For the City Times

The Aging and Disability Resource Center of Portage County (ADRC) has won a grant for its Foster Grandparent Program.

The Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS) has awaded the more than $100,000 for each of the next three years to continue to provide the (FGP) locally.

The FGP was established in 1965 by the federal government, and has operated in Portage Co. for almost 40 years. The program enables lower income older adults to earn a small stipend for serving children with special or exceptional needs or children in circumstances that limit their academic, social or emotional development.

FGP participants are required to serve a minimum of 15 hours per week. Locally, 22 foster grandparents worked over 18,000 hours tutoring and mentoring more than 760 students in area schools last year.

The new grant will allow expansion of the program, and five-to-seven near foster grandparents are being sought.

Candidates for the program must be in good health, be age 55 or older and meet income eligibility requirements — $2010/month for a one person household or $2707/month for a two-person household. Individuals with somewhat higher incomes may still qualify if they have higher medical expenses. Foster grandparent stipends do not affect housing or medical assistance, and participants also receive travel benefits and meals at the schools.

For more information, or to apply, call the ADRC at (715) 346-1401, or 1-866-920-2525.