The Learner Support Advocates will serve as advocates for clients as they attend weekly English language classes and learn how to support their children’s educational development. The ideal candidates for this full-time position will be detailed-oriented, passionate about building relationships and strengthening communities, autonomous, and have excellent written and spoken control of English and Spanish.
Service Activities
Learner Recruitment and Support
- Plan and execute recruitment events, including program orientations
- Attend school functions to recruit clients and promote the Family Literacy Program
- Serve as first and continuous point of contact for clients
- Follow up with clients regarding attendance issues and barriers to access
- In collaboration with instructors, plan and execute reminder mailings and campaigns to promote regular attendance
Data Collection and Management
- Manage intake process for new and returning clients
- Support instructors in completing client assessments
- Manage Learner data including attendance, learner assessment and ensure integrity of data
Collaboration:
- Work closely with instructors to identify and meet client needs
- Publicize the Literacy Program in the community
- Attend staff meetings of assigned school, the Literacy Center of West Michigan, and AmeriCorps
- Participate in periodic AmeriCorps events to promote civic engagement
- Collaboratively plan service project events for National Days of Service
ESL Tutoring:
- Prepare individualized lesson plans and tutor 1-2 clients one-on-one, weekly
Community Need Addressed
On a national level, one in every eight children in the U.S. lives with a mother who has not graduated from high school. This impacts household income, as well as children’s reading and math proficiency, health, and school enrollment and completion. Only 16% of children whose mothers did not graduate from high school were reading at grade level in eighth grade and 40% did not graduate high school by age 19 (Foundation for Child Development report, 2014). Research also shows that low-literate parents, particularly mothers, are more likely to exert a positive influence on their children’s academic achievement when they are able to enhance their own literacy skills (U.S. Department of Education, 1993).
This plays out in the cities of Grand Rapids, Michigan and Wyoming, Michigan with a deep, albeit often hidden, need for literacy services. The American Community Survey (2013) of the U.S. Census Bureau reports that 16% of Grand Rapids residents over the age of 25 have less than a high school education. The poverty rate for those with less than a high school education is 38.9%, which increases to 44.9% among women. In Grand Rapids, 15% of residents speak a language other than English at home. This mirrors the data from Wyoming, where 10.8% of residents were born in other countries and 18.5% speak a language other than English at home—a percentage that continues to increase. Approximately 14.8% of residents have less than a high school degree and 16.7% are below the poverty rate.
This low literacy among adults has a direct impact on children. Almost one out of three (or 31%) of students in the Kent Intermediate School District are not reading at grade level by the end of third grade. Latino students fall far below this threshold. In the Grand Rapids Public Schools, only 37% of Latino third graders are proficient in reading while the percentage rises to only 43% in Godwin Heights, both far below the county average.
Position Outcomes
The Learner Support Advocate will recruit and support learners at their child's school. The ultimate goal of this position is to improve learner attendance.
Benefits
Childcare assistance if eligible, Education award upon successful completion of service, Health coverage, Stipend, Student loan forbearance, Training
The AmeriCorps member will receive a total living stipend of $12,732. Upon successful completion of the service year, the member will receive the Segal AmeriCorps Education Award of $5,9230. Training will be provided during the first week of service. Periodic trainings will also be offered throughout the service year. AmeriCorps members may be eligible to count college or graduate level coursework as service hours.
Skills you will gain
data management, project management, timekeeping, cultural competency
Competencies You Will Develop
Communication
Demonstrate sensitivity and empathy, Speak clearly, in precise language and in a logical, organized and coherent manner
Teamwork
Develop constructive working relationships and maintain them over time, Interact professionally and respectfully with supervisors and co-workers, Use appropriate strategies and solutions for dealing with conflicts and differences to maintain a smooth workflow
Decisions
Accepts responsibility
Tools
Carefully consider which tools or technological solutions are appropriate for a given job, Seek opportunities to improve knowledge of tools and technologies that may assist in streamlining work and improving productivity
Planning
Able to prioritize various competing tasks, Create plan of action, schedule tasks so that work is completed on time
Service
Be pleasant, courteous, professional and respectful when dealing with internal and external customers or clients, 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