For 58 years, one of Michigan's oldest volunteer programs, Washtenaw County's Foster Grandparent Program, in partnership with AmeriCorps, has provided income-eligible seniors with the opportunity to offer educational support and mentorship to youth.
Founded in 1965, the Foster Grandparent Program was created to address the challenges institutionalized and special needs youth face.
Today, Foster Grandparents continue to support youth with special needs, but also recognize that there’s a broader group of youth that struggle with academics, staying focused and being withdrawn, said Foster Grandparent Specialist Sandy Bowers.
To help address these challenges, Foster Grandparent volunteers ages 55 and older can serve 20 hours per week at schools, daycares and youth programs. Volunteers are paired with youth based on the grandparents' strengths and interests, as well as the specific needs of the children they support.
Fulfilling the generational gap from when the Foster Grandparents were in school compared to the youth today, volunteers receive training, a stipend, and professional development to be aware and comfortable with new teaching methods and understanding behavior, Bowers said.
“I give our grandparents credit for that, too. They’re going into something where they think, ‘Oh, this is not like it was when I was in school,’ but they’re open to learning new methods and being part of a different approach to teaching,” Bowers said.
The program also provides Foster Grandparents with meal reimbursements for days they are on site and transportation assistance to remove barriers that make volunteering inaccessible.
While Foster Grandparents typically serve in the program for three to five years, many have remained involved for more than 20 years.
After grandma LaDonna Austin retired from working in medicine, she has been with the Foster Grandparent Program for three years.
“I was there 40 years at the University of Michigan, and when you get used to getting up and going every day, and then you come home and you sit. ... You start to waste away," Austin said. "I didn’t want to do that, which is why this program is so awesome."
After being diagnosed with cancer in 2022, among other health challenges, Austin realized how short life is.
“I said, 'Lord if you let me get out of this situation, then I’m going to take better care of myself,' and I did. In March 2024, they said I was cured, so I have just been trying to eat better and keep moving, and that is the main thing,” Austin said. “There is a benefit to just keeping it moving.”
Another grandma, Debra Williams-Smith, has been a Foster Grandparent for 15 years after working as a juvenile therapist. Throughout her time, she has found motivation in keeping her mind and body active.
“I enjoy being around kids. It keeps me upbeat and keeps my mind focused and generated because if you don’t use it, you lose it. I have to use this mind. I have to keep it as long as possible. I go home and do exercises and word search puzzles to keep my mind going,” Smith said. “It motivates me to get on my exercise bike and use my weights and stuff. Like, okay, ‘You can do this, you got to keep moving.’ It is helping me a whole lot.”
Smiling, Austin reflected on one of her students from last year who initially was shy and would hide behind his dad. Over time, little by little, he stopped and became more social. By the end of the year, his increased confidence was clear, Austin said. He walked differently, she said.
“I love it in the morning when I come in and ‘grandma’ and I get ready to leave. They rush up to give you a hug. One thing I always thought about is you never know what someone is going through at home and (what) that hug, what that extra attention means,” Austin said. “That is one thing I think this program really makes a difference, especially in other schools where they really have a need for that one-on-one attention.”
For those interested to learn more about the Foster Grandparent Program, visit its webpage.
