The Texas Health and Human Services Commission is gearing up to roll out a multimedia campaign aimed at raising awareness for its Foster Grandparent Program.
Scheduled to start on May 13, the campaign will utilize TV commercials, print ads, direct mail, and social media to spotlight the program and promote community service.
Emily Dressen, the program manager for the Foster Grandparent Program, expressed excitement about the initiative. "We are excited for the opportunity to spread awareness about this wonderful program," Dressen stated. "We hope this campaign will inspire potential foster grandparents to volunteer their time and efforts to mentor young Texans as they learn and grow."
The Foster Grandparent Program targets individuals aged 55 and older with limited incomes, providing them with the chance to mentor children facing special or exceptional needs or those experiencing circumstances that impede their academic, social, or emotional development.
Volunteers in the program dedicate their time and skills to the children they mentor, fostering one-on-one relationships through trust and support. They receive a monthly, tax-free stipend and commit to serving 15 to 40 hours per week.
The $150,000 media campaign is funded by the program's grant from AmeriCorps. In addition to boosting program awareness, the campaign marks the onset of the busiest volunteer recruitment season for Foster Grandparent Program staff as they gear up for the new school year.
During the 2022-2023 grant year, the program achieved the following milestones:
- Placed 252 volunteers at 139 volunteer stations across the state.
- Served 15,200 children.
- Logged 284,449 volunteer hours.
For more information, visit the Foster Grandparent Volunteer Program website.
