National Service News
www.cns.gov
For citizens in service through Learn & Serve America, AmeriCorps, and
the National Senior Service Corps.
Published every other Monday on the worldwide-web site of the Corporation
for National Service.
For the latest information and updates, visit http://www.cns.gov
(Issue #31, June 30, 1997)
NEWSFLASH: AMERICORPS/LSA FUNDING ON TRACK
The U.S. House appropriations subcommittee voted on 6/25 to fund fiscal
year 1998 AmeriCorps and Learn & Serve grant programs at current levels
($402.5 million). Check cns.gov for funding updates.
SENIORS FOR SCHOOLS: SENIOR SKILLS FOR AMERICA READS
The Corporation for National Service has selected nine Seniors for
Schools Initiative grantees. They will engage adults over age 55, of any
income status, to work in teams to help children learn to read
independently by the end of third grade. Participants serving fifteen or
more hours a week are eligible to earn a stipend. Seniors for Schools
has a dual focus: literacy achievement by young children and roles for
senior volunteers as effective resources in the schools. After a review
of 117 applications, the following were selected to participate: Magic
Me! of Boston; Community Service Society, NYC, NY; Jewish Community
Centers, Philadelphia; Mid-Florida Community Services, Leesburg, FL;
Senior Resources, Minneapolis; South East Texas Regional Planning
Commission, Nederland, TX; YMCA of Greater Kansas City, MO; and
Metropolitan Family Services, Portland, OR.
NATIONAL SERVICE SCHOLARSHIPS: REPORT CARD
More than 1,600 high school principals selected one high school junior or
senior with a strong record in school and community service for National
Service Scholarships. The Corporation provides $500 to each high school
that can be raised by at least $500 in matching funds from the community.
Congratulations!
NEW FOSTER GRANDPARENT PROJECTS: TIME TO APPLY
The Corporation for National Service intends to fund 20-25 new Foster
Grandparent Program grants this year. The goal is to expand into
geographic areas not currently served by Foster Grandparents. Public
agencies and private non-profit organizations (except current Foster
Grandparent grantees) are eligible to apply. A Notice of Funds
Availability (NOFA) was published in the June 10 Federal Register and on
cns.gov, with a deadline of July 23, 1997. For further information,
contact John Keller at (206) 220 7737.
FROM THE FRONT:
"Scotty has been in school four years now. This is the first year that
he has read anything. I credit the Foster Grandparent Program with its
one-on-one tutoring for much of his success." A teacher at Jacob
Elementary School in Louisville, KY comments on the impact of a Foster
Grandparent in the classroom.
"These kids are smart and have more life experience than I do. I realize
now that I'm teaching them things they can apply today in their lives."
Reflections of a Temple University Law School student who teaches at an
inner-city Philadelphia high school as a Learn & Serve America
participant. "I
helped a man learn to read. He had a 5-year old daughter who was
starting to learn to read, and he realized he couldn't help her."
A*VISTA member Jessica Fitzgerald develops mentoring and after-school
programs in Opelousas, LA. She also found time to respond to a man who
came to her for assistance.
SEAMS: SPINNING A WEB OF SERVICE-LEARNING
Fourth graders at Washington Elementary School in Decatur, ILL, are
learning all about spiders and insects, thanks to a unique
service-learning program at Millikin University. Biology professor
Marianne Robertson involves students in her Animal Behavior course,
joined by education and theater arts majors, in the design and delivery
of information that is scientifically accurate, appropriate and engaging
to fourth graders - topped by a chance for the children to hold a real,
live tarantula. Dr. Robertson is one of 56 participants in the Learn &
Serve America - Campus Compact SEAMS (Science, Engineering, Architecture,
Math and Computer Sciences) program, which supports development of
service-learning initiatives which demonstrate how students majoring in
the sciences can apply their areas of study to community service. As a
result, more students are involved in service-learning while the
community benefits from their skills.
HOGAN HEROES: People on the Navaho Nation have better places to live,
thanks to 80 AmeriCorps and Learn & Serve America members who came from
as far away as Georgia to participate in the New Mexico 97 Hogan Project.
In April and May, they built eight additions, repaired 10 roofs, along
with uncounted walls, floors and ceilings, decked and framed one house
and built three wheelchair ramps.
WHAT WORKS: FOSTER GRANDPARENTS ON THE YUKON DELTA
The Project: The Foster Grandparent Program of Alaska is surmounting the
hurdles of vast distances by partnering with Rural CAP AmeriCorps, and
AmeriCorps*VISTA members to place up to 20 Foster Grandparents in Head
Start programs serving 12 rural villages in Alaska's remote
Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta region. The project has two primary goals:
enhanced reading readiness skills for the Head Start children and
teaching traditional Yup'ik culture to youngsters who, bombarded with
popular modern culture, may be a risk of losing much of their rich
history and tradition.
The Results: Head Start measuring tools are used to measure the
children's reading progress. They expect to show increased independence
and development needed for school success. The Grandparents pass on
traditional stories, survival skills and pride in the Yup'ik culture to
the children. Local Head Start Directors are trained by FGP staff while
Rural CAP AmeriCorps and A*VISTA members recruit and help the Head Start
Directors train Foster Grandparents from the community.
Why It Works: With the involvement of Rural CAP, its AmeriCorps
members, and A*VISTAs , it becomes possible to "bridge out" in a state
where travel difficulties and costs are a formidable obstacle. Rural CAP
is covering the cost of bringing the Head Start Directors to Anchorage
for training. Training materials have been revised for Foster
Grandparents, many of whom do not speak English as a first language. The
importance of Foster Grandparents is understood and their participation
in Head Start welcomed by the entire community.
Lessons: Being creative when it comes to "getting things done" is an
absolute necessity for success. Flexibility in revising training
materials and practices, partnering with local organizations and other
national service programs to aid in program implementation, and an
understanding and needs of the people in the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta area
are essential to ensuring this effort achieves all of its goals.
Contact: Project Director Dawnia Clements (907) 276-6472.
National Service News is posted on the World Wide Web at
http://www.cns.gov and is distributed by Internet listservs and fax.
State offices, commissions, program and site directors are asked to
distribute copies to citizens who serve. Please send comments and story
suggestions to drodgers@cns.gov
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