Senior Corps

Senior Corps Materials and Promotional Items

pingv — Tue, 28 Feb 2006 01:00:00 -0600

A list of Senior Corps materials and promotional items available to Senior Corps grantees through their State Office. Items include "Ask a Friend" materials; Accomplishments Report, Quality of Care Evaluations, and videos. For up to date brochures, go to nationalservicepubs.org

Creating a professional-looking cookbook to raise program funds

pingv — Fri, 05 Aug 2005 01:00:00 -0500

A personalized cookbook is a great way to raise funds for programs. Cookbooks are affordable and highly profitable, selling from two to three times their cost. And cookbooks not only preserve recipes, history, and traditions, but can also be a way to build team spirit and unity. Additionally, they can be used to get the word out about a program. In Central West Texas, Dolly Irish published recipes collected from her Senior Companions and sold 200 cookbooks for almost three times their cost in as little as two weeks.

eGrants Quick Tips

pingv — Mon, 21 Mar 2005 01:00:00 -0600

A guide to using the Corporation's online grant application process.

Resources for Math and Reading Tutoring Programs

pingv — Wed, 01 Sep 2004 01:00:00 -0500

Updated and expanded resource list for national service and Federal Work-Study tutoring programs. Includes publications, videos, and websites related to literacy, math and tutoring.

Mentoring teenage girls at a homeless shelter

pingv — Fri, 19 Sep 2003 01:00:00 -0500

Teenagers who come from dysfunctional family situations do not usually have the skills necessary to live on their own. For those whose path leads them to a homeless shelter, dedicated volunteers can make a difference in helping them turn their lives around. Foster grandparents who serve at the Booth Brown House in Saint Paul, Minnesota, provide academic help through classroom tutoring, and emotional and psychological support through mentoring. This program was highlighted in the National Service News, Issue No. 187, June 23, 2003, published by the Corporation for National and Community Service.

Offering orientation and in-service training to Foster Grandparents

pingv — Fri, 12 Sep 2003 01:00:00 -0500

Foster Grandparents serve as extended family to children and youth with exceptional needs. Orientation and training in the program serves a dual purpose: to empower both the provider of service and those children who are served. These ideas offered by project directors on the NSSCTalk e-mail discussion list in June 2003, can help fulfill orientation and training requirements. Also included is a comprehensive listing of child development videos that are useful in trainings.

Collaborating to recruit and train RSVP volunteers for homeland security needs

pingv — Thu, 28 Aug 2003 01:00:00 -0500

Homeland security needs call for a cadre of trained volunteers. Recruitment and training can be easy with the collaboration and support of community and faith-based organizations, and by offering a wide range of activities. Colleen Halliburton, Director of the Golden Triangle RSVP in southeast Texas contributed these ideas to the NSSCTalk e-mail discussion list in August 2003. Utilizing these strategies, her program recruited over 100 volunteers in a year's time.

Accessing an online senior health and resource eligibility system

pingv — Mon, 25 Aug 2003 01:00:00 -0500

With the myriad program services that exist for seniors, it can be difficult to fully understand what is available and to access these services when they are needed. Offering seniors resources in a convenient format benefits providers and recipients. Senior Health and Resource Eligibility System (SHARES) gives seniors a quick and easy way to contact services online. Through partnerships with community stakeholders, caregivers and seniors can have point-and-click access to programs and services that might otherwise be provided with more costly agency interventions. Mike Seaburn of the Northeast Florida Area Agency on Aging submitted this effective practice in June 2003.

Using a Vial of Life program to respond to life-threatening emergencies

pingv — Wed, 06 Aug 2003 01:00:00 -0500

Having ready access to medical and health information can often make a difference in an emergency situation, especially for aging or frail seniors. Several Senior Corps Programs help implement "Vial of Life" practices so that emergency medical services personnel can easily read important medical information about a person on the spot. Jim O'Connell shared this effective practice on the NSSCTalk e-mail discussion list in March 2003.

Starting a multi-state intergenerational pen pal buddy program

pingv — Tue, 29 Apr 2003 01:00:00 -0500

An intergenerational pen pal buddy program is a great way for students to increase their literacy skills and build lasting friendships. In Riley County, Kansas, 15 RSVP volunteers were ready to team up with 15 fourth grade students to participate in a multi-state program. The Riley County RSVP Coordinator sent an e-mail to the NSSCTalk e-mail discussion list in January 2003 requesting participation from other states. This effective practice outlines how to create a similar program with RSVP volunteers.

Using RSVP volunteers in disaster drills

pingv — Tue, 18 Mar 2003 01:00:00 -0600

In Franklin County, Washington, RSVP volunteers participate in the Franklin County Emergency Management Agency's annual disaster drills conducted at the Pasco Regional Airport. As part of a daylong exercise the RSVP volunteers are assigned roles of victims having various injuries. On October 18, 2001 these volunteers formed the nucleus of a large group of citizen volunteers called on to help the United States Marines stage a biological attack drill at the Volpentest Hazardous Materials Management and Emergency Response (HAMMER) Training and Education Center. The exercise was the first of a series of drills, planned in response to the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. Diane Hart submitted this effective practice in December 2001.

Supporting servicemen and women and their families

pingv — Fri, 14 Mar 2003 01:00:00 -0600

Across the country service men and women from all branches of the military have been called away from home to active duty in difficult and oftentimes dangerous situations. Many of these men and women have left families behind who have special support needs, and their departure has often meant that communities have temporarily lost some of the volunteers who support critical community services. Angela Roberts of the Corporation for National and Community Service shared these ideas on the NSSCTalk e-mail discussion list in February 2003. These are suggestions for projects that Senior Corps volunteers might incorporate in their programs as part of a joint homeland security effort.

Cluster List

pingv — Wed, 01 Jan 2003 01:00:00 -0600

List of which states belong to which CNCS Cluster.

RSVP Survey in Spanish

pingv — Wed, 01 Jan 2003 01:00:00 -0600

Sample of a survey that can be used to gauge the interests of senior citizens in volunteering for RSVP, or in using RSVP services. Asks potential RSVP volunteers what areas they would like to serve in

RSVP Survey in English

pingv — Wed, 01 Jan 2003 01:00:00 -0600

Charitable Choice: Federal Guidance on Statutory Provisions Could Improve Consistency of Implementation

pingv — Sun, 01 Sep 2002 01:00:00 -0500

This GAO report to Congressional Requesters concludes that, although a growing number of states have contracted with FBOs, several factors continue to constrain the ability of small FBOs to contract

Providing telephone reassurance for senior community members

pingv — Tue, 25 Jun 2002 01:00:00 -0500

The Portage County RSVP Program in central Wisconsin has had a telephone reassurance program in place for many years. RSVP volunteers call seniors each weekday to check on their well being, and any concerns are referred to appropriate family members, RSVP staff, or other agencies. This telephone reassurance service assists the growing number of frail and poor seniors who live alone. Early intervention strategies such as this one may delay or prevent nursing home placement, which is more costly than community-based services.

Pairing Foster Grandparents with children in Head Start

pingv — Mon, 20 May 2002 01:00:00 -0500

The Foster Grandparent Program sponsored by the Ohio Department of Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities serves children with exceptional or special needs in Franklin County and other central Ohio communities. In 2001, 184 special needs children at 13 Head Start programs received individualized support and assistance from 46 Foster Grandparents. Head Start provides special training to Foster Grandparents in central Ohio communities to help them work with children with disabilities. The Foster Grandparents serving these Head Start children develop relationships where both parties truly benefit. This program was highlighted in the National Service News, Issue No. 157, April 29, 2002, published by the Corporation for National and Community Service.

Finding themes for recognition events for senior volunteers

pingv — Wed, 08 May 2002 01:00:00 -0500

Recognition events such as annual banquets are held by many service organizations to reward those who participate in volunteer service. Finding new ways to make these events fun and meaningful each year can be a challenge. This effective practice provides ideas for themes for Senior Corps recognition events. Compiled from ideas shared on the NSSCTalk e-mail discussion list from February 2000 to April 2002.

Day One...in the Life of a Program Coordinator