Changing Communities by Engaging Youth in Service

www.serviceandinclusion.org

Toll-free hotline: 888-491-0326 (voice/TTY)

Experience is the Equalizer

How do you know unless you know?

Do you remember your first job? Have you had role models? What are you good at?

• Introduce high school and college age students with disabilities to AmeriCorps and their community with the intent of facilitating practical career exploration and preparation through the completion of a meaningful service experience.

• Establish local mutually beneficial partnerships between AmeriCorps programs, and youth initiatives in schools, colleges, not-for-profit organizations with a focus on youth with disabilities.

The Purpose of Project

Impact

Benefits

For AmeriCorps Programs:Provides access to information about

different disabilities.Develop a network of on-going partnerships.Provides access to a pool of people with

disabilities to serve as AmeriCorps members or volunteers.

Strengthens programs effectiveness in the community.

Provides access to additional resources to assist the organization in fulfilling their mission.

Provides opportunities for members to gain real-world experience the will be beneficial with future employment goals.

Benefits

For AmeriCorps Members:Provides an opportunity to gain/practice

leadership skills including:– Facilitation skills– Project management skills– Supervisory skills

Build or ad to a resumeExplore potential career optionsExpand community networkExperience a mentoring relationshipFind employment after AmeriCorps

Benefits

Provides opportunities for students to:Learn about AmeriCorpsLearn about their communityBe exposed to additional employment

opportunitiesServe their communityGain work skillsEarn a stipend by participating in a Project

Impact AmeriCorps Experience internshipPractice problem solvingGain and practice leadership skillsExperience a mentoring relationship

Responsibility of AmeriCorps Programs

Facilitate on-going communication with your disability partner; Facilitate students learning about service from kindergarten

through retirement; Facilitate students learning about their community through a

community mapping exercise and needs assessment exercise (Initial Project Impact Meeting);

Facilitate students identifying a critical need in the community; Facilitate the students developing a service project to address

that need; Facilitate the students reflecting on and celebrating their

successful community service Time commitment: 5 hours a month for five months January

through May.

Community MappingWhat does

your community look like….

Increase network of on-going partners.

– Mentoring, guest speakers and job shadowing opportunities

Provide linkages to AmeriCorps as a post high school option.

Secure additional internships for students.

Provides access to additional resources to assist your organization in fulfilling it’s mission.

Benefits for Transition Partners

Mentoring as an Element ofCommunity Service

Project Impact provides participants access to caring adults in order to promote social, emotional, physical, academic and occupational growth. Mentoring is a necessary component of any Leadership Skills Training.

It is important to teach participants: Who mentors are/what is a mentor? That connecting with a mentor is a proven behavioral link of

successful people.

Types of Mentoring Programs Formal Informal

Types of Mentoring One to One (or “Traditional”) Group Peer Electronic

Research Shows

Youth who participate in programs that include stand-alone mentoring or mentoring as one component of a program have had the following outcomes:

Significant reductions in school absence Higher rate of college participation Improved school attitudes & behavior Lower likelihood of committing crime: Including misdemeanors,

felonies, & major offenses Improved parental relationships Improved support from peers

Jekielek, S., Moore, K. A., & Hair, E. C. (2002). Mentoring programs and youth development: A synthesis. Washington, DC: Edna McConnell Clark Foundation.

Increase Mentoring Opportunities

WHO ARE POTENTIAL MENTORSIN PROJECT IMPACT?

AmeriCorps Service Members Project Coordinator The Youth Themselves (peer to peer

mentoring) Employers/Partners The Service Recipient Parents &/or other Family Members Others?

Project Impact Design Project Impact Partners will work together from

December through May to introduce youth with disabilities to service.

Project Impact first meeting will include:– An orientation to national and volunteer service– Facilitating participants choosing a service project.

Project Impact Partners will meet each month to continue planning student-led service projects.

Service projects will be completed in conjunction with Global Youth Service Day- April 26-28, 2013.

Project Impact will culminate in May when students come together for the final time to reflect on their activities and celebrate their success.

Project Impact Resources

Project Impact Annual Training Technical Assistance Monthly Conference Calls Resource Manual Service Project Financial Assistance Potential Internships On-going Partnership

Community Service Projects

Lee County

Community

Service Projects

MadisonCounty

Community

ServiceProjectsBrowardCounty