Foster Grandparent Position
Do you love spending time with children? Do you enjoy reading to kiddos and helping them with homework? Do their stories and smiles make you laugh? Do you need a few extra dollars to make ends meet? If you answered yes to any of these questions, you would enjoy being a Foster Grandparent Volunteer!
Foster Grandparent Volunteers become the ‘grandma or grandpa’ of a classroom—whether virtual or in person! Volunteers are placed in local schools, to provide one-on-one and small group tutoring and mentoring. Volunteers help children love to learn!
Volunteers offer encouragement, praise and a little extra attention to students. They become a trusted friend in the classroom, and a mentor to help students navigate the social and emotional skills needed for academic success. Teachers assign three children to each volunteer to focus on basic reading or math skills. Most Foster Grandparents volunteer during the school year (August – May), and year-round sites are sometimes available. Many Foster Grandparents volunteer for consecutive years…. some serve for decades in the same school!
“While the class is on their iPads in the mornings, I pull 2 chairs over to the side of the room. I always hear, ‘Can I read first?’ Or ‘Can I read next, Gramma Pat?’… I love my job!”
—Foster Grandparent Volunteer, Pat
Some Foster Grandparents activities:
Model appropriate behaviors and skills
Play games
Teach manners and social skills
Encourage and praise students for their efforts and successes
Tutor basic skills depending on grade level, from recognizing colors, to simple math, to geography lessons!
Assist with specific reading, math or other learning activities assigned by the teacher
Reinforcing lessons taught by teachers
Helping a child to follow directions and accomplish work
Clarifying or translating group instructions to individual students
“Those kids give me a reason to get up every morning, they bring so much joy to my life!”
— Foster Grandparent, Maria
Volunteer Qualifications
Live in Ada, Boise, Canyon, Elmore, Gem, Owyhee, Payette, Washington or surrounding counties in Idaho
Age 55 or older, with an annual income that falls within established guidelines
Willing to volunteer with children at 10-15 hours a week, for a full school year
Able to meet the physical demands of working in schools
Interested in working with children with special or exceptional needs
Reflect a positive attitude and ability to collaborate with a diverse range of
individuals (teachers, students, program staff, fellow volunteers, etc.)Flexible and willing to adapt to change
Volunteer Benefits
In addition to all the rewards that come from making an impact in a child’s life, Foster Grandparents also receive a number of benefits:
Hourly stipend ($3 per hour). This stipend is non-taxable and does not affect eligibility for income-based programs such as rental assistance
Mileage reimbursement for costs incurred to and from volunteer site
Stipend pay for time off and holidays
Free annual physical health assessments
Opportunities to socialize with children, staff, and fellow volunteers
Training: pre-service orientation and monthly volunteer training
Ongoing support and recognition for your service!
See what Foster Grandparent Volunteers say about their service.
For more information on Foster Grandparent Volunteer Positions, contact Asia Miller at amiller@jannus.org or 208-947-4280.
Foster Grandparent of the Treasure Valley is a national AmeriCorps Seniors program. To learn more about AmeriCorps Senior, click here.
