Foster GrandParents Program

Foster Grandparents are role models, mentors, and friends to children with exceptional needs. The program provides a way for volunteers age 55 and over to stay active by serving children and youth in their communities.

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 Volunteers serve at thousands of local organizations that:

• Help children learn to read and provide one-on-one tutoring
• Mentor troubled teenagers and young mothers
• Care for premature infants or children with disabilities
• Help children who have been abused or neglected

All you need to join is the ability to give the kind of comfort and love that sets a child on the path toward a successful future. If you’re 55 or older and want to share your experience and compassion, you have what it takes to be a Foster Grandparent. For more information please contact Rhonda Orlando at 636-696-3151 or email her at Rhonda.Orlando@lincscc.org

Becoming a Foster Grandparent Volunteer

And remember: When you volunteer, you’re not just helping others—you’re helping yourself. Volunteering leads to new discoveries and new friends. Plus, studies show that volunteering helps you live longer and promotes a positive outlook on life. So get involved, and join Foster Grandparents today!

Foster Grandparent Program Operations Handbook Chapter 9: FGP Volunteer Cost Reimbursements Version 2018.3 689.1.4Income Disregard Memo Cost reimbursements are not subject to any tax or charge. Cost reimbursements may not be treated as wages or compensation for the purposes of unemployment insurance, temporary disability, retirement, public assistance, workers’ compensation, or similar benefit payments or minimum wage laws. [45 CFR 2552.47] See Guidance from the Office of General Counsel – Income Disregard for a memo discussing the provision of the Domestic Volunteer Service Act that requires, in most cases, government agencies to disregard payments to FGP volunteers when determining their eligibility for assistance and benefits.Please note that this memo need not be updated annually and that, once signed, it is effective unless revoked or superseded. This document was most recently updated in 2018.9.1.5Reimbursement Policies. The amount of reimbursement made to FGP volunteers is determined by the availability of funds and project’s written policy regarding reimbursement of Volunteer Expenses. The procedure and the limits for volunteers to request reimbursement should be identified in volunteer orientation sessions and project service policies.9.1.6Non-Reimbursed Volunteer Expenses Volunteer Expense items, including transportation to and from their assignments, meals taken during assignments, recognition activities, and recognition items, which are purchased at the volunteers’ own expense and not reimbursed by the project to the volunteer, are not allowable as contributions to the non-Federal share of the budget.9.1.7Non-CNCS Funded Foster Grandparents. Foster Grandparents whose stipends are funded with non-CNCS resources are entitled to all benefits to which CNCS-funded Foster Grandparents are entitled. [45 CFR 2552.102] 9.2VOLUNTEERCOSTREIMBURSEMENTSDETAILED9.2.1StipendFoster Grandparents serve from 15 to 40 hours a week. The stipend is a payment to Foster Grandparents to enable them to serve without cost to themselves. [45 CFR 2552.12(v)]The stipend is paid for the hourly service schedule that Foster Grandparents spend with assigned children, for earned leave if applicable, and for attendance at official project events, such as, orientation, in-service training, Advisory Council meetings (as members or official observers), physicals for eligibility, recognition events, and travel time between individual assignments. Travel time between the volunteer’s home and place of assignment may not be considered as part of the service schedule and is not stipend. However, travel time between assignments is a part of the service schedule. Meal time may be part of the service schedule only if meals are part of the volunteer assignment plan, are taken with the individual served, and if the sponsor and the volunteer station deem the taking of meals together to be beneficial to the child.