Community Action Awarded Grant to Administer Foster Grandparent Program

Community Action (www.communityactionatwork.org) has been awarded a $60,000 grant from the Corporation for National and Community Service to administer the Foster Grandparent Program in Lincoln. The grant will give 5-13 seniors the opportunity to serve 107 infants and toddlers enrolled within the agency’s two early childhood education centers in Lincoln.

Established on a national level in 1965, The Foster Grandparent Program is designed to connect adults ages 55 and over to children with special or exceptional needs who would benefit from the one-on-one attention a Foster Grandparent can provide. Community Action’s Early Head Start and Head Start programs, which provide high-quality early childhood education services to young children living in poverty, will directly benefit from this grant.

Foster Grandparents will partner with Head Start classroom teachers in completing lesson plans, small group activities, facilitating mealtime discussions, and guiding children through their daily routines at Community Action’s Head Start Center at Health 360 (2301 O Street) and K Street Head Start Center (1821 K Street). These activities will assist children in the development of social-emotional skills, which are critical for kindergarten readiness.

Foster Grandparents must be 55 or older, have an income at or below the 200% Federal Poverty Level, and be available at least 15 hours a week. If you are interested in making a difference in the lives of children by becoming a Foster Grandparent, please contact Georgann Roth with Community Action at (402) 875-9320 or groth@communityactionatwork.org. To learn more about Community Action, visit www.communityactionatwork.org.