Foster Grandparent Program
Many older adults want to stay active and engaged with their community. Our Foster Grandparent Program, serving Luzerne and Wyoming Counties, provides an opportunity for senior volunteers to play a special role in the lives of young children in neighboring school districts and youth centers. Foster grandparents work one-on-one with children identified as high-risk or having special needs, supporting their physical, mental, emotional and social development. This is a free service available for ages 0 to 21, and the average age of children served is 3 to 5 years old. Foster grandparents meet with children on a weekly basis in pre-K programs, elementary schools, head start programs, and other youth-based facilities.
Our Foster Grandparents provide:
Help with reading and other learning tasks
One-on-one conversations and guidance
Love and support at critical moments in a child’s life
If you’d like to learn more about Telespond Senior Services’ Foster Grandparent Program, please call:
(570) 961-1950
Care That Meets You Where You Are
Foster Grandparent Volunteer Requirements:
- Be 55 years of age or older
- Meet the current AmeriCorps Seniors Income Guidelines
- Have 20+ hours per week availability
- Enjoy spending time with children
- Want a tax-free stipend
Foster Grandparent Volunteer Benefits:
- A small tax-free financial stipend that does not endanger your Social Security, SNAP, PACE, rent rebates or other government entitlement programs
- Paid pre-service training and on-going training, vacation time and holidays
- Reimbursement of mileage or public transportation
- The joy of playing a valued role in the life of a child in need
If becoming a foster grandparent sounds appealing to you, please get in touch! We’d love to connect with you and introduce you to a current foster grandparent so you can ask questions and learn more about the program and volunteer benefits.
Our foster grandparents work with children in the following Luzerne and Wyoming County facilities:
If your school or organization would like to partner with our foster grandparent program, reach out to Lashawna at l.quintero@telespond.org.
- Child Development Council (CDC)
- Crestwood School District
- Greater Nanticoke Area School District
- Hazleton Area School District
- Lake Lehman Early Learning Center
- Luzerne County Head Start
- Northwest Area School District
- Pittston Area School District
- Wyoming Area School District
- Wyoming Valley West School District
- Wilkes-Barre Area School District
FAQs
What age do you have to be to serve as a Foster Grandparent?
55 and over.
Is there an age limit cut off?
Absolutely not! We have Foster Grandparents in their 60’s, 70’s and 80’s!
What does a Foster Grandparent Do?
Foster Grandparents go into our local schools and help teachers assist children in the classroom. Some activities a Foster Grandparent may do include, helping a child read, helping a child with spelling, helping a child write their name, help teach the alphabet or how to count. There are so many tasks our Volunteers help the children with! Most importantly, being there to be a classroom Grandpa or Grandma with a loving smile every day!
Where are the schools and pre-schools located?
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Are there certain times and days that Foster Grandparents have to volunteer?
The Foster Grandparent gets to choose their school, grade, days and times that work best for them! Foster Grandparents can volunteer anywhere between 5 to 40 hours a week!
Where are the schools and pre-schools located?
The Foster Grandparent Program operates in Luzerne and Wyoming Counties with the majority of our schools located in Luzerne.
How can I become a Foster Grandparent?
Please reach out to our Director Jill Emmert at 570-961-1950 Extension 330, she is more than happy to inform you of all the amazing benefits the Foster Grandparent Program has to offer!
The Foster Grandparent Program is a stipend program. What does that mean?
Foster Grandparents receive a stipend of $4.00 an hour as well as mileage reimbursement for Volunteers who drive.
What if I don’t drive?
The Foster Grandparent Program offers free service to our Volunteers with the LCTA share ride program. The van will pick the volunteer up from their home and drop off at school and from school to home.