The Biden-Harris administration launched the National Partnership for Student Success (NPSS) initiative on July 5th to address the learning loss resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent school closures. Elder Care Services, Inc.’s CEO, and President for the AmeriCorps Seniors Professional Network, Jocelyne Fliger, was an invited guest at a reception with Ambassador Susan E. Rice, U.S. Secretary of Education Dr. Miguel A. Cardona, and AmeriCorps CEO Michael D. Smith to launch these new efforts.
Through NPSS, the administration hopes to recruit and train 250,000 new mentors and tutors to provide support for students, through initiatives such as the Foster Grandparent program with AmeriCorps Seniors, which places Foster Grandparents in schools throughout the United States. As the designated AmeriCorps Seniors agency in the area, Elder Care Services’ Foster Grandparent volunteers have served local students since 1991.
Foster Grandparents provide one-on-one assistance for specific students with exceptional needs and typically serve in classrooms grades K-3rd. This individualized support helps young kids build resilience and lessen the likelihood that they will face social, physical and mental health problems in the future. In fact, according to the Center on the Developing Child at Harvard University, “the single most common factor for children who develop resilience is at least one stable and committed relationship with a supportive parent, caregiver or other adult.”
“I think we help tremendously because some kids just need someone to talk to,” said Sheila, one of Elder Care Services’ Foster Grandparents. For her, the most memorable part of serving with AmeriCorps Seniors is reading her kids’ report cards knowing the role she played in their success.
In 2020, Foster Grandparents provided support for over 5,000 children with special needs in Florida alone. Locally, Elder Care Services, Inc.’s program has volunteers stationed in schools throughout Leon, Madison, Jefferson, and Gadsden Counties.
“We think it’s wonderful that The White House is investing in our volunteer program and our children’s education! Foster Grandparents make a huge difference in the lives of the students they serve, so we are excited to see how this partnership helps them make an even bigger impact. I was thrilled to attend the launch and advocate on behalf of seniors and this vital initiative,” said Fliger.
About Elder Care Services, Inc.
Elder Care Services, Inc. is a private non-profit corporation, dedicated to improving the quality of life for seniors in Leon and the surrounding counties, allowing them to remain at home with dignity. For more information, visit www.ecsbigbend.org or follow us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/ElderCareBB/.
About AmeriCorps
AmeriCorps, the federal agency for national service and volunteerism, provides opportunities for Americans to serve their country domestically, address the nation’s most pressing challenges, improve lives and communities, and strengthen civic engagement. Each year, the agency invests in grants for local nonprofit, community, tribal, and state organizations; places more than 250,000 AmeriCorps members and AmeriCorps Seniors volunteers in intensive service roles; and empowers millions more to serve as long-term, short-term, or one-time volunteers. Learn more at AmeriCorps.gov.
