AmeriCorps Overview
AmeriCorps is an opportunity to make a big difference in your life and in the lives of those around you. It's a chance to apply your skills and ideals toward helping others and meeting critical needs in the community.Each year, AmeriCorps offers 75,000 opportunities for adults of all ages and backgrounds to serve through a network of partnerships with local and national nonprofit groups. Whether your service makes a community safer, gives a child a second chance, or helps protect the environment, you'll be getting things done through AmeriCorps!
AmeriCorps members address critical needs in communities all across America. As an AmeriCorps member, you can:
- Tutor and mentor disadvantaged youth
- Fight illiteracy
- Improve health services
- Build affordable housing
- Teach computer skills
- Clean parks and streams
- Manage or operate after-school programs
- Help communities respond to disasters
- Build organizational capacity
AmeriCorps Programs are under the umbrella organization, Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS). AmeriCorps is made up of three main programs: AmeriCorps State and National, AmeriCorps VISTA, and AmeriCorps NCCC (National Civilian Community Corps).
AmeriCorps State and National: AmeriCorps State and National supports a broad range of local service programs that engage thousands of Americans in intensive service to meet critical community needs.
AmeriCorps VISTA: AmeriCorps VISTA provides full-time members to community organizations and public agencies to create and expand programs that build capacity and ultimately bring low-income individuals and communities out of poverty.
AmeriCorps NCCC: The AmeriCorps National Civilian Community Corps (NCCC) is a full-time residential program for men and women, ages 18-24, which strengthens communities while developing leaders through direct, team-based national and community service.
ELIGIBILITY AND BENEFITS
AmeriCorps membership is open to U.S. citizens or lawful permanent residents age 17 and older. Members serve full or part time over a 10- to 12-month period. Upon successful completion of their service, members receive an AmeriCorps Education Award of up to $4,725 to pay for college or graduate school or to pay back qualified student loans. During their service, members receive health coverage, training, and student loan deferment. About half the members also receive a modest annual living allowance. (*The living allowance varies on location, it is around $800-1000 per month.) Members who serve part time receive a partial AmeriCorps Education Award.
Links to CALIFORNIA VOLUNTEERS with SEARCH for California based AmeriCorps openings.
http://www.californiavolunteers.org
Links to Program Descriptions of AmeriCorps programs on the California Volunteers website.
http://www.californiavolunteers.org/index.php/AmeriCorps/detail5/
Click HERE to see AmeriCorps openings by County within California.
Link to search for AmeriCorps national website.
http://www.americorps.gov/
Segal Education Award info: tuition voucher for up to $4725 for fulltime year of service (or lesser cash amount)
http://www.americorps.gov/for_individuals/benefits/benefits_ed_award.asp
| Program | Purpose | Age | Length of Service | Type | |
|
VISTA
Volunteers in Service to America
|
Capacity building/indirect service |
18+ with some college or work experience, must be US citizen |
Full time 1 year |
Individual placement | Modest living allowance * |
|
SN
State & National Programs
|
Direct service |
||||
|
State AmeriCorps |
60 programs in CA administered by CaliforniaVolunteers (state office on volunteering & service), run by local organizations | 17+, must be US citizen | Full, part, or reduced part time//9-12 months (or less for summer) | Individual placement | Modest living allowance * |
| National AmeriCorps | run by various national organizations with multi-state sites-(i.e. YMCA, Habitat for Humanity) | 17+, must be US citizen | Full or part, or reduced part time//9-12 months (or less for summer) | Individual placement | Modest living allowance * |
|
NCCC
National Civilian Community Corps
|
5 sites across country-mobile emergency response teams |
18-24, must be US citizen |
Dorm setting + travel Full time 10 months |
Team Projects | Housing, meals, small stipend |
| NCCC Team Leaders | 5 base sites across country-hands on work in mobile emergency response teams | 18 + with supervisory experience, must be US citizen |
Dorm setting + travel Full time 11 months |
Team Projects | Housing, meals, small stipend |