DR PIPER CENTER FOR SOCIAL SERVICES INC

SENIOR EMPLOYMENT PROGRAM THE SENIOR EMPLOYMENT PROGRAM PROVIDES TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES FOR LOW- INCOME SENIORS 55 PLUS, AND PROMOTES THEM AS POTENTIAL EMPLOYEES. OLDER WORKERS ARE A VALUABLE RESOURCE FOR THE COMMUNITY, WITH TRAINING, SKILLS, AND KNOWLEDGE THAT ENHANCE THE WORKFORCE. THE DR. PIPER CENTER IS COMMITTED TO PROVIDING HIGH QUALITY SKILLS TRAINING AND EMPLOYMENT ASSISTANCE TO PARTICIPANTS THROUGH CASE MANAGEMENT AND SKILLS TRAINING. WORKSHOPS PROVIDE LOW INCOME SENIORS WITH SKILLS NECESSARY TO COMPETE IN THE JOB MARKET. CASE MANAGEMENT ALLOWS OUR STAFF TO HELP SENIORS ACHIEVE OPTIMAL EMPLOYMENT OUTCOMES. THIS MANAGEMENT PROVIDES SENIORS WITH ASSESSMENT, COUNSELING, TRAINING, SERVICE STRATEGIES, AND COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS WITH OTHER ORGANIZATIONS AND BUSINESSES. BARRIERS TO EMPLOYMENT ARE ADDRESSED ALONG WITH GOAL SETTING STRATEGIES WHICH HELP SENIORS GAIN KNOWLEDGE. WORKSHOPS INCLUDE: INTRO TO COMPUTERS, RESUME CREATION, ONLINE JOB SEARCHING, ONLINE APPLICATIONS, INTERVIEW FUNDAMENTALS, TEAM WORK SKILLS, TIME MANAGEMENT, INTRO TO MICROSOFT OFFICE PRODUCTS, INTRO TO TYPING, TABLET AND SMARTPHONE USE, QUALITIES OF AN EFFECTIVE MENTOR/TUTOR, PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS, GROUND RULES FOR MONITORS AND CAREGIVERS, COMMUNICATION SKILLS, DEMENTIA, RESPITE, ELDERLY CARE AND ABUSE, CHILD ABUSE, AND OTHER RELEVANT TRAININGS. WHEN PARTICIPANTS SIGN UP, THEY COMPLETE A FORM WHICH SHARES PERSONAL INFORMATION AND THEIR EMPLOYMENT GOALS. ONCE PAPERWORK IS COMPLETED, DISCUSSIONS OCCUR TO ALIGN THEIR GOALS WITH OUR PROGRAM. AN INDIVIDUAL LEARNING PLAN (ILP) IS CREATED FOR EACH PARTICIPANT. THE ILP OUTLINES THE TRAININGS, WORKSHOPS, AND GOALS, ALONG WITH A COMMITMENT FOR MEETING THE SCHEDULE. DPC WORKS WITH OUTSIDE AGENCIES AND MATCHES PARTICIPANTS WITH POTENTIAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES. PARTICIPANTS MAY CHOOSE TO PARTICIPATE IN ONE OF OUR VOLUNTEER PROGRAMS INSTEAD OF ENTERING THE WORKFORCE. A FEDERAL BACKGROUND CHECK IS REQUIRED FOR THESE PROGRAMS AND IS IMMEDIATELY INITIATED. ONCE APPROVED, THESE VOLUNTEERS BEGIN THE TRAINING AND ORIENTATION PROCESS. THIS IS A WIN WIN SITUATION. PARTICIPANTS WHO HAVE NO INCOME, OR MAY BE TOO YOUNG FOR THEIR SOCIAL SECURITY BENEFITS CAN EARN A TAX FREE STIPEND WHILE COMPLETING THEIR ILP AND PERFORM VOLUNTEER DUTIES. A TOTAL OF 132 LOW INCOME ENROLLEES BENEFITTED FROM THIS PROGRAM LAST FISCAL YEAR. PROGRAM OUTCOMES: 1-99% OF PARTICIPANTS IN COMPUTER CLASSES ARE ACTIVELY SEARCHING AND APPLYING FOR JOBS ONLINE. 2- 98% OF PARTICIPANTS HAVE COMPLETE SATISFACTION WITH THE TRAINING AND SUPPORT RECEIVED.

FOSTER GRANDPARENT PROGRAM: THE FOSTER GRANDPARENT PROGRAM PROVIDES VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES AND COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT TO LOW-INCOME SENIORS AGED 55 PLUS. IT SERVES AT RISK CHILDREN THROUGH ONE ON ONE MENTORING AND TUTORING IN SCHOOLS, AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAMS AND SUMMER PROGRAMS. NATIONALLY, THE FOSTER GRANDPARENT PROGRAM STARTED 59 YEARS AGO WHILE THE DR. PIPER CENTER HAS BEEN THE LOCAL SPONSOR OF THE PROGRAM FOR 32 YEARS. WE HAVE ABOUT 75 VOLUNTEERS ANNUALLY THAT SERVE MORE THAN 350 CHILDREN IN LOCAL PROGRAMS. FOSTER GRANDPARENTS MUST PASS FEDERAL BACKGROUND CHECKS AND NATIONAL SEXUAL PREDATOR TEST. THEY ALSO ATTEND MANDATORY ORIENTATION AND INSERVICE MEETINGS IN ORDER TO BE EFFECTIVE IN THE CLASSROOMS. INDIVIDUALS ARE ASSIGNED TO VOLUNTEER STATIONS IN SCHOOLS, AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAMS, HEAD START OR VPK PROGRAMS WHOM HAVE A SIGNED MEMO OF UNDERSTANDING WITH THE DR. PIPER CENTER. THE MOU STIPULATE THE VOLUNTEER STATION DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE VOLUNTEERS AND STATIONS. SCHOOL DISTRICTS SIGN THE MOU WHICH ENABLES AN ENTIRE SCHOOL DISTRICT TO PARTICIPATE. WE CURRENTLY HAVE 67 VOLUNTEER STATIONS IN LEE COUNTY. ONCE A VOLUNTEER IS PLACED AT A STATION, THE COORDINATOR OR TEACHER COMPLETED A CHILD CARE PLAN FOR EACH CHILD MENTORED AND TUTORED BY A VOLUNTEER. THE CHILD CARE PLAN IS DISCUSSED WITH THE VOLUNTEER UPON ASSIGNMENT. VOLUNTEERS WORK AT A MINIMUM OF 20 HOURS PER WEEK WITH ASSIGNED CHILDREN, AND SUBMIT TIMESHEETS FOR APPROVAL. BEFORE THE END OF THE SCHOOL YEAR THE VOLUNTEER COORDINATOR COMPLETES AN OUTCOME REPORT FOR EACH CHILD SERVED, A SURVEY, AND CONDUCTS A VOLUNTEER EVALUATION. AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAMS PROVIDE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR CHILDREN TO ENRICH THEIR ACADEMIC LEARNING AND PARTICIPATE IN CULTURAL AND RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES IN A SAFE, SUPPORTIVE ENVIRONMENT. THESE PROGRAMS HAVE WELL DEVELOPED CURRICULUM WHICH IS IMPLEMENTED BY STAFF AND VOLUNTEERS. THE FOSTER GRANDPARENT PROGRAM PROVIDES ONE ON ONE ATTENTION TO CHILDREN IN THESE PROGRAMS THAT ALLOW CHILDREN TO DEVELOP SELF CONFIDENCE, BOOST SELF ESTEEM, AND REACH THEIR FULL POTENTIAL. BY THE END OF EACH SCHOOL YEAR, CHILDREN MENTORED BY THESE VOLUNTEERS INCREASE THEIR SCORES IN ACADEMIC SUBJECTS, AND ARE SUCCESSFULLY PROMOTED TO THE NEXT GRADE. MENTORED CHILDREN SHOW AN IMPROVEMENT IN SOCIAL SKILLS AND BEHAVIOR DUE TO THE ATTENTION EACH CHILD RECEIVES FROM THE VOLUNTEERS. CHILDREN RECEIVE TUTORING IN READING, ENGLISH, SPELLING, AND MATH. VOLUNTEERS LISTEN TO CHILDREN READ, TELL STORIES, AND PARTICIPATE IN WORD GAMES, CONDUCT WORD IDENTIFICATION, AND OTHER ACTIVITIES ASSIGNED BY INSTRUCTORS. VOLUNTEERS ALSO PROVIDE HOMEWORK HELP TO STUDENTS WHO MAY BE STRUGGLING ACADEMICALLY. VOLUNTEERS REVIEW CLASSROOM ASSIGNMENTS AND INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS, ASSIST WITH SCHOOL PROJECTS AND COMPLETION OF HOMEWORK. THESE VOLUNTEERS PROVIDE EMOTIONAL SUPPORT TO STUDENTS AND HELP TEACH AND REINFORCE APPROPRIATE CLASSROOM AND PEER BEHAVIORS. VOLUNTEERS PARTICIPATE IN ACTVITIES AS PART OF THE PROGRAM. THESE ACTIVITIES INCLUDE: OUTDOOR RECREATIONAL PLAY, DEVELOP INTERESTS AND TALENTS, DEVELOP POSITIVE CHARACTER TRAITS,INCLUDING HONESTY, KINDNESS, COURAGE, AND SOCIAL-EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE. VOLUNTEERS PLAY GAMES, COMPLETE PROJECTS, TELL STORIES, HAVE TALKS, AND ENCOURAGE CHILDREN TO DEVELOPE POSITIVE CHARACTER TRAITS. CHILDREN SERVED GAIN THE INDIVIDUAL ATTENTION THEY MAY NOT OTHERWISE RECEIVE; TUTORING WHICH HELPS THEM SUCCEED IN SCHOOL, ADVICE AND LIFE SKILLS NEEDED TO LEAD PRODUCTIVE ADULT LIVES, AND THE LIFE CHANGING OPPORTUNITY TO KNOW THE CONSISTENT LOVE OF A FOSTER GRANDPARENT. THE VOLUNTEERS MAKE NEIGHBORHOODS STRONGER BY HELPING CHILDREN ACHIEVE THEIR GOALS. FISCAL YEAR 23-24 FOSTER GRANDPARENT OF SW FLORIDA PROVIDED 50,319 HOURS OF SERVICE, MEETING WITH MORE THAN 350 SPECIAL NEEDS CHILDREN IN THE LOCAL COMMUNITY. THE FOLLOWING OUTCOMES WERE MET: 1-95% OF CHILDREN SERVED BY FGP WERE PROMOTED TO NEXT GRADE LEVEL. 2-92% OF FGP VOLUNTEERS BENEFITTED FROM THE PROGRAM WITH INCREASED HEALTH AND LONGEVITY WITH FEELINGS OF SATISFACTION AND FULFILLMENT.