Program History

The AmeriCorps Seniors Foster Grandparent Program has been serving communities nationwide for more than 55 years.  Locally, the South East Texas Foster Grandparent Program (SETXFGP) was established in 1989 through the collaborative efforts of James Martin, Jefferson County Chief Juvenile Probation Officer; Roxanne Smith Parks, Director of the Area Agency on Aging; and Don Kelly, former Executive Director of the South East Texas Regional Planning Commission.  Their vision led to a grant that launched the program with 10 volunteers mentoring youth at the Jefferson County Juvenile Detention Facility.

From one service site, the program has grown to more than 23 locations across Hardin, Jefferson, and Orange Counties.  Foster Grandparents provide one-on-one mentoring, tutoring, and encouragement to children and youth in schools, Head Start programs, child care centers, hospitals, mental health facilities, and juvenile detention centers.

Today, income-eligible adults age 55 and older serve 15 to 40 hours each week, helping children overcome academic, emotional, and social challenges while building brighter futures.  In return, volunteers receive a $4.00 per hour non-taxable stipend, transportation reimbursement, accident and liability insurance, meals at many service sites, and ongoing training.  For more than 37 years, SETXFGP has strengthened Southeast Texas by connecting generations through service and living the belief that it takes a village to raise a child.