ABC AmeriCorps

The AmeriCorps Benefits the Community Program, better known as ABC AmeriCorps, is a national service program sponsored by Sauk Valley Community College, two hours west of Chicago, and serving Lee. Whiteside, Carroll, Ogle, Bureau, LaSalle, Livingston, Henry and Rock Island counties in central and northwest Illinois. The area is predominantly rural. The participants in this program are called "members".

What is the mission of ABC AmeriCorps?

The mission of ABC AmeriCorps is to work with children, youth and families in education programs and community-based agencies to increase academic and life skills.

How long will the member serve with the program?

The service year will begin with a week of training, 8:30-4:30, August 10-14, 2009. The members will be ready to start at the sites on Monday August 17, or whenever school starts after that if the site is a school. The service for each category of member at their site is as follows:

Part-time members - Serve an average of 28 hours per week which includes time at the site, in training, and with service projects through the AmeriCorps office until May 31, 2010. The hours at the primary site will be decided upon by the site and the AmeriCorps member, with consideration for the college class schedule of the member, if a student. Ongoing AmeriCorps training will be held every other Friday from 2:00-4:00 in Room 1K4, which members are required to attend.* The living allowance is $6,035.00 received during the service term from SVCC, and the education award is $2,362.50, awarded by AmeriCorps after successful completion of the service.

Quarter-time members - Serve an average of 15 hours per week which includes time at the site, in training, and with service projects through the AmeriCorps office until May 31, 2010. (May 9 if member is a work study through SVCC) The hours at the primary site will be decided upon by the site and the AmeriCorps member, with consideration for the college class schedule of the member, if a student. Ongoing AmeriCorps training will be held every other Friday from 2:00-4:00 in Room 1K4, which members are required to attend.* The living allowance is $3,018 ($8.00 per hour if a work study), received during the service term from SVCC, and the education award is $1250, awarded by AmeriCorps after successful completion of the service. Work-study students must qualify and take a minimum of 6 credit hours per semester at SVCC.

Minimum-time members Serve for a set length of time during the service term with hours per week determined by the site, the member and the AmeriCorps Program Director, with consideration for the college class schedule of the member, if a student. Ongoing AmeriCorps training will be held every other Friday from 2:00-4:00 in Room 1K4, which members are required to attend.* The living allowance is $2,012 received during the service from SVCC, and the education award is $1,000, awarded by AmeriCorps after successful completion of the service.

* Members from outlying sites will attend only the first meeting of the month, and tune in by distance learning other weeks.

Minimum-time summer members - Serve 30 hours a week at the host site from May 20 through July 31, 2009. The living allowance is $2,012, received during the service term from SVCC, and the education award is $1,000, awarded by AmeriCorps after successful completion of the service. Required orientation day is May 16, 2009.

Note: Members can serve in AmeriCorps for two years. However they must reapply for the second year.

How do AmeriCorps members fit into the workforce of the host site?

AmeriCorps members are not employees of the school or agency. They have a special designation and are appointed by ABC AmeriCorps at SVCC into the position. Sponsors of a member can plan for additional services or projects, or expand current services.

What can be expected from the AmeriCorps program office?

ABC AmeriCorps will pay the living allowances of each member, along with Medicare, FICA and Workers' Comp. AmeriCorps will also purchase shirts, a hat, a pin, a patch, and a member service kit for each member, as well as a handbook of program policies and guidelines for each member and host site.

ABC AmeriCorps will provide an initial week of required orientation and training August 10-14, and then weekly training outside of the host site. The weekly training will be held at SVCC on every first and third Friday of the month from 2:00-4:00 in room 1K4. (In-person attendance at the first meeting of the month is required for outlying members. The other weeks they will attend by distance learning.) Two required, full-day reflection retreats (on Saturdays in November and May) will also give the members a chance to pause and dwell upon the AmeriCorps experience.

Who provides the funding for ABC AmeriCorps?

The AmeriCorps program is largely funded by a grant from the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS). The Illinois Commission on Volunteerism and Community Service (ICVCS) of the Department of Human Services (DHS) oversees ABC AmeriCorps, which is an AmeriCorps*State program.. Additional funds are supplied by Sauk Valley Community College, who is the fiscal agent, and community partners and host sites. The National Trust pays for the education award given to each member at the end of service.

What kind of activities do AmeriCorps members do?

Academic, education, tutoring and mentoring activities of children, youth and families in the schools and communities are examples. AmeriCorps can also participate in environmental, public safety, homeland security, and other human service needs community service projects. An emphasis is put on service learning activities for youth.

AmeriCorps members cannot: 1) Participate in political activities, including lobbying and voter registration; 2) Promote the ministry of a church, although they can participate in activities that serve the whole community which are held in a church; 3) Assist in union activities, including the organizing of unions; or 4) Assist a business that is for profit. There may be some exceptions to variations of these rules, for instance, painting over gang graffiti on downtown businesses is acceptable if it is part of a project fighting the influences of gang activity. Teaching academics in a religious school is permitted as along as members are not giving religious instruction. Members cannot write grants or spend more than 10% of their time throughout the program term on fund raising.

What activities were identified in the grant as possible service tasks?

ABC AmeriCorps encourages the sites to incorporate the following tasks into the service plan, although the list is not inclusive. Sites need to keep in mind the mission of ABC AmeriCorps as stated on page one:

Tutor teacher-identified children, Pre-K through High School, on literacy and academic skills, including phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary, and text comprehension.
Recruiting and/or training youth volunteers for service activities that encourage giving back to their community through service-learning projects, such as helping younger children, picking up trash at a park, visit a nursing home, rake leaves for the elderly, etc.
Work with community-based organizations to provide them the opportunity for them to expand their tutoring, mentoring, service learning and community education services.
Work with kids in summer programs, including summer school, SYP, teen centers, library reading programs, and summer lunch programs. (Summer minimum-time positions.)

Who will make a good AmeriCorps member?

Members will be chosen on a non-discriminatory basis, with potential members who speak both English and Spanish being encouraged to apply. Other diversity that will be sought in the team include age, gender, educational attainment, ethnicity, special needs, rural/urban geographic background, socioeconomic background, and a variety of experience, interests, and personality types.

The members chosen will have a minimum of a GED or high school diploma, be at least 18 years of age (or 17, out of high school, and permission of parent), be able to read and write at a literate level, have reliable transportation, be a legal resident of the USA, be drug-free with a commitment to remain so throughout the service term, and be able to pass criminal and DCFS background checks. Beyond these requirements, the program is looking for individuals who have a commitment to serve people and work with children, have good people skills and are tolerant of differences, are motivated self-starters, are flexible and able to prioritize and work with changes, and are able to work independently and as well as part of a team. These skills will also be taught and reinforced throughout the term of service.

**Persons with disabilities are encouraged to apply! Accommodations are available.**

What do I do if I want to apply for this program?

Interested individuals need to fill out the application found on the Joining ABC AmeriCorps page, print it and send it to the address or fax number below. If you have questions, you can call 815/288-5511 x313. After the application is received, you will receive a call to attend one of the AmeriCorps information meetings at SVCC. After the meeting, you will fill out a form designating areas of interest, and then can set up an interview time with the Program Director. After the interview, if the Program is willing to accept you as a member, the next step is an interview at an appropriate host site for your interest and talents. If the site requests you after that interview, and you pass the background checks, then you will be asked to join the Program. This is a competitive process, and not all who apply will make it into the ABC AmeriCorps Program.

For more information, contact Sabrina Earl at SVCC by phone at 815/288-5511, ext. 313, e-mail at earls@svcc.edu, fax at 815/288-1880, or mail at ABC AmeriCorps, 173 Illinois Route 2, Room 3M2, Dixon, IL 61021

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