Using Foster Grandparents to operate childcare areas in emergency shelters

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Abstract

Foster Grandparents can be an integral part of homeland security development and implementation. In Livingston County, New York, Foster Grandparents are included in the disaster response plan and will be utilized in an emergency to help operate childcare areas in emergency shelters. This program was highlighted in the National Service News, Issue No.196, November 17, 2003, published by the Corporation for National and Community Service.

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Issue

In Livingston County, New York, childcare in emergency shelters and evacuation centers was identified as an unfilled need in local disaster response plans.

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Action

Foster Grandparents are included in the Livingston County disaster response plan and will be called on in an emergency to help operate childcare areas in emergency shelters. Effective practices include:

  • Developing working partnerships was an essential first step to implementing this emergency response (EMS) program. The Foster Grandparent project director had volunteer EMS experience and this gave her access and credibility with others in the first responder community. Although networking was already in place for this program, emergency response teams and others involved in disaster mitigation are amenable to working with seniors, welcoming them as a population that can have a great impact in this area.
  • Emergency response training was provided through the Save Havens Program and the American Red Cross, where an AmeriCorps*VISTA member is assigned to work on homeland security issues.
  • The Foster Grandparent project director is responsible for all senior volunteers in times of emergency.
  • Arrangements are in place to provide transportation to the shelters and for the Foster Grandparents' security clearances.
  • In the event of an emergency, the Foster Grandparents will assist with meals, naptime and bedtime routines, and child hygiene; provide comfort and reassurance; and refer children to medical personnel if necessary. This will allow parents who may also be first responders in emergencies to know their children are safe and well cared for, and provide support for children whose parents may not be available.
  • Senior Companions serving at a local center for the developmentally disabled are also included in the plan.
  • Service-learning students at the State University of New York's Geneseo campus are assisting in the development of a kit of materials to keep children occupied while in a shelter.

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Context

The Foster Grandparent Program of Livingston County serves a rural three-county area of Western New York State. The Livingston County government, through its Office on Aging, sponsors the Foster Grandparent Program. The 50 Foster Grandparent volunteers serve in schools, after-school programs and community centers. After September 11, the Foster Grandparents wanted to get involved in homeland security to better respond to fears the children were expressing and to improve the safety of their communities.

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Outcome

Foster Grandparents can provide an important service in homeland security planning. The Livingston County experience indicates how important it is to develop a productive working relationship between the often different cultures of senior service and public safety. The Foster Grandparent's project director's work in both cultures, and the commitment and enthusiasm of the Foster Grandparents and staff, has led to a model homeland security program. Knowing that the Foster Grandparents will be there for them in times of emergency helps alleviate the fears of the children who live in the community.

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Posted On

November 26, 2003

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