Mission
NCO pledges to be a leader in developing and providing human services that strengthen our community.

Vision
NCO, a Community Action Agency, envisions a healthy and self-sustaining community that inspires individuals to reach their highest potential.

Contact
Eileen Bostwick, Director
Dowling Building
327 North State Street
Ukiah, CA 95482

707-462-2596, ext. 106

ebostwick@ncoinc.org

The purpose of the Foster Grandparent Program is to enable low-income persons age 60 years and older to serve their community by meaningful activity with special needs children in areas such as health, education and welfare. These seniors spend 4 hours a day, 20 hours per week mentoring children. In return for their volunteerism, seniors receive a tax-free stipend, travel reimbursement, pre-service and monthly training, and recognition.

Many accomplishments are noted as a result of this one-on-one mentoring. The following comments were received from the teacher's who supervise the foster grandparents on a daily basis:

"Grandma is an important, loved, member of our classroom community. Her insights and observations during involvement with the children are important and noteworthy."

"This grandparent works with children for 20 minutes each day tutoring them in reading. She certainly does improve the learning environment of the room. She also helps them achieve the next level of learning by helping them grow as readers, improving their phonemic awareness, improving their knowledge of phonics, increasing their sight words and improving fluency. As the child becomes a more proficient reader the child begins to become independent and able to believe in himself as a reader. In this way the student indeed improves his self-esteem."

"Each of Grandpa's assigned children were greeted every morning with a big smile and a welcome! Being able to complete work when they previously were unable to finish gave them feelings of accomplishment. Those feelings carried on to the next day, the next week and soon they were able to work without feeling helpless."

"I have a new respect for all of the things this wonderful grandparent can accomplish, and for her dedication to these children. The growth and maturity of this class has been helped along considerably by Grandma."

"I think the following sums this up: On the last day as Grandma walks out of the door, my students all blew her kisses. One little boy called out, "We love you, Grandma, and we'll miss you!" They all echoed this! She's made a difference in my life and in the children's lives.