Neighborhood Collaborative - The Atlanta Project (TAP)¹
at the Andrew Young School of Policy Studies

Georgia State University transferred The Atlanta Project (TAP) into the university family as a means of enhancing research, teaching, and service through more effective partnerships with its urban environment and neighborhoods. Former president Jimmy Carter established TAP in 1992 as part of The Carter Center where it operated until August 1, 1999, at which time it was transferred to Georgia State University. TAP initiated the development of a university-wide unit called The Neighborhood Collaborative. The collaborative assists in implementing the Georgia State commitment to working in partnership with the community to improve the lives of Atlanta residents. Its goals are: 1) to build community capacity, 2) to focus additional research, teaching and service on community capacity building and improved social policy and programs, and 3) to improve access to human services for families and children, especially in low-income neighborhoods. Douglas Greenwell is the Director of the Neighborhood Collaborative and Donna Bulbulia is Director of the Senior Corps Programs.

During the 2006 year, the Neighborhood Collaborative has been successful in engaging the university and community in partnerships, especially those relating to the senior population.  In addition, students have been recruited and employed as GRA volunteers, Work Study and student assistants.

Projects

Senior Corps Programs are funded through the Corporation for National Service, United Way, Georgia Department of Human Resources, and local county governments. Since January 2002, the Neighborhood Collaborative has earned three grants from the Corporation for National Service to administer three senior corps programs: Foster Grandparents, Senior Companions, and Retired Senior Volunteer Program. The Senior Corps programs recruit, place, and train volunteers aged 55 years and older in volunteer positions within the community. The programs operate in Clayton, Cobb, DeKalb, Fulton and Gwinnett counties. Ten employees are joined by two graduate research assistants and one work study student to carry out this exciting program with 1324 senior volunteers.

Foster Grandparent Program is funded through the Corporation for National Service as a senior initiative, through which people 60 years of age and older provide a service to young children with exceptional or special needs. By providing assistance in schools, hospitals, detention centers and early childhood centers, Foster Grandparents often provide services that limited staff cannot. The volunteers who meet income guidelines receive a stipend ($2.65 per hour) for the work completed. Foster Grandparent volunteers serve over 320 children and their families. In 2006, 127 Foster Grandparents provided 156,378 hours of services service at 10 different educational settings. Eight new volunteers were added to this program in 2006. The annual federal grant is $492,602 plus approximately $115,000 in matching funds and in-kind services from various sources. Funding from the United Way was added in 2006.

Senior Companion Program is funded through the Corporation for National Service. The Senior Companion Program is a senior initiative through which people aged 60 years and older provide assistance and friendship to elderly individuals who are homebound and often living alone. Senior Companions provide the services that frail elderly persons need to live independently. The volunteers who meet income guidelines receive a stipend ($2.65 per hour) for the work completed. Senior Companion volunteers served 176 fragile seniors and their families; many acted as an umbrella of support for seniors who receive services through the state Medicaid waiver program. In 2006, 58 Senior Companions provided 121,199 hours of services at eight different service agencies in Fulton and DeKalb counties. Fifteen new volunteers were added to this program in 2006. The annual federal grant is $206,177 plus approximately $23,000 in matching funds and in-kind services from various sources. Funding from the United Way provided for the expansion of this program into Gwinnett County for the first time.

Retired Senior Volunteer Program is funded through the Corporation for National Service. The Retired Senior Volunteer Program invites adults, aged 55 and older, to use their experience and skills to assist communities in need. RSVP volunteers serve in various capacities, such as mentoring, companionship, administration, advocacy, and as tour guides, neighborhood watchers, Meals on Wheels volunteers and more. These volunteers assisted in hurricane relief through the American Red Cross and other local agencies. RSVP volunteers provided over 156,378 hours of services at 80 different service agencies. The RSVP program serves five metro Atlanta counties: Clayton, Cobb, DeKalb, Fulton and Gwinnett. The RSVP programs in DeKalb and Gwinnett counties serve as the official source for senior volunteers in the county. A total of 129 new volunteers were recruited and placed during 2006 for a grand total of 1,139 volunteers. The annual federal grant is $184,900 plus approximately $79,000 in matching funds and in-kind services from the counties and other sources. 

Senior Corps Matching Funds. Each of the three senior volunteer programs requires matching funds. The agencies that volunteers work for provide both cash and in-kind resources to support the program. Local county governments also provide grants to support the programs. The United Way of Metropolitan Atlanta and other charitable organizations provide additional dollars. These sources generate approximately $230,000 annually.

City of Atlanta Weed and Seed Program. TAP was commissioned to provide an evaluation of the Weed and Seed Program implementation. The Weed and Seed Steering Committee is co-chaired by the Mayor of Atlanta and the U.S. Attorney. The project goal is to maintain and strengthen the combined efforts of law enforcement, residents and community agencies to weed out drug abuse and establish drug prevention strategies. For more than five years, TAP has been the external evaluator to measure the results of the Weed and Seed goals and objectives. Partners in the program include the Federal Drug Enforcement agencies, the City Law Enforcement agencies, Atlanta Public Schools, Atlanta Housing Authority, MARTA and a host of community service providers. Residents of Mechanicsville, Pittsburgh and Vine City provide direction as to priorities and participation for these neighborhoods, which are the target communities for the program.

Atlanta Community Access Coalition. The Atlanta Project facilitated the development of a coalition of community health providers and linked them with a social service network for the purpose of increasing access to health care for the uninsured and underinsured. This coalition successfully competed for Federal funding assistance to implement the revised system for cooperation in bringing health care to a population with little or no access. The coalition includes Grady Hospital, Fulton Department of Health and Wellness, Westend Medical Center, Southside Medical Center, Oakhurst Medical Center, St. Joseph Mercy Medical Center, Palmetto Health Council, Morehouse School of Medicine, Emory School of Public Health, The Atlanta Project and the Pathways Network. TAP has contracted with Geographical Information Services and Evaluation for the past six years.

Teen Parent Project. The Neighborhood Collaborative facilitated the development of a coalition of interested service providers and developed a project to educate teen parents. The coalition included the state Child Support agency, the Administrative Office of the Courts, the juvenile courts in DeKalb and Fulton Counties, the District Attorneys from the same counties, the Atlanta Workforce Development Agency, several community and faith-based organizations that work with youth, faculty from several Georgia State Colleges and one faculty member from the University of Georgia. The project imported a successful teen parent curriculum from the state of Texas, revised it for use in Georgia and now provides parenting education to Georgia youth through community and faith-based organizations. The project places primary emphasis on young male parents and works to increase their participation as parents of their children, including payment of child support for the children. Three school systems have requested the program and approximately 20 community partners have trained personnel to carry out the program in their agencies.

Volunteer Income Tax Assistance and Earned Income Tax Credit. This project was implemented by a partnership between the Regional council of churches of Atlanta and the Neighborhood Collaborative.  The project provided free income tax preparation to families with limited income. In addition, the project promoted the Earned Income Tax Credit available to working families with children and low income. The Georgia State University Neighborhood Collaborative hosted the volunteer tax preparers from the University, the community and a large local law firm.

The Atlanta Project continues to focus on building capacity in urban neighborhoods. TAP works to facilitate partnerships between residents and connect them with the resources they need to carry out plans for their neighborhoods and families. One of the primary tools for this work is the Carter Collaboration Center. This computer lab has 30 workstations, software for training, access to the Internet and the Group System V software to assist group planning and decision-making. Groups from various neighborhoods, local nonprofits, the United Way, Georgia State, and City of Atlanta and federal governments have utilized this resource during 2006. Specialized training for volunteers to staff the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program was conducted in the lab.

Community Capacity Building

The Neighborhood Collaborative Community Capacity Building activities are headquartered at City Hall East. Satellite offices in the metro Atlanta area include Gwinnett County, Cobb County, Clayton County and DeKalb County. These offices enhance Community Capacity Building, with activities such as the following:

• One hundred fifty two senior volunteers were recruited, trained, and placed into Senior Corps Programs to volunteer in their communities.
• Senior Corps volunteers participated in the 2006 Mayor’s Walk in the summer.
• NC hosted three “Senior Corps Recognitions” and 12 special events for senior volunteers. Attendance ranged from 75 to over 200 at these events; the events support the collegial relationship between the volunteers as well as recognize the outstanding work they accomplish.
• RSVP volunteers in DeKalb, Gwinnett and Cobb counties made baby blankets, sweaters, booties, dolls, cancer pads and lap robes. These articles were given to hospitals, child advocacy agencies and hospices in five local counties.
• Gwinnett County RSVP participated in the Holiday Helper Program. The volunteers gathered items to fill bags to be distributed to children in need throughout the county. The bags contained not only toys but also essential items like clothing and hygiene products.
• The Senior Companion and Foster Grandparent programs collected school supplies for local Head Start Centers.
• Gwinnett County has been involved in Senior Day Out and the Senior Health Fair. Several displays are located in senior centers, residential facilities and grocery stores throughout the county.
• Two RSVP volunteers, Donald and Ruth Kroch, were deployed by the Red Cross to Mississippi and Louisiana to assist in the support of hurricane victims. They served two rotations of three weeks each providing meals and comfort.
• Neighborhood Collaborative staff sponsored a Foster Grandparent Family with a Christmas celebration.
• GSUNC participated in United Way Summer Intern Program. The agency hosted a high school student for six weeks.
• GSUNC acted as a sponsor site for Medicare Part D enrollment. Five staff members were trained to assist seniors in applying for benefits online. This work continues as new initiatives are begun by the Federal agency.

1. For a complete listing of AYSPS Active Research Sponsored Grants from CY2006, see the Appendix: Report on External Funding.