AmeriCorps members serving in Education Support Services positions will provide culturally responsive education services at the afterschool programs outside of schools through one-on-one or in small groups to immigrant and refugee students in K-12 grades. In the summer, members will continue providing educational and recreational activities to students participating in the summer program. They will provide transportation to students to participate in the summer program educational activities and recreational field trips.
Service Activities
Responsibilities include.
• Tutoring, providing homework help, and school projects to students.
• Facilitating family communication and engagement with parents regarding their child(ren) 's academic performance.
• Connecting parents and the local school to address student development and concerns through family involvement.
• Educating parents on US academic cultural norms.
• Conducting home visits.
• Transporting students on field trips.
• Helping to address family needs through the holistic approach, including referrals, finding or connecting them to resources, and case
management.
• Interpreting, if acquired fluency in the language spoken by families being served.
• Providing integration support and case management services that assist clients in becoming self-sufficient. These services can include:
o Teaching clients how to utilize public transportation to get around independently
o Transporting clients in a personal vehicle or agency 15-passenger van as needed
o Serving as a liaison between clients and interpreters
o Assisting parents with school enrollment for their children
• Coordinating with other agencies, including health and human services, to ensure that clients' holistic needs are addressed and to help them
integrate, including information and referral services and access to educational community workshops, resources, and service providers.
• Keeping site supervisor informed of special client needs, frustrations, successes, and/or failures as pertinent in case progress toward self-
sufficiency.
• Orienting and assessing client’s needs by completing intake and assessment forms, developing case management plans, etc.
• Communicating with partner agencies, volunteers, and fellow team members regarding services to clients, daily schedules, program changes,
program needs, etc.
Community Need Addressed
Immigrant/refugee students face barriers to academic success, including little to no previous formal education, interrupted education, limited English proficiency, and needing to learn new US academic norms. These students are often behind their peers in academic achievement, requiring significant support to catch up. Their parents value their children's education but face barriers to engagement with the schools, including language, different cultural norms, and transportation.
Position Outcomes
The AmeriCorps members will provide education support services to students in K-12th grades to 100 immigrant and refugee students.
Benefits
Childcare assistance if eligible, Education award upon successful completion of service, Health coverage, Living allowance, Student loan forbearance, Training
All AmeriCorps members will receive training specific to their service responsibilities and other professional development opportunities. Training topics include Introduction to Immigrants & Refugees, Community Resources, Employment Coaching and Placement, and Education Support Services for Pre- and In-Service.
Bilingual AmeriCorps members will receive Foundations of Professional Interpreter training and, upon completion, will receive a 16-hour training completion certificate. Typically, this training costs $250 to attend. It's FREE to AmeriCorps members in the ACCSES Project as part of their professional development training.
Education Benefits
CPR/First Aid Certificate of Completion, Foundations of Professional Interpretation for Health & Human Services Certificate (bilingual members only)
Skills you will gain
Time management, Public speaking, Community outreach, Relationship building, Conflict resolution, Working with immigrants and refugees, Professional development, Personal growth
Competencies You Will Develop
Communication
Demonstrate sensitivity and empathy, Listen to and consider others' viewpoints, Maintain open lines of communication with others, Turn taking
Creativity & Problem Solving
Capable of generating possible solutions, Communicate the problem to appropriate personnel, Improvise
Teamwork
Develop constructive working relationships and maintain them over time, Establish a high degree of trust and credibility with others, Interact professionally and respectfully with supervisors and co-workers, Stay positive and outcome oriented, Use appropriate strategies and solutions for dealing with conflicts and differences to maintain a smooth workflow
Decisions
Accepts responsibility, Anticipate the consequences of decisions, Identify and prioritize the key issues involved to facilitate the decision making process, Involve people appropriately in decisions that may impact them
Planning
Able to prioritize various competing tasks, Create environment of contribution, Create plan of action, schedule tasks so that work is completed on time, Demonstrate the effective allocation of time and resources efficiently, Effectively delegate tasks, Facilitate group planning, Set goals
Service
Be pleasant, courteous, professional and respectful when dealing with internal and external customers or clients, Honor the privilege of being able to work with and for those being served, Provide personalized, prompt, and efficient service to meet the requirements, requests and needs of customers, Recognize the importance of maintaining privacy and confidentiality of those being served, Understand and anticipate the needs of others, Understand the importance of one's role in the functioning of the organization