Foster Grandparents
Client Service Center
510 Cumberland Avenue
Portland, Maine 04101
800-698-4959
207-553-5800
Fax: 207-874-1155
TTY: 207-874-1013
Foster Grandparents
PROP's Foster Grandparent Program offers diverse opportunities for seniors, 55 and over, to volunteer with children and families with special and exceptional needs.
Over 125 Foster Grandparents are providing support to children at more than fifty locations in Cumberland and York Counties. The placements include child development centers and Head Start programs, public school classrooms, long-term residential programs and homes with children with special needs.
Foster Grandparents provide one-to-one guidance for children with learning disabilities, children requiring assistance in academic subjects and children in need of individual attention, nurturing and support.
Foster Grandparents volunteer 20 hours per week in their placements. In return for volunteering the Foster Grandparent receives a non-taxable stipend, assistance with meals and travel, supervision recognition and ongoing training.
All volunteers participate in a pre-service orientation, attend monthly Inservice meetings for continuing education, and receive assistance with meals, travel, annual physical and recognition.
SCHOOLS, CHILD DEVELOPMENT CENTERS, HOSPITAL PLACEMENTS
Typical assignments of a Foster Grandparent in the classroom include helping students with their reading and writing in a caring and patient way. In Child Care and Head Start settings, the Foster Grandparent helps children make the transition from home by being a positive, loving presence in the facility.
HOMEBASED PLACEMENTS
Foster Grandparents also provide Homebased support services to families with special needs self referred and referred by the Maine Department of Human Services, City of Portland Public Health Department and other community agencies. Home-based services are designed to provide role modeling, promote positive parenting skills, reduce family isolation and provide skills in well-baby care, household management and nutrition.