so her schoolwork suffered.
Sally started volunteering as a foster grandparent in Jessica's second-grade classroom and immediately began noticing that Jessica needed some extra attention. She was often tired and discouraged. She was already behind in most subjects and had trouble maintaining her level, much less catching up. Sally encouraged Jessica and worked with her one-on-one every day to help her learn and finish more tasks.
They developed a wonderful relationship based upon trust and caring that resulted in an enormous difference in Jessica's attitude, ability to concentrate and completion of work. Jessica caught up with her peers and learned that there could be a kind, responsible adult in her life who truly cared for her.
Sally also loved their relationship. She felt valued in her life again by the teacher, the school and the children, especially Jessica. She would get up in the morning happy to have somewhere important to go, and start for home in the afternoon feeling appreciated and gratified by her work.
Today, even though Sally is still serving in the same teacher's classroom with second graders, she still meets Jessica, now in fourth grade, every day when Jessica eats breakfast at school. They talk and swap stories and thoughts while Jessica eats. Sally still helps Jessica start her day in a better frame of mind by knowing that someone cares so much about her.
Because of this foster grandparent, Jessica's teachers believe her academic progress and overall well-being have been immensely enhanced, and her chances of a brighter future greatly improved.
The foster grandparent program enables moderate income older adults to provide for themselves with dignity in their retirement years when jobs aren't an option anymore. It provides a small stipend for volunteering with at-risk children and teens. It brings together people at both ends of the age spectrum to help each other through life-changing relationships. Through a minimum of 15 hours per week, retirees build new relationships with needy children, as well as teachers and school staffs, who become new networks for the seniors. And children make new connections that can at times be the only close, consistent, reliable adult relationship they have, and can make the difference of a lifetime.
Alane Hill
Program Director
(Interested in becoming a foster grandparents? Call 228-1193 or e-mail fgp@friendsprogram.org.)
