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Curry County senior-program manager reports volunteer growth and successful pilot companion program
Summary
Senior programs manager Diana Cassidy told commissioners the county runs three senior programs — Foster Grandparent, Senior Companion (pilot launched July 1, 2024) and RSVP — with volunteer growth, service-hour totals, and budgets; commissioners praised volunteers and staff.
Diana Cassidy, Curry County senior programs manager, presented an update on the county’s three senior programs and reported volunteer counts, service hours and budget breakdowns.
Cassidy said the Foster Grandparent Program places volunteers in nine local elementary schools and Children's Hope Home; there are 13 foster grandparents (the grant requires nine) and 2,235 foster-grandparent hours recorded since July 1. Cassidy reported an annual Foster Grandparent budget of approximately $105,621, of which $62,109 comes from federal sources, $34,160 from the state and $8,736 from Curry County.
The Senior Companion Program, piloted July 1, 2024, has 14 companions (grant requires eight) and 1,462.25 companion hours since launch; Cassidy reported an annual budget of $70,126 with $62,109 federal and $8,017 county contributions. The RSVP program has 70 volunteers (grant requires 69) and 12,572 service hours since March 2024; annual RSVP budget cited as approximately $79,063 with federal, state and county funding shares listed.
Commissioners thanked Cassidy and her staff, noting volunteers’ community contributions and the programs’ positive outcomes for students and isolated seniors. Cassidy said volunteer training and grant compliance are ongoing priorities and that AmeriCorps and the New Mexico Aging and Long-Term Services Division are key partners.
What happens next: Cassidy will continue program reporting and compliance work, and staff will return to the commission if any grant renewals or significant budget changes arise.
