vernonia prevention coalition
february22
14 2011
Be a Piece of the Puzzle:
The
Foster
G r a n d p a r e n t s
Program
has
returned
to
Vernonia Schools
and is having an
immediate impact
with students, teachers, and even the
senior citizens who are participating in
the program.
After a couple year hiatus, the
Foster Grandparents Program, with help
from community Volunteer Coordinator
Heather Lewis, has found new life this
school year. Three senior citizens--
Dewey Deweber, and Sykes and Ann
Mitchell-- are assisting in classrooms
and helping with one-on-one student
work. Lewis says the hope is to recruit
more seniors to become trained and
involved in the program.
According to Lewis, funding
for the program comes from a federal
“SeniorCorps” grant, which is similar
to an AmeriCorps grant. The program
is coordinated through Columbia River
Fire and Rescue. Seniors who participate
in the program must meet certain
guidelines and can either volunteer
their time or make a firm commitment
of at least fifteen hours weekly and
receive a small stipend for their work.
Regular participants can also receive
Foster Grandparents Program Revived in Vernonia Schools
breakfast and lunch at the school if they positions. The schedules can be very
are working during those hours.
flexible and can be modeled to meet
“The program was developed the needs of the Foster Grandparent.
to help shore up literacy needs
in the schools,” explains Lewis.
Foster Grandparents work
with students in a variety of
subjects where they might need
assistance and work to improve
their literacy in a variety of
ways.
Previously, the program
was only available to elementary
school students-- the program is
now available for students K-12.
“That really opens the door for
a lot of kids that needed that
continued support mechanism,”
says Lewis.
The
Foster
Grandparents fill various rolls
in the schools. Mr. Deweber
works at Washington Grade
School (WGS) and is known for
performing magic tricks. He Foster Grandparent Dewey Deweber shows off
also helps in the Life Skills class. some of his magic tricks for the students at WGS.
“Everybody just loves him,”
says WGS teacher Gienah Cheney. The Lewis says she is working to find ways
Mitchells have worked at the high school to provide activities for the program
level and also with younger students at to work throughout the year, not just
during the school year. One possible
WGS.
Lewis says there is funding program she is researching is a summer
available to fill four to seven more lunch program that would bring together
resources from the schools, the Vernonia
Senior Center, the City of Vernonia, the
Vernonia Prevention Coalition, and
National Suicide
Prevention Lifeline
1-800-273-TALK (8255)
suicidepreventionlifeline.org
Are you feeling desperate, alone or
hopeless? Call the National Suicide
Prevention Lifeline a free, 24-hour
hotline available to anyone in suicidal
crisis or emotional distress. Your call
will be routed to the nearest crisis
center to you.
Foster Grandparent Ann Mitchell helps a WGS student with his reading skills.
According to the
Department of Education
only 15% of public schools
provide direct
prevention education.
In 2009 95% of Vernonia
8th graders self reported
that they had received
direct prevention
programming!
Because of the
relationship with the
Vernonia Prevention
Coalition, once again the
Vernonia School District
gets a chance to shine!
Veterans Suicide Prevention Hotline
1-800-273-TALK (8255) Press 1
Hands On Art.
Lewis is working as a Volunteer
Coordinator through funding provided
by the Vernonia Prevention Coalition.
She has used her position to connect
groups within the community and help
them find ways to collaborate with each
other.
Lewis says the Foster
Grandparents Program is a great fit with
the mission of the Vernonia Prevention
Coalition-- developing mentors for
students in an alcohol, tobacco and drug-
free learning environment and creating a
healthy, safe community.
And it has been popular in the
schools, not just with students who
need some extra help and with teachers
who are receiving trained assistance,
but for senior citizens acting as Foster
Grandparents. “It’s fun and it keeps me
going and keeps me out of trouble!” says
Mr. Deweber.
Sounds like a winning program
for everybody.
If you would like more
information
about
the
Foster
Grandparents Program, contact Director
Connie Quick at (503) 397-5655 office
or (503) 410-1449 mobile. Her office is
located at: 397 South 18th Street Suite
C ( at the St. Helens Library).
5th Tuesday Community
Coalition Meeting
at the VCLC 6:30-8:00 PM
March 29th
May 31st
August 30th
November 29th
For more information contact:
DeAnna Pearl, VPC Director
503-369-7370
DeAnna@vernonia-or.gov
