Mary Bradfield, left, reminds grandparents to turn in their time sheets.

Text and Photos
By Marissa Sweatland
InkFreeNews

SOUTH BEND — “It’s a win-win deal because our foster grandparents get social interaction and out of their house, and the students get another positive role model in their life, and no child can have too many of those,” Mary Bradfield, program director, explained. “Our grandparents are spread out between 11 posts, ranging from nurseries to daycares to schools.”

A participation perk of REAL Service’s Foster Grandparent program is the small stipend that helps get some grandparents through to the end of the month. Grandparents pictured from left are Loucindy Pruitt, Diane Riley, Barb Jones, Lucille Barnes, Terry Summers and Mary Ellen Derucki.

The Foster Grandparent program bridges the generation gap between seniors and community youth by pairing volunteers with special needs or exceptional students in need of mentoring and support. Grandparents provide one-on-one attention, assisting with reading, schoolwork and other activities that aid in the growth of the student’s academic and social development.

To be eligible to be a foster grandparent, you must be at least 55, have a limited income, pass a fingerprint and background check, complete 20 hours of training, be able to serve at least 15 hours per week and, of course, enjoy working with children.

“Because of privacy issues, we work with teachers and we give them an assignment plan, which provides us with the student’s first names and last name initial,” Bradfield explained. “The teacher picks the kids and we sign a memorandum of understanding. This program has been in the school system for years so they know to pick that student that needs that extra pinch of help.”

During the July in-service presentation members from the health department gave a presentation on healthy eating habits and demonstrated a healthy smoothie recipe. Loucindy Pruitt hands Tiffany, health department worker, her presentation note paperwork.

Each grandparent is paired with three students, although they “grandparent whoever needs it.”

The Foster Grandparent program has been growing since its creation, every year steadily increasing the number of grandparents. However, once the COVID-19 pandemic hit, many grandparents had to quit the program due to health concerns. Since the pandemic, the program has found it hard to bounce back to its original numbers. Currently, the program has about 35 grandparents.

The effect of the program has been clear. Since the implementation of the program in community schools, test scores have seen improvement.

Ronda Hosea, left, health department, attended the July in-service to provide a demonstration of a healthy smoothie recipe.

“The program is advantageous for both parties. The foster grandparent can fill a hole in the child’s heart that was left by a passed grandparent or parent. Teachers have an extra set of hands,” Bradfield suggested. “The foster grandparent is given a sense of purpose through the love and good they pour into their students and classrooms.”

In addition to socializing with school youth and faculty, the foster grandparents gather monthly for an in-service. The monthly in-services run from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and provides two presentations or experiences that aim to enrich the lives of the grandparents.

Recent in-service presentations and experiences include mediation drumming, budgeting, energy assistance, sign language demonstration, chronic diseases and various field trips around the county. Breakfast and lunch are served at the in-service.

“Because they participate and enrich their lives, we are able to pay them a small stipend. A lot of grandparents rely on the stipend to make ends meet,” Bradfield explained.

After completing the in-service presentation, the grandparents are awarded with a stipend that comes in the form of a grocery gift card.

For more information on REAL Service’s Foster Grandparent program, contact Mary Bradfield at [email protected] or by calling (574) 233-8205.