Volunteer in Rural Alaska Community Action Program (RurAL CAP)

Elder Mentors have been improving children’s success in Head Start, classroom, and other community settings across Alaska for more than 35 years. Elder Mentors are making a difference in their communities by creating intergenerational relationships with children in Head Starts and in classrooms across Alaska. Elder Mentor volunteers serve through the national AmeriCorps Senior Program.

By providing one-on-one help with school work, modeling social and cultural values, and offering emotional support to children with special needs, Elder Mentors create inter-generational relationships with students, which are critical for healthy child development. Program goals include increasing school readiness for preschool children, increasing school success for K-12 students, and reinforcing social skills, cultural values, and resilience for all children.