YSB AmeriCorps Members will “serve” within several programs which are described in more detail below. Please return the attached form and specify the program(s) where you may be interested in serving.

• Big Brothers Big Sisters provides long term, one-to-one relationships with trained volunteers who provide guidance and support to children identified as at-risk by parents, school, and county agencies. Children served by this program generally fall between the ages of 6 and 16. The program serves more than 300 children and families annually. The full-time AmeriCorps member with this program is responsible for volunteer recruitment, public relations and the monthly newsletter, and assists with volunteer training and children’s activities. This member also serves as a mentor to children/youth through the year. JUMP – A component of the BBBS program which provides mentoring services and group activities to teenagers referred to the program from the Centre County Probation department. The AmeriCorps person assigned to the BBBS program will serve with the JUMP program in a similar capacity.

• Parenting Plus provides intensive, individualized, in-home and group parent education to high risk families with children from birth through age 10. The goal of the program is to strengthen families through education and support. Topics addressed with parents include, behavior management, child development, health care and communication. The part-time AmeriCorps member assists with child care, program evaluations, and various other aspects of the program, as well as working with a parent educator to assist with a caseload of clients. This AmeriCorps member will also serve with YFS to fulfill the full-time position.

• Burrows Street Youth Haven provides 24-hour emergency services and counseling to runaway and homeless youth. The facility, located in downtown State College, is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The program maintains a hot line and encourages parents and youth to call at any time and talk with trained professionals who will listen and offer assistance. Youth who reside at the Burrowes Street Youth Haven stay for a minimal time – long enough to create a plan for permanency. The full-time AmeriCorps member will assist in all aspects of the program including intakes with clients, group meetings, life skills training, and private and group counseling sessions.

• Stepping Stone Transitional Living Program provides long-term shelter, counseling, and instruction to youth ages 16-21. With 24 hour professional staff coverage, the facility houses 7 youth who benefit from counseling, support and adult guidance to assist them in their reach for independence. Program participants attend school, receive vocational training and are gainfully employed. The full-time AmeriCorps member serving at TLP will provide tutoring, educational enrichment, life skills training, and mentoring to youth in the program.

• Zerby Gap Familyworks is a 14 bed residential program which provides long-term care for boys’ age 12-17 who are placed by Children and Youth Services or Juvenile Probation. This highly structured program aims to resolve youth and family issues in order to reunite families. Youth in this program attend public school or participate in home schooling as well as vocational preparation and community service activities. The full-time AmeriCorps member is responsible for tutoring, mentoring program youth, and planning and supervising adventure-based and other recreational activities for adolescent males.

• Stormbreak Girls Home is a residential facility which provides long-term care for girls age 12-17. The Stormbreak home is located in downtown State College and is staffed 24 hours a day. Youth work with counselors towards family reunification or other permanency plans. Youth placed at Stormbreak attend public school, and receive life-skills training as well as tutoring and mentoring services. The full-time AmeriCorps member is responsible for tutoring, mentoring program youth, planning recreational and life skill activities for program youth.

• Youth and Family Services Reunification Program provides counseling designed to reunify and strengthen families. Through the work of trained reunification counselors, families work towards permanency goals, whether that goal is for youth to be placed in foster homes, group homes, or in transitional living programs. YFS has two units, a foster care unit – specifically for youth in foster care, and a group home unit – specifically for youth placed in a residential facility. The part-time AmeriCorps member will serve along side reunification counselors, view family sessions, and create life books for clients. This AmeriCorps member will also work part time with the Parenting Plus Program.

• Drug and Alcohol Prevention Program provides prevention services in schools and community settings throughout Centre County. The D&A program holds a contract with the County Office to provide community based prevention services, as well as tobacco compliance services. The AmeriCorps member will serve with the prevention specialist in all aspects of D&A prevention including direct service with youth and families, community coalitions, tobacco prevention and outreach through the StreetWorks program.

• Community Youth Centers in Bellefonte and Snow Shoe provide supervised social, educational, and recreational opportunities for youth. The youth centers are open during the after school and evening hours. Services available to youth include counseling, adventure-based activities, educational support groups and mentoring. One full-time AmeriCorps member will serve at the Bellefonte Youth Center while one part-time member will serve at the Snow Shoe Youth Center. Members placed at the youth centers will be expected to mentor youth and assist in running programs by planning and implementing activities related to drug and alcohol prevention, prevention of sexual exploitation, and street outreach. The primary responsibilities of members placed at youth centers will be to foster healthy group interactions, provide a safe environment and structure clear boundaries while promoting literacy skills through tutoring, homework assistance, storytelling and reading groups.

• State College Area School District Volunteer Coordinator The volunteer coordinator is responsible for operating a Volunteer in Public Schools (VIPS) program which brings volunteer resources to the school, a Youth For A Change program, and a Community Service program at the Delta Program. Delta Program students complete 20 hours of volunteer service to pass health class. The full-time AmeriCorps member will work under the direct supervision of the Director of Learning Enrichment and Student Services to recruit, match, place, and schedule, and arrange training and transportation for volunteers. The AmeriCorps member will also manage data to allow for evaluation of the impact each volunteer intervention has had on the community and to assist in the outcome of the state grant from the Center for Schools and Communities. The duties of the AmeriCorps volunteer will also include tasks related to an intense volunteer program which would feature close mentoring relationships with some students.

• State College Area School District Learning Enrichment The AmeriCorps member placed at the SCASD Learning enrichment program will serve at the State College High School as well as the Mt. Nittany Middle School LE programs. AC members will be responsible for a verity of activities both in the classroom and through educational field trips.
 

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325 West Aaron Drive, State College, PA 16803 -  Phone: 814-237-5731 - Fax: 814-237-2228

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