Foster Grandparent Program Coordinator

The Foster Grandparent Program Coordinator works independently under the supervision of the Seniors Council Foster Grandparent/Senior Companion Program Director. Candidates should be comfortably bi-lingual in Spanish (speaking, reading, and writing). Program Coordinators recruit, screen, train, and place Foster Grandparent applicants at volunteer work sites in pre- and elementary schools. Coordinators work in collaboration with other Foster Grandparent Program staff and stakeholders to ensure a positive volunteer experience, as well as a successful placement at the volunteer work sites.

The Foster Grandparent/ Senior Companions has 164 volunteers in the Program serving Santa Cruz, San Benito, Monterey and Santa Clara Counties. Our volunteers are women and men, 55 years of age and older who have very low annual incomes. There are currently 144 active Foster Grandparent volunteers serving at 66 school sites mentoring and tutoring 254 students. In addition, there are 35 active Senior Companion volunteers serving at 10 sites providing home assistance to support independent living for 47 frail seniors.

The FGP/SCP Programs are part of the Seniors Council of Santa Cruz and San Benito Counties, which serves as the Area Agency on Aging (AAA) for our region. Visit (Use the "Apply for this Job" box below). for more information.

• Communicates with the Program Director and other Project staff as necessary to effectively accomplish the duties of the job and reach the goals of the program.
• Participates as an effective team member, exemplifies skills and competencies necessary to continually build and maintain a team spirit, and performs the duties of the position in this spirit with co-workers and stakeholders.
• Has competency in the operation of cell phones, e-mail, and Mac Intosh computers. Preferred experience with project software including MS Word, Excel, and File Maker Pro  software.
• Ensures that Program volunteers serve under the terms of their job description which is known as the list of Appropriate and Inappropriate Activities for Foster Grandparents.
• Monitors completion of all necessary Program forms and documents of Foster Grandparents in collaboration with other Program staff.
• Serves as liaison between the Program and staff of Foster Grandparent Volunteer Stations.
• Trains Volunteers on relevant Foster Grandparent policies and procedures.
• Solves problems at individual volunteer work sites in cooperation with site staff and visits volunteer work sites as necessary to assess the effectiveness of Foster Grandparent services.
• Provides Spanish language interpretation for the program as needed.
• Identifies new Volunteer Stations as potential sites for placement of Foster Grandparent volunteers.
• Leads monthly in-service training sessions.
• Attends monthly staff meetings.
  
  Provides verbal reports to the Advisory Council about relevant Program operations as needed.
• Participates with other Seniors Council Foster Grandparent staff in organizing the Annual Recognition Luncheon and other special events.
• Possesses a valid California driver’s license and up-to-date automobile insurance to provide transportation to volunteers as needed.
• Communicates effectively and respectfully with people from different racial, ethnic, and cultural groups and different backgrounds and lifestyles, demonstrating a knowledge of and sensitivity to their needs.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

• Bachelor’s Degree and/or three years related experience working with seniors and/or other economically at-risk populations; or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Ability to read, write and speak English and Spanish required.
• Ability to write reports, business correspondence, and policies as needed.
• Ability to effectively…