Getting Things Done!

About Our Program

Objectives

We have two primary areas of concern that we will focus on in the coming year.

First, Jefferson County is becoming Colorado’s Mecca for retirees, especially among the Boomers who have grown up in this area. Statistics are showing that they are in large numbers simply refusing to leave. While it is wonderful that they have chosen this beautiful county in which to raise their children and, in many cases, grandchildren, the challenge to those who provide services to the aging portion of Jefferson County’s population are facing what one local newspaper referred to as a “Tsunami of Seniors,” requiring additional resources which provide financial, medical, and protective services. In addition, the potential strain on the families of an aging Boomers population caring for aging parents foreshadows greater challenges to the community’s overall well-being. 

Second, The Corporation for National and Community Service has made childhood literacy among its primary aims. Literacy not only for children, but throughout our American culture is essential to having an informed public that can choose well and vote wisely in a democratic, free republic. Schools that miss their targets for complying with federally required literacy standards risk loss of federal funds for not meeting those standards.

Literacy

Often, communications from schools contain technical jargon, confusing information or are only sent out in English, which parents with low literacy rates themselves, or language barriers, may find too difficult to understand.

In Wheat Ridge, in Jefferson County, CO., one middle school was highly successful in its participation rates because of the efforts of a literacy coach who called each parent of an eligible student. We believe that encouraging this kind of commitment and focus from our literacy volunteers is what we should be aiming for if we are to have measurable success in our support for literacy.  

The most effective literacy programs in our day and age are those that take into consideration the literacy of an entire family unit. Children learning to read, add, and think do much better in an environment in which the parents are able to understand what their children are learning and participate in their educational improvements. A great barrier to children’s literacy improvement occurs when the parents themselves suffer from illiteracy in its various forms. Children, seeing their parents themselves modeling good learning behavior receive a tremendous boost up.

Contact Information

Jefferson County RSVP

Director Doug Maben

Recruiters Karen McClurg & Claire Brooker

Phone  (303) 235-6907

Fax  (303) 235-6926

Address
Jefferson County RSVP
3227 Chase Street
Denver, CO  80212

Website www.srcaging.org/rsvp.html