Parents and students are all gearing up for the start of the 2021/22 school year in just a few weeks, but so too are some of the senior members of our Carroll County communities. Terri Taylor, Director of the Foster Grandparents Program for the county, says she is getting ready to place volunteers in the schools and daycares of the region. Training will be getting underway soon and she is asking for those 55 and up to consider dedicating anywhere from 15 to 40 hours per week for the benefit of the kids…and for their own benefit as well.
The Foster Grandparents could be working one-on-one with kids, providing nurturing support, reading to them or maybe even helping with some simple homework. The program is eligible to operate in all school districts within Carroll County and in several of the daycares. Taylor says there is an immediate need, however, at the IKM-Manning school and daycare. There are some criteria that must be met to become a grandparent.
A background check is also a standard procedure for placement. There is a stipend and other benefits available for program members as well. Taylor says, depending on hours worked, the stipend can be from $200 to $400 per month that is tax free and has no negative impact on social security, HUD, food assistance or other similar benefits.
Days and hours are flexible and Taylor says she works individually with each grandparent to develop a schedule. More information is available on the program in general through the link included below. For questions or application assistance for the local Foster Grandparents Program, contact Taylor through any of the methods detailed here. For those unable to participate, they can support Foster Grandparents through an ongoing fundraiser with Rada Cutlery, a link to which is also included.
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Link to Foster Grandparent Program website: https://www.benefits.gov/benefit/878
Contact Terri Taylor:
- Phone: 712-292-5293
- In-person at the office: 514 N. Court Street in Carroll
- General hours: between 7:30 a.m. and 1 p.m. on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays or by appointment
- Email: cfgpp@hotmail.com
Rada Cutlery fundraiser link: https://radafundraising.com/?rfsn=3826831.b11eb7&fbclid=IwAR0cW0XJMbVPznJNodkWGEdznqD0UEl5OHFP4bpplRDM__ru3_byzZnMIMM
