Topic Background: Overview of National Service Programs
SUMMARY OF NATIONAL SERVICE ORGANIZATIONS:
AmeriCorps:
Formed in 1994, AmeriCorps is the largest national service program in the United States and engages more than 70,000 individuals each year to meet critical needs in education, public safety, health, human services and the environment. AmeriCorps volunteers work to tutor and mentor disadvantaged children, improve health services, build affordable housing, teach computer skills, clean parks and streams, manage after school programs and respond to disaster.
AmeriCorps is made up of several programs: AmeriCops State, AmeriCorps National, AmeriCorps VISTA, and AmeriCorps National Civilian Community Corps.
AmeriCorps programs are open to all Americans age 17 and older. In exchange for a year of full-time (1,700 hours per year) or sustained part-time community service, AmeriCorps participants receive an education award of up to $4,725 that can be used toward higher education or vocational training. While they serve volunteers may receive a small stipend (more than half of the volunteers receive $9,300), health insurance, and student loan deferment.
Several studies have been done to evaluate the effectiveness of AmeriCorps:
Urban Institute Report on Performance Measurement
Citizen Corps:
Citizen Corps was formed in 2002 and operates under the Department of Homeland Security as a grassroots program that localizes preparedness and offers volunteer opportunities to support local fire, law enforcement, emergency medical services, community public health efforts, and to contribute to emergency management. Its goal is to help emergency service providers fulfill their responsibilities.
Citizen Corps is highly decentralized with local and state branches organizing the community service projects. Emphasis is on the needs on the local community rather than national problems. 1,400 local Citizen Corps Councils have been formed across the United States. Volunteers are not paid and generally volunteer part-time rather than full-time.
Citizen Corps has been criticized for its Terrorism Information and Prevention System (Operation TIPS) which allows volunteers to report suspect activities to the Justice Department. Some are concerned that the program will adversely affect the fight against terrorism by wasting resources on useless tips and that the program has encouraged vigilantism and racial profiling.
Senior Corps:
Senior Corps currently links more than 500,000 Americans to service opportunities. The organization is a network of programs that channel the experience, skills, and talents of older citizens to meet community challenges through a diverse range of volunteer activities. Its Foster Grandparent Program began in 1965 and was authorized under the Domestic Volunteer Service Act of 1973. Since then, three distinct programs—Foster grandparents, Senior Companions, and RSVP (the Retired and Senior Volunteer Program)—have emerged. Through its three programs Americans age 55 and over assist local nonprofits, public agencies, and faith-based organizations in carrying out their missions.
Volunteers are paid $2.65 per hour for serving in Foster Grandparents or Senior Companions. RSVP does not pay volunteers. Seniors may serve a few hours a week or full-time.
Peace Corps :
Established in 1961, the Peace Corps engages men and women 18 years and older to serve for two year assignments in countries overseas. To date, more than 170,000 individuals have served in 138 countries as Peace Corps volunteers, working in such diverse fields as education, health, HIV/AIDS education and awareness, information technology, business development, the environment, and agriculture. Currently there are 7,810 serving.
The Peace Corps has three goals:
- Helping people of interested countries in meeting their need for trained men and women.
- Helping promote a better understanding of Americans on the part of people served.
- Helping promote a better understanding of other peoples on the part of all Americans.
Volunteers must apply and be accepted to serve in the Peace Corps. A bachelor’s degree is preferred although an associates degree combined with relevant work experience may also qualify an applicant for service. 96 percent of all volunteers have at least an undergraduate degree. Volunteers receive a living allowance which allows them to live in the same manner as others in their community. They also receive medical coverage, transportation, and $6,000 to transition to life when they leave the Peace Corps. They have a $318.8 million budget for 2006.
Learn and Serve America:
Learn and Serve America supports service-learning programs in schools and community organizations that help more than one million students from kindergarten through college meet community needs, while improving their academic skills and learning the habits of good citizenship.
Learn and Serve America prides itself in providing service opportunities to diverse populations. In 2003, 35 percent of its participants were from minority populations and 27 percent of its programs were located in schools where at least 50 percent of the students are eligible for the federal school lunch program.