We’re very excited to welcome the California Department of Developmental Services’ two AmeriCorps Seniors programs to the community of national service programs using the Impact Suite.
DDS operates Foster Grandparent and Senior Companion Programs in 21 counties throughout California.
The DDS Foster Grandparent Program (FGP) engages volunteers, ages 55 and over, to serve as role models, mentors, and friends to children with developmental disabilities and exceptional needs. Foster grandparents volunteer in community schools, Head Start centers, and pre-schools.
DDS Senior Companion Program (SCP) volunteers, ages 55 and over, provide companionship and assistance with daily tasks to help older adults with developmental and intellectual disabilities live fuller and more independent lives.
Volunteers in the FG/SC programs remain physically and mentally active, reporting that the quality of their lives is greatly improved while serving their community—helping toddlers, children, and adults with developmental and/or intellectual disabilities receive guidance, empowering them to achieve their physical, emotional, and social goals.
While the statewide program is managed through DDS’s headquarters, day-to-day operations are coordinated by regional directors across the state. One of the reasons DDS chose to adopt the Impact Suite is that the agency needed a volunteer management platform that could easily flex to DDS’s program leadership and operations structure. The Impact Suite is the only AmeriCorps-first platform that allows each program to easily customize which levels of staff see which information and when — not just allowing for staff ease-of-use, but also ensuring compliance with grant requirements.
Welcome!