Literacy AmeriCorps will recruit 40 members who will be trained and placed with schools, libraries and nonprofit organizations to tutor and mentor children, youth and adults. The members meet with AmeriCorps program staff every Friday for ongoing professional development. 2 Saturdays per month the whole team will engage in meaningful community service projects together to address various needs in Palm Beach County.
Service Activities
Lesson Plan, tutor, conduct mentoring sessions, monitor progress and assess learners, complete reports on activities
Community Need Addressed
1 in 7 adults in Palm Beach County lack basic literacy skills and struggle with daily living tasks such as completing a job application, helping their children with school work, reading a bus schedule and communicating with their health care provider.
39 percent of fourth grade students in our community read below grade level, putting them at risk of falling behind in all subjects and not achieving their high school graduation.
Up to 2,000 seniors in area high schools dropped out. Most of these students have multiple life challenges including homelessness and lack of a caring, consistent adult in their lives.
Schools, libraries and nonprofit organizations have connected with the Literacy Coalition for a partnership with the AmeriCorps program in order to help address these needs. Each year Literacy AmeriCorps members impact up to 4,000 individuals of all ages by providing life changing tutoring, mentoring and graduation coaching. AmeriCorps members fill a gap by providing full time caring and service minded members who can increase the number of individuals served and offer intensive one-to-one support for learners that our partner sites are not equipped to provide on their own.
Position Outcomes
Children will increase their reading skills; adults will improve their English, basic education and employability skills; and high school seniors will meet their graduation requirements, receive their diploma and complete a post graduation plan for continuing education or employment.
Benefits
Childcare assistance if eligible, Education award upon successful completion of service, Health coverage, Living allowance, Student loan forbearance, Training
Members have the option to live with other members. Members are responsible for securing their own leases/housing.
Education Benefits
CPR, Youth Mental Health First Aid
Skills you will gain
CPR, Personality and Vocational Assessment, Emotional Intelligence, Resume Writing and Job Searching, Awareness of Trauma Informed Care, Literacy and Tutoring Strategies, Mentoring, Disaster Preparedness, Legal Responsibilities, Disability Awareness, Professionalism, Networking
Competencies You Will Develop
Communication
Demonstrate sensitivity and empathy, Listen to and consider others' viewpoints, Maintain open lines of communication with others
Creativity & Problem Solving
Able to identify and define the problem, Capable of generating possible solutions, Communicate the problem to appropriate personnel, Improvise, Provide relevant expertise
Teamwork
Develop constructive working relationships and maintain them over time, Establish a high degree of trust and credibility with others, Interact professionally and respectfully with supervisors and co-workers, Stay positive and outcome oriented, Use appropriate strategies and solutions for dealing with conflicts and differences to maintain a smooth workflow
Decisions
Accepts responsibility, Anticipate the consequences of decisions, Identify and prioritize the key issues involved to facilitate the decision making process, Involve people appropriately in decisions that may impact them, Quickly respond with a back-up plan if a decision goes amiss
Tools
Carefully consider which tools or technological solutions are appropriate for a given job
Planning
Able to prioritize various competing tasks, Create plan of action, schedule tasks so that work is completed on time, Demonstrate the effective allocation of time and resources efficiently, Facilitate group planning, Set goals
Service
Be pleasant, courteous, professional and respectful when dealing with internal and external customers or clients, Honor the privilege of being able to work with and for those being served, Provide personalized, prompt, and efficient service to meet the requirements, requests and needs of customers, Recognize the importance of maintaining privacy and confidentiality of those being served, Understand and anticipate the needs of others, Understand the importance of one's role in the functioning of the organization, Understand the significance of maintaining a healthful and safe environment