Foster Grandparents: The Power to Connect
As school districts struggle to find and retain educators and support staff, Foster Grandparents remain a steady and compassionate presence in classrooms and early education centers all around the Kansas City area.
Foster Grandma and Teacher at Gordon Parks Elementary School
The Foster Grandparents Program (FGP) is a federal AmeriCorps Seniors program which connects older adults to mentorship and volunteer opportunities with at-risk youth in our community. Since 2010, Reconciliation Services (RS) has been running the Program, which this school year placed 78 volunteers at 26 locations across Jackson, Clay, and Platte Counties. This year RS added three new sites: Central Middle School, Gordon Parks Elementary School, and Guadalupe Center.
“I like working with the children,” said Barney Klassen, first-year Foster Grandpa at Central Middle School. “I look for children with nothing on their paper. When you can help them understand the work they are doing, you can see the results almost immediately.”
Foster Grandparents come out of retirement to mentor youth on the fundamentals of life. They are volunteer tutors, listeners, encouragers, and as the kids affectionately refer to them: “Grandmas” and “Grandpas.” They work alongside teachers and childcare workers to help children succeed academically, emotionally, and socially, extending learning and support for those who are struggling with learning or may need emotional or developmental support.
Program surveys indicate that kids who worked with their Foster Grandparent for six months or more saw a 97% improvement in their academic engagement and social and emotional gains throughout the year.
Foster Grandmas at Gordon Parks Elementary School
The Foster Grandparents also live in the communities where they serve. They understand the struggles and environments these children are growing up in. “Our Foster Grandparents have a significant impact on the lives of the children they mentor and tutor,” said FGP Program Manager, Kimberly Stafford. “They do this by being compassionate, patient, and having the power to connect with the children. Their contributions to the teachers and school staff are immeasurable.”
Ashley Morgan, FGP Program Administrative assistant, said that often the Foster Grandparents take the place of biological grandparents that are missing from the kids’ lives. They are trusted older adults that the kids can talk to and learn from.
“When the foster grandparents talk about ‘their children’ their faces light up. It's a beautiful thing to witness,” said Morgan. “The joy this program brings to the schools, children, teachers, and most of all for the Foster Grandparents is priceless. I believed in the program so much I recommended it to my own Mother who is now a current Foster grandparent.”
Foster Grandparents are giving their time and talents in service, but they also benefit greatly from the Program. Research by AmeriCorps shows that, “Volunteering among seniors has been linked to improved quality of life, stronger social networks, increased levels of physical activity and lower mortality rates.”
Foster Grandma being introduced to the class by Gordon Parks teacher.
Nearly 20% of seniors live alone and 40% experience persistent loneliness, according to a Health Psychology study. The same study indicated that seniors who are isolated are at higher risks for illness, cognitive decline, stroke, and obesity.
After just one year in the Foster Grandparent Program, studies indicate that nearly half of Foster Grandparents report improved health and well-being. The Program also provides a stipend for volunteers, which offers some additional stability for older adults on very modest fixed incomes.
In addition to the academic support they provide to students, Foster Grandparents also receive monthly education and training on issues like: trauma-informed care, how to recognize human trafficking, self care, Alzheimer’s signs and symptoms, and other educational and health related topics. The Program aims to keep older adult volunteers active and engaged.
The routine and expectation to be well put together and on-time to support the kids and teachers, helps Foster Grandparents feel needed and gives them purpose at a time in life when many are battling loneliness. RS Foster Grandparents range from 55 to 88 years old, with the average age being 72. And many decide to serve year after year, averaging about 6 years of service. One Foster Grandma just began her 25th year volunteering!
“The children are our future,” said Morgan, and they are being taught by these special Foster Grandparents that share with them “the wisdom of our past.”
To learn more about our Foster Grandparents program, including how you can sign up to volunteer, visit the website. You can also CLICK HERE to read about how Foster Grandparents adapted to the changing landscape of education in the midst of the pandemic. And, check out this profile piece on Grandpa Gillum who voolunteered at Brookside Charter School!