Connie Green first heard about the Foster Grandparent Program from her sister, who came across a newspaper ad seeking volunteers 55 and older who can help guide and mentor young students in school.
“As the youngest of nine brothers and sisters, she said [to me] this is what I needed to do,” said Green. “So I went to the County’s Aging, Disability and Veterans Services office to be interviewed.”
Today, over a decade later and 71-years young, Green — affectionately called Grandma Connie by students — still serves as a foster grandparent, most recently to a classroom of 20 preschoolers at Mt. Hood Community College (MHCC) Head Start program.
"These kids are all my kids, and that's the way I look at it," she said.
The Foster Grandparent Program was established by the AmeriCorps Seniors program, an offshoot of the federal agency dedicated to national service and volunteerism. The program supports academic, social and emotional development, and provides the comfort and care that can set a child on a path to success, advocates say.
The program began as a pilot at Providence Child Center in 1965. It was adopted by Metropolitan Family Service in 1977. Multnomah County became the program sponsor in 2010. In Multnomah County, the program operates under the Department of County Human Services’ Aging, Disability and Veterans Services Division.
"We know that social connection and community activities help older adults live well,” said Irma Jimenez, Multnomah County Aging, Disability & Veterans Services Division Director. “The Foster Grandparent program gives older adults an opportunity to engage with their community and be a positive presence in children's lives, while receiving a stipend for financial support. This innovative and unique program is a win-win for the foster grandparents and for young students."
Foster grandparents serve in local schools, hospitals, daycare facilities or Head Start centers. For five to 40 hours a week, these volunteers, all 55 or older, mentor children and teenagers and in many cases provide one-on-one tutoring. They may care for premature infants or children with disabilities or help children who have experienced abuse or neglect.
Grandma Connie can attest to the difference this program makes.
“I was here on the first day of school and all these kids were crying and they didn’t want to stay,” said Green. “But by the next Monday the following week they were all smiling and walking in and parents were crying [tears of happiness].”
Throughout her many years of volunteering, she has seen children flourish and some even speak for the first time in the classroom. One child in particular, she recalled, would only talk at home and not at school. But after spending a couple months in the classroom with classmates and Grandma Connie, she spoke her first words in class.
“She said, ‘What a mess,’ while picking up straws from the floor” that had spilled, said Green. “And I had just said, ‘Look at this. What a mess.’ And we found a container to put the straws in and help clean them up and she said, ‘Here they are.’”
Grandma Connie's presence has been especially valuable for children facing challenges, said Samar Atia, a teacher for a MHCC Head Start class. Sometimes students with speech delays are seated at Green’s table, and some have started to open up, Atia said.
"They feel more comfortable and in a safe place with their teacher and Grandma,” she said.
In another case, two young sisters had just lost their grandmother. The girls’ parents were concerned how the sisters would cope with the devastating loss.
But the girls found comfort in their grandma at school.
“We knew it was going to be hard on them, but at the end of the year, they did say, ‘At least we still have Grandma Connie.’ They're not gonna forget Grandma,” said Atia. “They might forget me or they might forget other teachers, but I don't think they'll forget Grandma."
Just as the program provides a real sense of comfort and belonging for children and young adults, it also fosters genuine connections for its volunteers. According to AmeriCorps Seniors, volunteers report a sense of connection, purpose, and better health and longevity by serving their community.
“This program is a shining star in our community offering tremendous benefits to children, young people, and older adults who may face social isolation for various reasons,” said Mohammad Bader, director for the Department of County Human Services. “We’re very proud of the impact and dedication of our volunteers, who tell us just how much it means to them and we need more of them.”
“I lost two of my sisters six months apart — one last year and one at the end of November in 2024. Going to school really kept me going,” said Green. “I love it and just have to be there. I think they’ll remember things.”
Connie's bilingual proficiency has been a great asset, too. One particularly shy girl blossomed under Grandma Connie's care, said Carmen Medel, a teacher’s assistant who has been at MHCC Head Start for 20 years.
"She mostly speaks Spanish and doesn't understand English, but she'll go to Abuelita, who can speak Spanish," she said.
Grandma Connie never misses a day, even if she has an appointment or meeting, said Mendel. “During the pandemic, she showed up on Zoom. There was only one day that she missed and the students realized she wasn’t there and they asked about her, “Where is abuela?’”
For those considering volunteering for the program, Green says, “It would be the best part of your life. You learn so much from them. I can’t imagine life without them. You see them grow up and I was there when they needed me. I feel like I get more out of it than anybody.
“They mean so much to me. I get to hear ‘Grandma Connie!’ and they really do think you’re their grandma — and well, I am, I am.”
Currently in Multnomah, Washington and Clackamas counties, foster grandparents are needed as tutors, and mentors and role models. Volunteers may also be eligible to receive a stipend for their service if they meet income eligibility requirements.
Learn more about program requirements here and read more at: https://www.portlandobserver.com/post/foster-grandparents-have-more-fun
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