Americorps Education Funding: What's The Investment Breakdown?

AmeriCorps is a federal agency for national service and volunteerism in the United States. It provides funding, people power, and resources to support education-related projects. AmeriCorps members and volunteers support students in public, private, and charter schools, as well as out-of-school programs, across the country. While the exact percentage of AmeriCorps funding invested in education programs is unclear, the organization has awarded more than $580 million in grants to state service commissions and nonprofit organizations, with a significant portion focused on education. AmeriCorps members are also eligible for education awards and benefits to support their own educational pursuits.

AmeriCorps Seniors Foster Grandparents

AmeriCorps is a federal agency for national service and volunteerism that addresses the nation's most pressing challenges and improves lives, communities, and civic engagement. Each year, the agency places more than 250,000 AmeriCorps members and AmeriCorps Seniors volunteers in intensive service roles and empowers millions more to serve as short or long-term volunteers.

AmeriCorps Seniors Foster Grandparent Program is one such initiative. Established in 1965, the program engages adults aged 55 and over as tutors and mentors to children and youth with special or exceptional needs. These AmeriCorps Seniors volunteers serve in schools, Head Starts, drug treatment centres, correctional institutions, and childcare centres. They may review schoolwork, reinforce values, teach parenting skills, and care for premature infants and children with disabilities. The program focuses on building long-term, intensive relationships with the children and youth served, often lasting a year or longer.

The Foster Grandparent Program aims to improve educational outcomes for economically disadvantaged children, especially those with special needs. Activities include providing support for school readiness, academic performance, and engagement. The program prioritises serving communities with concentrated poverty, rural and tribal communities, and underrepresented groups such as immigrants, people with disabilities, and the LGBTQIA+ community.

AmeriCorps Seniors volunteers in the Foster Grandparent Program experience numerous benefits, including improved health and longevity, decreased anxiety, depression, and loneliness, and enhanced self-improvement and new skills. The program also offers a stipend and insurance coverage for qualified low-income volunteers.

AmeriCorps has been recognised for its outstanding performance in the Results for America's 2021 Invest in What Works Federal Standard of Excellence, specifically for its use of data and evidence to increase the impact of national service grants. The agency's education-focused programs have shown significant returns on investment, with one program returning up to $54.56 in value for every federal dollar invested.

Communities in Schools

AmeriCorps, the federal agency for national service and volunteerism, provides grants and funding to support education-related projects. In June 2022, AmeriCorps awarded more than $580 million in state and national funding, with over $431 million supporting more than 42,000 AmeriCorps members.

Reviews from AmeriCorps members who have served with Communities in Schools highlight the rewarding nature of the work and the passion of the staff, but also note the low pay and extensive training requirements.

College Advising Corps

AmeriCorps, the federal agency for national service and volunteerism, provides grants to support students across the country. AmeriCorps' work provides cost-effective, high-impact services to address schools' most pressing needs and ensure students are ready for college, careers, and full participation in civic life. AmeriCorps places particular emphasis on supporting students from low-income communities, first-generation students, and those from underrepresented backgrounds.

The College Advising Corps is a key initiative of AmeriCorps that specifically addresses the barriers faced by historically marginalized students in pursuing higher education. College Advising Corps places recent college graduates from partner universities as full-time college advisors in underserved high schools across America. These advisors work closely with school staff to mentor, encourage, and provide individual support to students as they navigate the college search, application, and transition process. This includes assisting with admissions, financial aid, and scholarship applications.

The impact of the College Advising Corps is evident in the increased number of students from underserved communities enrolling in higher education. For example, the NYU College Advising Corps aims to increase the number of low-income, first-generation, and underrepresented high school students who enter and complete college. The program achieves this by placing well-trained recent graduates as advisors in high-need partner high schools. These advisors become experts in the college application process, guiding students and their families through the complex journey of college admissions.

The College Advising Corps also addresses the issue of understaffed guidance departments in low-income communities. The average student-to-counselor ratio is 408:1, which means most students only get a limited amount of time with a guidance counselor when making important decisions about their future. By providing additional support and guidance, the College Advising Corps ensures that students have the information and resources they need to make informed choices about their educational paths.

The work of the College Advising Corps is integral to AmeriCorps' mission of strengthening communities and addressing the nation's most pressing challenges. By increasing access to higher education, the College Advising Corps helps to close the knowledge worker gap, invigorate low-income communities, and reduce the societal costs of racism and inequality.

Indigenous Educator Corps

AmeriCorps, the federal agency for national service and volunteerism, provides grants and funding for education programs across the United States. The organization places a strong emphasis on supporting students and ensuring they are prepared for college, careers, and full participation in civic life.

One of the initiatives supported by AmeriCorps is the Indigenous Educator Corps, which focuses on delivering enriched educational experiences for Native American students in New Mexico. The program is tailored to meet the unique needs and strengths of the community it serves.

AmeriCorps members serving in this program provide tutoring and mentoring to Native American students, offering additional support both inside and outside the classroom. This includes after-school programming, which is designed to supplement the students' regular education and provide them with further opportunities for learning and development.

The Indigenous Educator Corps is just one example of AmeriCorps' commitment to education. The organization has also been recognized for its outstanding performance in the Results for America's 2021 Invest in What Works Federal Standard of Excellence report. This recognition highlights AmeriCorps' effective use of data and evidence to increase the impact of national service grants, ensuring that federal investments have the greatest possible benefit for local communities and their educational needs.

In addition to the direct impact on students, AmeriCorps members themselves benefit from their service through personal and professional growth, as well as education awards that can be used for future educational pursuits or student loan repayment.

Youth Mental Health Corps

AmeriCorps is a federal agency for national service and volunteerism that provides grants to local communities and organizations across the country. In 2022, AmeriCorps awarded more than $580 million in federal funding to state service commissions and nonprofit, faith, and community-based organizations. AmeriCorps supports students across the country through service, grants, and partnerships.

AmeriCorps has launched the nation's first Youth Mental Health Corps in partnership with the Schultz Family Foundation and Pinterest. The Youth Mental Health Corps is a unified, multi-sector partnership designed to address the youth mental health crisis and the mental health workforce shortage in the United States. The program will recruit, train, and deploy young adults to serve as mental health navigators in select schools and communities, providing peer support and connecting students to care.

The Youth Mental Health Corps will consist of trusted young adults who will meet youth where help is most needed, including schools, after-school programs, community health centers, and youth-centered organizations. The program will offer valuable on-the-job experience, provide stipends and credentials, and create service-to-career pathways, empowering young adults to pursue behavioral health careers.

The Youth Mental Health Corps will initially launch in four states: Colorado, Michigan, Minnesota, and Texas. By the fall of 2025, it will expand to 11 states, including California, New Jersey, New York, and Utah. The program will positively impact the mental health of youth and provide them with much-needed support and resources.

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