Service Position Summary: Riverhouse is searching for one to two AmeriCorps members to serve as Vision Project Coordinators to implement the center’s vision projects in order to boost their culture and community. The Vision Project Coordinators would be an integral part of a preschool that already strives to engage children in stimulating activities while supporting parents. The members’ days would have both structure and variety. Focused on their vision projects of highest interest, members would divide time between direct classroom time engaging with children alongside two teachers, time planning and implementing vision projects with Riverhouse administrators, and time spent with parents during coordinated activities. Vision projects include, but are not limited to: implementing a food nutrition/garden program, expanding volunteer coordination, implementing an afterhours Spanish-speaking childcare program, coordinating additional enrichment activities, and coordinating family engagement.
Service Activities
Through hands-on-service, Team UP AmeriCorps members engage with organizations to develop, implement, and enhance programs, projects, and activities that develop their own skills, expand effectiveness of southwest Colorado organizations, and support local people to thrive.
These duties include:
● With support from Riverhouse’s Executive Director, plan, coordinate, and implement a select
number of Riverhouse’s Vision Projects, including but not limited to: Food nutrition & garden program, Volunteer coordination, Afterhours Spanish-speaking childcare program(this is a highly needed program and Riverhouse already has 4 bilingual teachers on staff to support this), Enrichment activity expansion: field trips, visiting arts/music teacher coordination, etc, and Family engagement: family support groups, Parent’s Night Out program, etc.
● Engage with children though direct time in the classroom as additional support
● Plan and collaborate with center administrators
● Engage with families and caregivers virtually and in person
● Track host site and AmeriCorps data
● Attend Team UP AmeriCorps regional trainings, cohort connection days, and Days of Service
Community Need Addressed
The Riverhouse Children’s Center’s mission is to build the foundation for a lifetime of success through quality early childhood education. Riverhouse serves 3 populations: parents, children, and employees. Currently, there are 60 working families, their 72 children (ages six weeks to five years), and the 30 staff members who provide reliable, quality childcare. 30% of Riverhouse’s families receive a monthly subsidy from either our program or the state subsidy program. Riverhouse’s work environment is dynamic and diverse. They have staff members of all ages and would incorporate the AmeriCorps member(s) fully into the team.
Position Outcomes
The Vision Projects Coordinator will plan, coordinate, and implement a select
number of Riverhouse’s Vision Projects, including but not limited to:
- Food nutrition & garden program
- Volunteer coordination
- Afterhours Spanish-speaking childcare program(this is a highly needed program and Riverhouse already has 4 bilingual teachers on staff to support this)
- Enrichment activity expansion: field trips, visiting arts/music teacher coordination, etc.
- Family engagement: family support groups, Parent’s Night Out program, etc.
Benefits
Childcare assistance if eligible, Education award upon successful completion of service, Health coverage, Living allowance, Student loan forbearance, Training
● An education award of $6,895 upon successful completion of term of service.
● Health Insurance
● Childcare Assistance, if qualifications are met
● It is possible to temporarily postpone repayment of qualified student loans through forbearance while serving as an AmeriCorps member
● Mileage reimbursement for travel to required AmeriCorps trainings, events, and days of service
● Non-tangible benefits including extensive training, valuable experience, networking, and the
opportunity to serve the local community in a crucial area of need
● Additional Host Site Benefits:
- Free mental health sessions
- Direct Primary Care contact
- Dental benefits
- Monthly staff (and AmeriCorps member) appreciation events such as: Durango Hot
Springs, food and mini golf at Texas Serious, a BBQ and paddle boarding on the river, etc.
- A professional development program that includes trauma informed care,
developmental levels of children, First Aid & CPR, ethics training, etc
Education Benefits
Team UP AmeriCorps members receive significant training and experience in community engagement, project implementation, leadership, diverse populations, and more. Up to 20% of total hours served may be spent in applicable, approved trainings.
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