Work directly with elementary and middle school children within OST programs that promote social and emotional learning, enrichment experiences, and youth leadership.
• Provide support and encouragement to elders through supporting them as they decide to initiate and provide services that promote mental and physical health, nutrition, safe and secure shelter in their own homes, and recreational and enrichment opportunities
• Initiate and participate in activities to bring elders and youth together.
• Assist in community educational events to inform community members about adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and engage them in activities that promote positive childhood experiences and resilience in our community and its families.
• Participate in year-long training to better provide trauma-informed care to those participating in the AmeriCorps Five to Ninety-Five activities.
Service Activities
(1) AmeriCorps members will be on the ground floor as active participants with community members in developing, implementing, and evaluating a collaborative program providing new services that benefit both elders and youth in this greatly underserved community.
(2) After about six weeks of training, members will serve directly as staff members and mentors for a year-round outside-of-school-time (OST) program serving 12-24 youth in grades 4 through 8. As the program grows, we anticipate serving other rural schools within a 20-mile radius. Members will model and teach social-emotional skills, provide recreation on-site and through trips to other areas, tutor and mentor youth, assist youth to have a say in program development and evaluation, and collect data and assist in program evaluation.
(3) Assist community elders to form a self-governing group to advance resiliency among its members, support and empower members to engage with area social service agencies to develop programs of self-sufficiency, self-help, recreation, health and safety services -- all geared to successful aging in place.
Community Need Addressed
he position will (1) address the lack of out-of-school time program in the community of 2.000 residents. The program will begin by serving youth in grades 4 through 8 and their famiies, providing social emotional learning, recreation, tutoring, STEAM projects, community service activities, and enrichment-oriented field trips; (2) initiate a self-governing setting and provide support for community elders, especially those marginalized and/or affected by the results of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), to socialize, receive face-to-face services that enable aging in place, develop skills, and engage in variety of recreational activities locally and in surrounding areas; (3) develop activities that encourage a collaborative and mutually supportive relationship between children and elders in the community; (4) educate the community about ACEs and their negative intergenerational effects, and promote and enable activities that enable community and family resilience; and (5) develop and support a pool of community volunteers to engage in program development, implementation, evaluation, and sustainment.
Position Outcomes
In the first year we will increase resilience in this underserved rural, economically disadvantaged community :
(1) collaborate with the local K-12 school to initiate a year-round outside-of-school-time (OST) program to provide a safe and supportive environment where 24 youth in grades 4 through 8 will have a role in developing and evaluating a program where they can develop social-emotional skills, pursue interests, develop positive relationships with adults, engage in recreational and enrichment activities on-site and through field trips, and increase school success.
(2) work with the local Meals on Wheels program and our Community Center to begin a self-governing elders group that will bring services from outlying agencies into this significantly underserved rural community, and provide educational, recreational, and socialization, thereby promoting resilience for 25-30 of our elder citizens, especially those affected by ACEs.
(3) provide six community meals and forums about ACEs, trauma, and resilience. Each should attract 30-40 participants.
Benefits
Childcare assistance if eligible, Education award upon successful completion of service, Health coverage, Living allowance, Student loan forbearance, Training
Education Benefits
Credential or Certification
CPR
First Aid
Behavoral Health Professional
other relevant cert / training that members request, if possible
Skills you will gain
Social-emotional learning skills, Trauma-informed care, Public speaking, Data collection and evaluation, Team building,
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, 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