Goodwill of SE WI
Goodwill of SE WI has provided exemplary support of the Foster Grandparent Program in serving both the needs of older adults and children with special needs in the Racine and Kenosha area. This is an area in WI with a higher rate of poverty for its seniors and a greater percentage of students with free and reduced lunches.
Goodwill provides training, employment and supportive services for people with disabilities or disadvantages who seek greater independence. They have fully embraced the Foster Grandparent Program in their mission.
Goodwill became an FGP sponsor under a contract with the statewide WI FGP in 1993. In 2004, a new supervisor, Teresa Jacobs, was hired. Starting with 14 Foster Grandparents, it has grown exponentially to 50 Foster Grandparents in 2010. Teresa has taken the program to the next level by working with Goodwill administration and their marketing department.
Goodwill created and continues to update recruitment postcards and print materials. Teresa does numerous presentations to local civic, businesses and county agencies. There are waiting lists for Foster Grandparents and placement sites. A professional promotional video was produced in 2009 and graciously shared throughout the state to spread the word about the FGP.
Foster Grandparents currently serve in 21 elementary schools, a juvenile justice center and 2 afterschool programs. One special site is the Southern Oaks Girls School. They started with 2 non stipend volunteers during the summer of 2009. The success led to additional non-stipend Foster Grandparents being recruited. An anonymous donor continues to support this placement.
Starting as a summer school placement in 2010, Youth Leadership Academy – an afterschool program held at an inner city YMCA - easily transitioned to a year round arrangement. Any FG that works there receives a full membership.
There is no shortage of testimonials from the sites where Foster Grandparents serve: The lead 2nd grade teacher at a local school shared the before and after tests for her 2nd grade class – the scores had more than doubled!
Food baskets are donated monthly from a local church - an $8000 annual value. Gift cards, recognition banquets, uniforms; donated computers, hearing aid assistance; the list of resources for Foster Grandparents is long and outstanding. An example of going the extra mile for their participants, Grandpa Stewart is a success story of going from homeless to his own apartment with the help of the Foster Grandparent Program and Goodwill. The recent addition of a part time assistant to help pursue resources shows the commitment by Goodwill.
Monthly in-services focus both on training needs for working with children and on senior health. A unique partnership with the local Aging Resource Center provided the Chronic Disease Self Management 6 week program for 36 volunteers to improve upon their health and well being.
It is difficult to focus on any one aspect of impact. Goodwill of SE Wisconsin is a model of success in improving the quality of life for their Foster Grandparents.