Foster Grandparents returning to the classrooms this fall

Keeping Foster Grandparents involved

As schools sent students home for virtual learning or limited the number of in-person visitors allowed inside their buildings for much of the past year, the Foster Grandparent Program offered through Catholic Charities found other ways to keep about 65 grandparents involved.

“It was important to maintain the interest and commitment of the grandparents because children are going to need us more than ever when we return (to in-person learning),” said Lyndon Drew, program director. “We helped the grandparents weather the pandemic. Nobody wanted to suspend and rebuild these programs from scratch. Recruitment is hard enough.”

Drew recently received the green light to recruit additional classroom grandparents as Wichita-area public school districts are making plans to allow them back in the buildings this fall.

Now recruiting classroom Foster Grandparents

Catholic Charities is hosting informational sessions about its classroom Foster Grandparent Program on July 8 and July 15 at the St. Joseph Pastoral Center. There will be four meetings each day, at 10 a.m., 11 a.m., 3 p.m. and 4 p.m.

The program is open to income-eligible seniors ages 55 and older who would like to help children achieve success in school. Seniors must have an income below 200 percent of the federal poverty level to earn the tax-free stipend of $3 an hour.

What is a classroom Foster Grandparent?

Foster Grandparents spend 15-40 hours a week at local schools and daycares, helping children develop the social and academic skills necessary for success in school. They tutor and mentor children both one-on-one and in small groups.