Colonie Senior Service Centers Inc

AN ESTIMATED 334 RSVP VOLUNTEERS WILL SERVE. OF THIS NUMBER, 125 RSVP VOLUNTEERS WILL BE PLACED IN OUTCOME ASSIGNMENTS. SOME OF THEIR ACTIVITIES WILL INCLUDE OPIOID/DRUG INTERVENTION, COMPANIONSHIP, CLASSROOM SUPPORT, TUTORING AND LEADING EXERCISE CLASSES. THE PRIMARY FOCUS AREAS OF THIS PROJECT ARE EDUCATION AND HEALTHY FUTURES. AT THE END OF THE THREE-YEAR GRANT, WE WILL INCREASE THE NUMBER OF STUDENTS WITH IMPROVED ACADEMIC ENGAGEMENT OR SOCIAL-EMOTIONAL SKILLS, INCREASE THE NUMBER OF INDIVIDUALS WHO REPORT HAVING INCREASED SOCIAL SUPPORT OR IMPROVED CAPACITY FOR INDEPENDENT LIVING, AND INCREASE ACCESS TO CARE AND PARTICIPATION IN HEALTH EDUCATION ACTIVITIES DESIGNED TO PREVENT OR REDUCE PRESCRIPTION DRUG AND OPIOID ABUSE. THE CNCS FEDERAL INVESTMENT OF $124,520 WILL BE SUPPLEMENTED BY $54,066 FROM COLONIE SENIOR SERVICE CENTERS, INC. (CSSC).

COLONIE SENIOR SERVICE CENTERS, INC. (CSSC) IS ONE OF THE LARGEST PROVIDERS OF PROGRAMS AND SERVICES FOR SENIORS IN THE CAPITAL REGION. WE HELP SENIORS REMAIN HEALTHY, ACTIVE AND INDEPENDENT; PRESERVING AND ENHANCING THEIR QUALITY OF LIFE AS THEY AGE. AS THE SPONSORING AGENCY OF THE CAPITAL REGION RSVP PROGRAM, CSSC BRINGS A REPUTATION AS A LEADER IN QUALITY PROGRAMS AND SERVICES THAT PROVIDE POSITIVE OUTCOMES FOR SENIORS AND THEIR FAMILIES. ADDITIONALLY, AS AN ACTIVE MEMBER OF THE NEW YORK COUNCIL OF NON-PROFITS (NYCON), THE NON-PROFIT BUSINESS COUNCIL, THE CAPITAL DISTRICT SENIOR ISSUES FORUM, AND OTHER REGIONAL COALITIONS OF NON-PROFIT SERVICE PROVIDERS, WE HAVE BUILT RELATIONSHIPS WITH SEVERAL CAPITAL REGION ORGANIZATIONS WHO ARE NOW RSVP VOLUNTEER STATIONS WHO PROVIDE MEANINGFUL SERVICE ACTIVITIES FOR RSVP VOLUNTEERS. CSSC CURRENTLY MANAGES THE RECRUITMENT, ASSIGNMENT, TRAINING AND RECOGNITION OF MORE THAN 418 VOLUNTEERS. RSVP VOLUNTEERS MAKE UP 308 OF THOSE 418 VOLUNTEERS. RSVP OF THE CAPITAL REGION HAS BEEN GROWING STEADILY THESE PAST THREE YEARS. OUR VOLUNTEERS CONTINUE TO PROVIDE MUCH NEEDED ASSISTANCE TO THOSE IN NEED WITHIN ALBANY, RENSSELAER AND SCHENECTADY COUNTIES. AN ESTIMATED 350 RSVP VOLUNTEERS WILL PROVIDE SERVICE, PRIMARILY TO SUPPORT THE GOALS OF THE HEALTHY FUTURES FOCUS AREA. SOME OF THE ACTIVITIES INCLUDE DISTRIBUTING INFORMATION ABOUT WELLNESS AND NUTRITION, TRAINING OF HEALTH AND WELLNESS LEADERS WHO ALSO LEAD OTHER HEALTHY AGING PROGRAMS. LEADING HEALTHY BONES FOR LIFE (STRONG BONES) CLASSES, TRANSPORTING SENIORS TO MEDICAL AND OTHER APPOINTMENTS, PROVIDING COMPANIONSHIP TO HOMEBOUND AND DISABLED SENIORS THROUGH ADULT DAY PROGRAMS AND BY TELEPHONE REASSURANCE. THROUGH THE DEVOTED VOLUNTEERISM OF THE RSVP VOLUNTEERS IN THE HEALTHY FUTURES FOCUS AREA, AT THE END OF THE THREE YEAR GRANT, OVER 600 SENIORS WILL HAVE RECEIVED SERVICES TO HELP MAINTAIN THEIR INDEPENDENCE AND REMAIN IN THEIR HOMES. THE CNCS FEDERAL INVESTMENT OF $117,020 WILL BE SUPPLEMENTED BY $50,151 FROM CSSC IN YEAR FOUR.

THIS AWARD FUNDS THE APPROVED 2023-24 RSVP PROGRAM. YOUR 2023-24 STATUTORY MATCH IS 30% AND YOUR BUDGETARY MATCH IS 30.27%. THIS AWARD REDUCES THE 2023-24 PROGRAM YEAR BY THREE MONTHS FOR THE PURPOSE OF ALIGNING THE AWARD WITH NON-STIPEND PROGRAM START DATES. THE 2024-25 PROGRAM YEAR GRANT WILL HAVE AN APRIL 1 START DATE.

ENGAGES PERSONS 55 AND OLDER IN VOLUNTEER SERVICE IN THEIR COMMUNITIES