Changing Communities by Engaging Youth in Service

Experience is the Equalizer How do you know unless you know? How many of you are one trail learners? Do you remember your first job? Have you had role models? What are you good at?

Community Mapping What does your community look like….

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

AmeriCorps: Florida’s Peace Corps To receive funding for AmeriCorps and help local communities the Florida legislature created Volunteer Florida. Volunteer Florida is a State Commission with twenty-five Commissioners who are appointed by the Governor. Not-for-profit and governmental organizations can apply for funding from the Commission to address a critical need in education, public safety, human services, the environment or homeland security.

Goals of AmeriCorps Programs Strengthen communities by bringing together individuals from a variety of backgrounds in a common effort to improve America. The full and proactive inclusion of individuals with disabilities in AmeriCorps programs is a key component of the goals of AmeriCorps.

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 resume Explore potential career options Expand community network Experience a mentoring relationship Find employment after AmeriCorps

Benefits Provides opportunities for students to: Learn about AmeriCorps Learn about their community Be exposed to additional employment opportunities Serve their community Gain work skills Earn a stipend by participating in a Project Impact AmeriCorps Experience internship Practice problem solving Gain and practice leadership skills Experience 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 (Project Impact Kickoff Event); 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.

The goals of Florida High School/ High Tech (HS/HT) include: Reducing the high school dropout rate of youth with disabilities Increasing enrollment in a postsecondary education/training Improving participation in employment-related activities

For HS/HT Programs: Increase your network of on-going partners. – Mentoring, guest speakers and job shadowing opportunities Provide linkages to AmeriCorps as a post high school option. Secure additional summer internships for students. Provides access to additional resources to assist your organization in fulfilling it’s mission. Benefits

Benefit to Florida HSHT Florida HSHT Guideposts for Success: Guidepost 1: School-Based Preparatory Experiences Guidepost 2: Career Preparation and Work-Based Learning Experiences Guidepost 3: Youth Leadership and Development Guidepost 4: Connecting Activities Guidepost 5: Family Involvement & Supports

Benefit to Florida HS/HT Provide informal career and interest assessment (Guidepost 1) Encourage and empower ‘youth voice’ (Guidepost 3) Develop employability skills (communications, team building and problem solving) (Guideposts 2 & 3) Develop a commitment to service (Guideposts 3) Increase mentoring opportunities for students (Guidepost 3) Expose students to additional careers (Guideposts 1 & 3) Provide an additional post high school option for students (AmeriCorps) (Guideposts 4) Increase access and connection to employment, education and community resources (Guidepost 2 & 4) Involve parents, families and/or other caring adults to promote social, emotional, physical, academic and occupational growth (Guidepost 5)

Responsibility of Florida HS/HT Programs Facilitate on-going communication with your service partner; Co-facilitate a Project Impact kick off event; Co-facilitate ongoing steps in developing a service project to address a critical community need; Facilitate the students reflecting on and celebrating their successful community service

Mentoring as an Element of Community 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 MENTORS IN PROJECT IMPACT? Project Coordinator AmeriCorps Service Members 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 in April. 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 Financial assistance Summer internships On-going Partnership

Community Service Projects Lee County

Community Service Projects Madison County

Community Service Projects Broward County

HOW DO YOU ENVISION PROJECT IMPACT WORKING IN YOUR STATE?