Full-time members serve 1,700+ hours from September through late July/early August, while half-time members serve 900+ hours in full-time capacity from January through late July/early August. Benefits include living allowance, housing, health coverage, education award upon successful completion of service, and personal and professional development opportunities.
Service Activities
Youth Villages AmeriCorps members provide critical literacy and life skills tutoring, service learning, afterschool and summer programming, and classroom assistance to children and adolescents at the Youth Villages Inner Harbour Campus, a residential treatment facility on 1,200-acres in Douglasville, GA. Additional opportunities for members include leading service learning, outdoor kitchen activities, community gardening, and outdoor and classroom-based education initiatives, in addition to participation in a variety of professional and member development trainings, including ropes course facilitation and Therapeutic West African Drumming Instructor certification. Members collaborate with local nonprofits and organizations on weekly service projects and provide disaster relief assistance in the state of Georgia.
Community Need Addressed
Youth Villages AmeriCorps national service members meet the academic and enrichment needs of youth with emotional and behavioral issues at the 1,200-acre Youth Villages Inner Harbour Campus. Direct service activities include tutoring, life skills, vocational programming, outdoor kitchen and garden activities, afterschool and summer programming, and service learning, in addition to weekly service projects with local nonprofits and organizations and disaster response as needed in the state of Georgia.
Position Outcomes
Inner Harbour students will show increases in academic performance and engagement, increased life skills acquisition, civic engagement and other changes that support future success in work, school and life. Additionally, community partners in a myriad of focus areas will benefit from direct service activities performed by AmeriCorps members during off-campus service projects and community-strengthening activities.
Benefits
Childcare assistance if eligible, Education award upon successful completion of service, Health coverage, Housing, Living allowance, Stipend, Student loan forbearance, Training
Extensive training and development opportunities and valuable experience with a leading nonprofit focused on a population of vulnerable youth.
Education Benefits
CPR/First Aid, certifications related to service with the vulnerable population, and Outdoor Education and associated certifications.
Skills you will gain
CPR/First Aid, numerous trainings required to serve with a special youth population, environmental/arts/experiential education trainings, Therapeutic West African Drumming Instructor Certification, and others.
Competencies You Will Develop
Communication
Demonstrate sensitivity and empathy, Lead group discussion, Listen to and consider others' viewpoints, Maintain open lines of communication with others, Speak clearly, in precise language and in a logical, organized and coherent manner, Turn taking, Write cleary and effectively
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, Select and implement well-considered solution
Teamwork
Derive consensus, 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, Consistently choose the best tool or technological solution for the problem at hand, Operate tools and equipment in accordance with established operating procedures, safety standards, and ethical guidelines, Seek opportunities to improve knowledge of tools and technologies that may assist in streamlining work and improving productivity
Planning
Able to prioritize various competing tasks, Create environment of contribution, Create plan of action, schedule tasks so that work is completed on time, Demonstrate the effective allocation of time and resources efficiently, Drive decision making, Effectively delegate tasks, 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