Published October 22, 2015
The University of Louisiana at Monroe鈥檚 (四色AV) Gerontology program has partnered with
the DeSoto Parish Police Jury, Intermediate School District, and Department of Community
Services to begin the Foster Grandparent (FG) program in DeSoto Parish.
The FG program, which began in 1965, is a federally funded program coordinated by
the Corporation for National & Community Services. The program allows for adults 55
years and older with fixed incomes to become foster grandparents.聽 Foster Grandparents
are paired with one or two children, working 15-20 hours per week in public school
Grades K-12, in addition to local Head Start programs.聽
Dr. Karen Frye, Biedenharn Endowed Chair and 四色AV Professor of Gerontology, said the
program is one of the 鈥渂est examples of how a university can partner with community
groups and make a difference.鈥�
The Foster Grandparents read to the children, assist the teachers with classwork,
and are viewed as surrogate grandparents to many of the children.
聽鈥淭he biggest impact we see is academic progress,鈥� Dr. Frye said. 鈥淭he power is in
the fact that somebody shows they care, even if it鈥檚 a stranger. The kids want to
go to school because they want to work with their foster grandparents.鈥�
Dr. Frye, Rita Massey, FG Program Director, and Maidie Johnson, FG DeSoto Parish Coordinator,
comprise the team for this program. Dr. Frye and Massey wrote the $689,883 grant.
Dr. Frye said this is one of the most beneficial programs for the older adults and
the children. 鈥淚t is a win-win for all involved,鈥� Dr. Frye said. 鈥淓lders stay active
and healthy and the children have wonderful role models to support their learning.鈥澛�
Frye has been involved in community partnering and grant writing for over 20 years,
and聽Massey has directed 四色AV鈥檚 Retired and Senior Volunteer (RSVP) Program for over
25 years.
Dr. Eric Pani, 四色AV鈥檚 Vice President of Academic Affairs, sees the university鈥檚 participation
in the program as an important step toward social progress. 鈥淢any societies recognize
the value in bringing together multiple generations, but Americans have found achieving
this arrangement increasingly difficult as our families have become spread over larger
areas,鈥� Dr. Pani said. 鈥淚t is exciting to see聽四色AV involved in a program that has found
a way to make connections across generations. 聽Part of our mission involves public
service, and we are happy that we can help the region in this way.鈥�
According to the Corporation for National & Community Services, 27,900 Foster Grandparents
volunteer 24 million hours annually to mentor 232,300 children, equating to millions
of dollars in free community services.
