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STRONGER TOGETHER
The National Senior
Corps Association was founded in 2007 to promote,
advocate for, market, and enhance the power of the
national Senior Corps programs. NSCA, a
unified organization, possesses a broader membership
base for more effective advocacy. We believe
that the Foster Grandparent Program, RSVP, and the
Senior Companion Program are STRONGER TOGETHER.
The concept of
one organization encompassing all three Senior
Corps programs is not new. It has been
discussed and studied from time to time.
Many state associations include all three
programs. This reflects a trend that
consolidates management of Senior Corps programs
wherein one director or one sponsor manages two
or three Senior Corps programs. There are
differences between the three Senior Corps
programs, but there are even greater
similarities that can be capitalized upon.
Commonalities include the following:
- all
federally sponsored by the Corporation for
National and Community Service;
- all are
linked to the Congressional budget process;
- all provide
the organizational framework that empowers
older adults to make major contributions to
their communities and enhance their own
quality of life;
- all address
significant community needs;
- all are
nationwide;
- all promote
and value volunteerism and service
The National
Senior Corps Association capitalizes on these
unifying elements, embracing the three programs
within one association to foster the interests
of Senior Corps programs. Each Senior
Corps Program has its' specific issues and
unique challenges addressed through
program-specific committees. Policy and
advocacy however, are embraced by the whole body
of NSCA, and each program enjoys the support of
the whole thus making us STRONGER TOGETHER.
THE SENIOR CORPS PROGRAMS
Senior Corps is
comprised of the Foster Grandparent Program, RSVP
and the Senior Companion Program through which
500,000 Americans age 55 and older use their skills
and experience to cost-effectively address vital
community needs.
The Foster
Grandparent Program connects people 55 and over
with children and young people with exceptional
needs in schools, hospitals, drug treatment centers,
correctional institutions, Head Start and childcare
centers. Last year, Foster Grandparents contributed
27.9 million hours helping over 263,000 children,
serving through 342 projects nationwide and
partnering with over 10,000 community organizations.
Foster Grandparents serve weekly schedules ranging
from 15-40 hours, receive an hourly stipend, and
mileage and meal reimbursements so they may
volunteer at little or no personal cost to
themselves.
RSVP offers
"one stop shopping" for all volunteers 55 and over
who want to find challenging, rewarding, and
significant service opportunities in their local
communities. In 2006, 440,000 RSVP volunteers
contributed 78.8 million hours of service through
770 organizations, working with more than 65,000
community organizations. RSVP volunteers provide
hundreds of community services, such as:
- tutoring
children in reading and math;
- building houses;
- participating in
neighborhood watch programs;
- providing
counsel to new business owners;
- offering relief
services to victims of natural disasters; and
- helping
community organizations operate more
efficiently.
The Senior
Companion Program brings together volunteers age
55 and over with older adults in their community who
have difficulty with the simple tasks of day-to-day
living and who need extra assistance to live
independently in their own homes or communities.
They serve frail older adults, adults with
disabilities, those with terminal illnesses, and
offer respite for caregivers. In 2006, 16,000 Senior
Companions helped over 62,000 frail clients,
preventing premature costly institutionalization at
a savings of over $200 million. Senior Companions
serve weekly schedules from 15-40 hours a week,
receive an hourly stipend, and mileage and meal
reimbursements so they may volunteer at little or no
personal cost to themselves.
The National
Senior Corps Association works to ensure that
the efforts of Senior Corps volunteers will continue
meeting the needs and challenges of America’s
communities.
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