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History of the Foster Grandparent Program
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History of the Foster Grandparent Program
The Foster Grandparent Program (FGP) began on August 28, 1965 as a national demonstration effort to show how low income persons aged 60 or over have the maturity and experience to establish a personal relationship with children having either exceptional or special needs. Under the Office of Economic Opportunity's (OEO) enabling legislation, Sections 205 and 207, Title 20A of the Economic Opportunity Act of 1964, as amended, FGP began as an employment program.
An agreement between OEO and the Administration on Aging (AOA) resulted in the funding of 21 FGP project sponsors. The volunteers were placed in more than 45 institutions. About 800 Foster Grandparents were employed to provide care and attention to children up to five years of age in institutional and community settings.
By 1968, there was a total of 68 FGP projects funded in 40 states and in Puerto Rico, with 4,100 Foster Grandparents enrolled. The Foster Grandparents assisted more than 10,000 children in health, education, welfare and related settings. OEO funding, no separate FGP authorization existed at this time, amounted to almost $10 million in Fiscal year 1968.
Funding authority was transferred to AOA in 1969 under Title 6 of the Older Americans Act, as amended. At this time, FGP became a stipend volunteer program with low income elderly, ages 60 and over, continuing to serve children up through 17 years of age.
Under Reorganization Plan No. 1 of July 1, 1971, FGP was transferred to the newly created federal agency, ACTION. During Fiscal Year 1972, the number of projects increased to 133 in 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. Annual appropriations amounted to $25 million, supporting over 10,000 Foster Grandparents. The Domestic Volunteer Service Act (DVSA) of 1973 (Public Law 93-113) replaced Title 6 of the Older Americans Act as ACTION's enabling legislation.
The 1976 amendments to the DVSA defined "child" and "children" as any individual or individuals who are less than 21 years of age. Those amendments also included a stipulation that a Foster Grandparent's relationship with a mentally retarded child may, under certain circumstances, be continued after the child reaches the chronological age of 21.
By the end of FY 1989, over 20,000 Foster Grandparents were serving more than 70,000 children with special and exceptional needs through 264 ACTION-funded and 12 non-federal projects.
In 1993, the Corporation for National Service came into being when President Clinton signed the National and Community Service Trust Act of 1993. Congress stated its expectations for the Corporation through a statement of purpose (42 U.S.C. 12501) that, in part, included using national and volunteer service by Americans of all ages to:
The operations of three entities came together to form the Corporation for National Service - ACTION (the federal domestic volunteer agency), the Commission on National and Community Service, and the Office of National Service. The Foster Grandparent Program became one of three existing volunteer programs for older adults to be administered by the Corporation under the banner of the "National Senior Service Corps."
By 1999, the Foster Grandparent Program included 325 local projects with approximately 28,000 Foster Grandparents, who, together, continue to make a difference in the lives of children -- nearly 90,000 children on any given day and almost 190,000 children annually -- while enriching their own lives through service.
Local History of the Foster Grandparent Program
In December of 1976, a grant was awarded for a Foster Grandparent Program to the St. Clair County Council on Aging. They have effectively remained the local Sponsoring Agency since that time.
The first class of volunteers graduated Orientation Training in January of 1977. Two of our three original Volunteer Stations still serve as stations today. These are Garfield Elementary School and Woodlands Developmental Center. One graduate of that first class of volunteers, Dorothy McGraw is still actively volunteering today.
By 1982, the St. Clair County Foster Grandparent Program volunteers served at 7 different stations. Today, over 60 volunteers serve in over 30 schools or different types of community settings.