Safe Families AmeriCorps members will serve to organize community members across Illinois in making their cities, schools, organizations and households more resilient to emergencies. The member’s primary responsibility will be to teach, coordinate and lead emergency preparedness, planning and recovery activities in their assigned territories in support of the American Red Cross. This opportunity is open to all across the state of IL. Service Locations May Include: Chicago, Romeoville, Kankakee, DeKalb, St. Charles, Springfield, Peoria, Rockford, Quincy, Moline and Swansea.
Service Activities
AmeriCorps members will: 1) Identify emergency-related community needs 2) Instruct disaster preparedness, health, safety and youth programming 3) Develop events to assist in providing health, safety and disaster education to underserved populations. 4) Build community partnerships (Establish and maintain relationships with local schools, local school councils and community based organizations, developing capacity to provide Red Cross health, safety and disaster courses to meet needs as identified) 5) Volunteer management, training and recruitment 6) Collaborate with other Corporation for National Service programs in the community, including AmeriCorps*VISTA, and National Senior Service Corps. 7) Complete and maintain required records 8) Participate in required training activities and regular AmeriCorps meetings: an initial intensive training orientation, three quarterly training and other meetings throughout Illinois as needed. 9) Complete two self-directed community-based projects
Community Need Addressed
The priority of our Safe Families Illinois AmeriCorps program is to increase community preparedness, building competence around responding to disaster and create social capital to help rebound from individual and community disasters.
Position Outcomes
AmeriCorps members make our communities safer, stronger, healthier, and improve the lives of tens of millions of our most vulnerable citizens.
Benefits
Childcare assistance if eligible, Education award upon successful completion of service, Health coverage, Living allowance, Stipend, Student loan forbearance, Training
Education Benefits
College Degree
Skills you will gain
Time management, Teaching, Youth Development, Leadership, Team Work, Community Organization, Communications, Public Speaking, Public Health, CPR/FIRST AID
Competencies You Will Develop
Communication
Demonstrate sensitivity and empathy, Lead group discussion, Listen to and consider others' viewpoints, Maintain open lines of communication with others, Speak clearly, in precise language and in a logical, organized and coherent manner, Turn taking, Write cleary and effectively
Creativity & Problem Solving
Able to identify and define the problem, Capable of generating possible solutions, Communicate the problem to appropriate personnel, Improvise, Provide relevant expertise, Select and implement well-considered solution
Teamwork
Derive consensus, 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, Quickly respond with a back-up plan if a decision goes amiss
Tools
Carefully consider which tools or technological solutions are appropriate for a given job, Consistently choose the best tool or technological solution for the problem at hand, Operate tools and equipment in accordance with established operating procedures, safety standards, and ethical guidelines, 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 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, Drive decision making, Effectively delegate tasks, Facilitate group planning, Set goals
Service
Be pleasant, courteous, professional and respectful when dealing with internal and external customers or clients, Evaluate customer or client satisfaction, 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, Understand the significance of maintaining a healthful and safe environment