Foster Grandparents and Traveling Grannies and Grandpas
Changes in the family structure have meant that there are fewer opportunities for children and young people to interact with and learn from 'elders.'
Older adults have a lifetime of experience and joy to offer children, and children have unconditional love and unbounded joy to offer to older adults. Together they can gain much from one another . . This concept has been proven "Older adults and children are a powerful combination" through two older adult/intergenerational volunteer programs.
The Foster Grandparent Program places low-income older adults in classrooms to act as support for the teachers and students. The Grandparents serve 20 hours a week in a classroom setting, and become a vital and integral part of the children's educational experience.
The Traveling Grannies/Grandpas are role models that support pregnant and parenting teens, and other at-risk youth 6 to 19 years of age. This program reinforces the Healthy Families Strategy by partnering with schools, neighborhoods, and community organizations to enhance youth and family development. One of our focus areas is to discourage substance abuse by helping the youth understand the effects of substance abuse and find alternative ways of coping with stress and peer pressure. This support also help youth reduce their involvement in crime and violence by promoting positive after-school activities that would discourage gang involvement and help the youth develop skills in dealing with conflict in a positive way.
The mission of these services is to provide volunteer opportunities for older adults 60 and older to make contributions of significant human and economical value to children.
If you enjoy working with children, are a low-income older adult age 60 or over, just click here and we will gladly send you more information on the program.
Also, if you are interested in the Traveling Grannies/Grandpas for your school or center, click here and we will send you information about starting this program in your community.
Foster Grandparent Program and Traveling Grannies & Grandpas Program Information Request Form
Want to find out more about the Foster Grandparent Program and Traveling Grannies & Grandpas Program? Fill out the form below.
Foster Grandparents
Traveling Grannies and Grandpas
516 Cherry Street SE
Grand Rapids, MI 49503
616 771-9748
616 771-9767 (Fax)