SENIORS IN SERVICE OF TAMPA BAY INC

FOSTER GRANDPARENT PROGRAM: HELPS AT-RISK CHILDREN SUCCEED IN SCHOOL WITH INTENSIVE, IN-CLASS TUTORING AND MENTORING PROVIDED BY HIGHLY-TRAINED, CULTURALLY RELEVANT VOLUNTEERS. EACH YEAR WE HELP PRESCHOOLERS DEVELOP SCHOOL READINESS SKILLS AND STUDENTS IN KINDERGARTEN THROUGH 3RD GRADE IMPROVE LITERACY AND SOCIAL/EMOTIONAL SKILLS. WE SERVE IN TITLE I SCHOOLS WHERE CHILDREN FACE POVERTY AND OTHER LIFE CHALLENGES THAT JEOPARDIZE THEIR ACADEMIC SUCCESS. TEACHERS ASSESS EACH CHILD'S CHALLENGE AREAS AND CREATE CHILD CARE PLANS TO GUIDE VOLUNTEERS IN ONE-ON-ONE TUTORING. DURING THE (2024-2025) SCHOOL YEAR OUR VOLUNTEERS PROVIDED DAILY MENTORING TO 2,860 PRE-K THROUGH 3RD GRADERS AND ONE-ON-ONE TUTORING TO 1,078 STUDENTS SELECTED BY THEIR TEACHER AS MOST CHALLENGED. WE ENGAGED 203 FOSTER GRANDPARENT VOLUNTEERS WHO SERVED 136,219 VOLUNTEER HOURS. AT LEAST 91% OF CHILDREN SHOWED IMPROVEMENT IN THEIR SPECIFIC CHALLENGE AREAS - AS EVALUATED BY THE CLASSROOM TEACHERS, NOT BY SENIORS IN SERVICE!

SENIOR COMPANION PROGRAM: PROVIDES ONGOING SUPPORT FOR HOMEBOUND ELDERS, ADULTS WITH DISABILITIES, VETERANS, AND FAMILY CAREGIVERS TO PROMOTE INDEPENDENT LIVING. CLIENTS ARE LOW-INCOME AND LACK SUPPORT FROM FAMILY/FRIENDS. THEY RECEIVE IN-HOME COMPANIONSHIP, HOMEMAKER SERVICES, RESPITE AND A WATCHFUL EYE IN CASE THEY NEED EXTRA CARE - ALL AT NO COST TO THEM. PROGRAM STAFF IDENTIFY CLIENT NEEDS BASED ON ABILITY TO COMPLETE ACTIVITIES OF DAILY LIVING (ADL'S). CLIENTS AND VOLUNTEERS ARE MATCHED BASED ON NEEDS, CULTURE, SKILLS. VOLUNTEERS HELP WITH ERRANDS/CHORES, SHARE HEALTH/SAFETY INFORMATION, ENGAGE IN MENTALLY STIMULATING CONVERSATION/GAMES, COMMUNICATE WITH FAMILIES/CASE MANAGERS, & ENGAGE OTHER AGENCIES AS NEEDED. WITH THIS SUPPORT, CLIENTS ARE LESS LIKELY TO NEED COSTLY INSTITUTIONALIZATION. BOTH CLIENTS AND VOLUNTEERS BENEFIT FROM INCREASED SOCIAL CONNECTION. IN 2024, WE HELPED 134 CLIENTS WITH 67 SENIOR COMPANION VOLUNTEERS WHO SERVED OVER 53,699 VOLUNTEER HOURS.