AmeriCorps members will help coordinate and develop new and existing youth literacy and afterschool enrichment programs and activities, coordinate program evaluation, expand outreach, explore new partnership opportunities, and coordinate short-term projects and events.
Service Activities
• Coordinate the Tutoring and Enrichment programs at RCLC and other community sites. This includes:
recruiting, training, scheduling and supervising volunteers
meeting with families and recruiting youth program participants
tutoring and leading activities
supervising student workers
communicating with parents
attending staff meetings
participating in training
maintaining relationships with partners to provide enrichment activities
using evaluation tools to improve and revise lesson plans and instruction.
• Coordinate program evaluation. This includes:
attending and facilitating training in implementation of assessment tools
ensuring that pre-post testing is completed at appropriate times and the results collected
entering data
preparing reports
distributing and collecting evaluation surveys to parents and tutors
communicating results to RCLC Manager.
Community Need Addressed
Youth in the South Bend community face a number of risk factors. The South Bend Community School Corporation graduation rate falls 11% below the state average; 20% of 18-24 year olds have no high school degree. Only 58.6% of SBCSC children passed the ISTEPs compared to 72.4% statewide. School attendance rates are lower than state averages. A significant percentage of area children feel their schools are unsafe. SBCSC free/reduced lunch rates exceed the state average by 23.7%. Limited afterschool programs and lack of supervision after school leads to a high incidence of youth loitering on the streets from 3-6pm--the most vulnerable time for youth to engage in or become victims of crime.
Position Outcomes
Youth will demonstrate increased reading and language arts performance.
Youth will demonstrate gains in skills such as problem solving, teamwork, critical thinking, and public speaking, as well as in content knowledge.
Youth will engage in curricular activities and enrichment opportunities not otherwise offered in their educational settings.
Youth will be supervised and academically engaged in safe afterschool programs.
Benefits
Childcare assistance if eligible, Health coverage, Living allowance, Student loan forbearance, Training
Skills you will gain
teaching
supervision of volunteers
administration of program activities
conflict resolution
teamwork
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, Select and implement well-considered solution
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, Quickly respond with a back-up plan if a decision goes amiss
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