AmeriCorps Members are the hands and the heart of our work. We believe that showing love to each individual mom is what makes our mission successful, and AmeriCorps are first and foremost those community-builders. You will be responsible for living in the homes alongside moms and other volunteers sharing meals, doing chores, celebrating accomplishments, and working through hard things together. You’ll take initiative in a variety of situations that range from a mom going into labor, to roommate conflicts, to showing hospitality to visitors. You will be responsible for creating a safe, welcoming, home-like environment for the moms so they can focus on achieving their goals.
Service Activities
Live in community with pregnant women, new moms, newborns, and other volunteers for one full year, with the option to recommit for another year. Responsible for administrative functioning of the homes, which includes assuming one of the following roles: Donations Coordinator, Volunteer Coordinator, Programs Coordinator, House Operations Coordinator, or House Manager. Participate in community functions, including celebrations, house retreats, weekly house meetings, and weekly trainings or formations. Provide daytime and overnight house coverage by answering the phone, welcoming visitors, offering tours, receiving/processing donations, opening or locking up the property, responding to mom needs, and responding to the duty of the moment. Mentor 1-2 moms at a time by providing support and accountability in weekly meetings, while working in conjunction with a family coach at The Family Success Center. Provide rides for moms and babies to and from Maggie’s Place events, classes, workshops, appointments, or job interviews as needed.
Community Need Addressed
Maggie's Place provides safe and secure shelter for pregnant and parenting women experiencing homelessness. We believe the vulnerable time of pregnancy and parenting is not to be experienced in isolation, and our homes of intentional community combat this with love and radical hospitality.
Position Outcomes
AmeriCorps volunteers who live in the homes experience as much transformation and growth as the moms and babies who live alongside them. In mentoring moms, they gain valuable social work skills, relationship building, and an ability to preserve through hard things. Along with these benefits, AmeriCorps members receive a Segal Education Award at the end of their term of service.
Benefits
Education award upon successful completion of service, Health coverage, Housing, Stipend, Training
Monthly Stipend, Health Insurance, Room & Board, Vacation Days, Personal Retreat Days, Group and Individual Counseling options, access to company vehicles, Weekly Professional Training, AmeriCorps Educational Award upon completion.
Education Benefits
Credential or Certification
CPR, Mental Health First Aid, and Certified Trauma Support Specialist certifications
Skills you will gain
Conflict resolution, trauma-informed care, interpersonal communication, cultural competency, social work
Competencies You Will Develop
Communication
Demonstrate sensitivity and empathy, Listen to and consider others' viewpoints, Maintain open lines of communication with others
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, 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