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Corporation for National and Community Service

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AmeriCorps logo

AmeriCorps is a U.S. federal government program that was created under President Bill Clinton by the National and Community Service Trust Act of 1993[1] and later expanded by 50 percent under President George W. Bush.[2] The work done by these groups ranges from public education to environmental clean-up.[3]

AmeriCorps is a division of the Corporation for National and Community Service, which also oversees the Senior Corps and Learn and Serve America. Collectively, these three programs represent a total of more than two million members in service each year. AmeriCorps itself is split into three main divisions, including AmeriCorps State and National, VISTA (Volunteers in Service to America), and NCCC (National Civilian Community Corps). More than 85,000 individuals join AmeriCorps annually, totaling more than 500,000 past and present members since 1994.

Research has illustrated that AmeriCorps programs have a variety of effects on civic education, education, and public service.[4]

AmeriCorps programs

AmeriCorps State and National

AmeriCorps is headed by John Gomperts. AmeriCorps State and National is the largest of the AmeriCorps programs, and provides grants to local and national organizations and agencies, including faith-based and community organizations, higher education institutions, and public agencies. Grants assist these groups in recruiting, training and placing AmeriCorps members to meet critical community needs in education, public safety, health, and the environment.[5] AmeriCorps State operates through Service Commissions in each state, such as Volunteer Florida and the Mississippi Commission for Volunteer Service; South Dakota is the only state without a Service Commission. Each state's Service Commission dispenses funding from the Corporation for National and Community Service to organizations in their states through annual grant competitions. Thousands of organizations across the nation have been awarded AmeriCorps State and National grants since the program's inception.

AmeriCorps State and National members engage in direct service activities, such as after-school tutoring or homebuilding, and capacity-building activities, such as volunteer recruitment, for the organizations they serve. After successfully completing their term of service, AmeriCorps State and National members may receive an Education Award of up to $5,325. The Education Award can pay for additional college or graduate school courses, or it can pay off existing student loans.[6] Full-time members typically complete 1,700 hours of service over 11 months' time; these members additionally receive a modest living allowance, health benefits, and child care assistance during their term.[7]

AmeriCorps NCCC

Example of an AmeriCorps NCCC Team age 18–24 (Source: Team Eagle 2, Perry Point, MD Campus: Service Year 9, 2003)
Main article: National Civilian Community Corps

AmeriCorps National Civilian Community Corps (NCCC) is a full-time, residential team-based program for men and women ages 18–24. Members serve at one of five regional campuses located throughout the United States (Perry Point, MD; Vicksburg, MS; Vinton, IA; Denver, CO; and Sacramento, CA). Each campus focuses efforts on states within its region but may travel to other areas in response to national crises. Former campuses were located in Washington, DC; Charleston, SC; and San Diego, CA.

AmeriCorps VISTA

Main article: AmeriCorps VISTA

AmeriCorps VISTA, or Volunteers in Service to America (VISTA), was founded in 1965 as a domestic version of the Peace Corps. The program was incorporated into AmeriCorps and renamed AmeriCorps Vista with the creation of AmeriCorps in 1993.[8] VISTA provides full-time members to nonprofit, faith-based and other community organizations, and public agencies to create and expand programs that ultimately bring low-income individuals and communities out of poverty. There are currently over 5,000 VISTA members serving in 1,200 VISTA programs nationwide.

Grantees

According to the AmeriCorps website, since the creation of AmeriCorps in 1993 more than 250,000 individuals across the United States have served hundreds of communities in every state of the nation. Some of the programs, organizations, and institutions partnering with AmeriCorps include Communities In Schools, Jumpstart for Young Children, Citizen Schools, City Year, YMCA, Girl Scouts of the USA, Boy Scouts of America, Boys and Girls Club, Big Brothers, Big Sisters, Camp Fire USA, Habitat for Humanity, the Student Conservation Association, Reading Partners, and Teach For America.

Costs and benefits

While discussion has occurred about the range and efficacy of evaluating the successes of AmeriCorps,[9] there has been a variety of documentation supporting the program. AmeriCorps provided fiscal and personnel to support the start-up of innovative new national programs, including Public Allies and Teach For America. It also brought vital resources to established programs, including City Year, Boys and Girls Club, Big Brothers Big Sisters, Justicecorps and the American Red Cross.[10]

AmeriCorps is reported to increase the effectiveness of community service. Successes for individual AmeriCorps members include increasing their commitment to community service, increasing community-based activism, connection to their communities, knowledge of community problems, engagement in the political process, and voting participation.[11][12]

Additionally, according to a 2007 study released by the Corporation for National and Community Service, a majority of AmeriCorps alumni within the study period claimed they had gained life and job skills, such as leadership, teamwork, time-management, and hands-on experience in a field of interest. The study further reported that 71% of alumni were incentivized to join by the prospect of earning a Segal AmeriCorps Education Award; 41% of AmeriCorps members went on to receive a 4-year college degree within three years of entering AmeriCorps.[13]


Member pledge

The following pledge is taken by AmeriCorps members, who promise to uphold the duties of their position, and reads as follows:[14]

I will get things done for America - to make our people safer, smarter, and healthier.
I will bring Americans together to strengthen our communities.
Faced with apathy, I will take action.
Faced with conflict, I will seek common ground.
Faced with adversity, I will persevere.
I will carry this commitment with me this year and beyond.
I am an AmeriCorps member, and I will get things done.

The 2002 Citizen Service Act (HR 4854), introduced by Representatives Pete Hoekstra (R-MI) and Tim Roemer (D-IN) on May 24, 2002, would have added references to God and the Constitution to the pledge. AmeriCorps members would be called upon to "support and defend the Constitution of the United States...without any mental reservation...So help me God."[15]

Those who supported changing the pledge argued that taking the new pledge would be voluntary for AmeriCorps members, and that it was similar to the pledge taken by all federal employees. However, the proposal stirred an outcry among current and former participants in the federally supported community service organization, who argued that the proposed pledge was divisive, "militaristic and religious," and might deter recruitment.[16]

Although the Citizen Service Act was approved by both the Subcommittee on Special Education and the Committee on Education and the Workforce in June 2002, the House of Representatives took no further action on the Measure, and the pledge remains unchanged.[17]

See also

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References

  1. ^ AmeriCorps is Changing the Minds of Congressional Republicans White House website, 1/15/01. Retrieved 12/5/08.
  2. ^ Americorps.gov press release
  3. ^ About AmeriCorps AmeriCorps website. Retrieved 6/1/08.
  4. ^ AmeriCorps Longitudinal Study: Impacts on Members A fact sheet.
  5. ^ AmeriCorps State and National. AmeriCorps website. Retrieved 12/4/08.
  6. ^ AmeriCorps Benefits: Education Award. AmeriCorps website. Retrieved August 10, 2009.
  7. ^ AmeriCorps State and National. AmeriCorps website. Retrieved August 10, 2009.
  8. ^ Frequently Asked Questions About AmeriCorps Vista. AmeriCorps website. Retrieved 12/5/08.
  9. ^ (2004) "Transcript - March 31 AmeriCorps Rulemaking Session," Corporation for National Service. p. 7. Retrieved 8/12/07.
  10. ^ Gomperts, J. "Towards a bold new policy agenda: Five ideas to advance new civic engagement opportunities among older Americans," Generations. XXX(4). p. 87.
  11. ^ VeraWorks. (2006) "AmeriCorps Service Effects on Member Civic Engagement." Washington State Office of Financial Management. Retrieved 8/12/07.
  12. ^ ABT Associates. "Serving Country and Community: A Longitudinal Study of Service in AmeriCorps Factsheet". Retrieved 8/12/07.
  13. ^ Shelton, LaMonica; Nicholas, Brooke; Dote, Lillian; Grimm, Robert, Jr. (May 2007), "AmeriCorps: Changing Lives, Changing America" (PDF), Corporation for National and Community Service, Office of Research and Policy Development, CNS{{citation}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  14. ^ "The AmeriCorps Pledge", AmeriCorps.gov. Retrieved 12/5/08.
  15. ^ (November 29, 2002) "One pledge fits all", SFGate. Retrieved 12/5/08.
  16. ^ Marquis, C. (November 21, 2002) "Revised pledge for AmeriCorps draws criticism", The New York Times. Retrieved 12/5/08.
  17. ^ "House Report 110-420-Generations Invigorating Volunteerism and Education Act or the `Give Act'". Retrieved 12/5/08.
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