As Kentuckians continue to struggle while fighting a global pandemic, there’s a public service program making deep inroads to helping people who need assistance like no time before in their lives. And, the program is also benefitting the very Kentuckians who are providing the assistance via engagement, health insurance and, in some instance, higher education loan repayment.
The program is AmeriCorps, a national service program supported by the U.S. federal government, foundations, corporations, and local organizations. It engages adults in public service with the goal of “helping others and meeting critical needs in the community.”
Here in our commonwealth, AmeriCorps is administered by Serve Kentucky. National Service has been around since the Franklin Delano Roosevelt New Deal era, and its impact is felt in every county. Today’s iteration, AmeriCorps, has been serving communities for 25 years. Video: Serve Kentucky Executive Director Joe Bringardner talks about the program.
Recently, Serve Kentucky received news of $7.4 million in grants provided by the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS), the federal agency for volunteering, civic engagement and national service programs, including AmeriCorps. Video: Governor Andy Beshear acknowledges the grant.
Serve Kentucky is an agency in the Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services. Here, Cabinet Secretary Eric Friedlander notes the impact of the grant and of Serve Kentucky in our communities.
This funding will benefit individuals and communities across our state in multiple ways. The “how” is summarized here, and here are three things to consider as these individuals and agencies go about helping our commonwealth Build Back Better.
- “Adopt” an AmeriCorps program. Whether a program serves individuals or larger groups, Kentuckians in rural or urban areas, the very young, or older Kentuckians, there’s a program with a cause that everyone can rally behind. Scan the programs and their missions and consider how you might make a difference with your time, talent or treasure.
- Share information about Serve Kentucky and AmeriCorps on social media to help with recruitment efforts. All programs are looking for members starting Aug. 1.
- Know someone looking to serve their community? Steer them to these AmeriCorps member openings and encourage them to apply. In addition to a modest living allowance and optional health care coverage, after completing a full term of service, members receive $6,195 for college, postsecondary education or to pay back student loans.
Summary of AmeriCorps Programs
- The grant will fund implementation and coordination of Active Choices, a telephone-based physical activity program for homebound older adults in the Louisville, Hopkinsville, Hazard, Russell Springs and Lexington areas. It will engage 24 Kentuckians part-time.
- ATEAM, offering tutoring for remedial students, including migrant students, will use funds to provide mentoring and assistance to high school juniors and seniors in the process of transitioning to college or the workforce. This will benefit Allen, Barren, Calloway, Carlisle, Crittenden, Cumberland, Daviess, Edmonson, Fulton, Garrard, Graves, Hart, Larue, Livingston, Marshall, McLean, Metcalfe, Pulaski, Taylor and Webster counties. The grant will engage 42 Kentuckians part-time.
- Housing and development repair, emergency utility and crisis assistance, hunger relief, affordable clothing, preschool, in-school, after-school, summer education, teen leadership development, companionship and transportation for the elderly and individuals with disabilities, disaster relief, and volunteer generation and support in and for residents of Jackson, Rockcastle, McCreary, Owsley, Magoffin, Johnson, Floyd, Knott, Pike, Clay, and Martin counties. This is a part of the Christian Appalachian Project and will engage 63 Kentuckians on a part-time basis.
- Twenty-one Kentuckians will be engaged full-time by Economic Empowerment Corps. These AmeriCorps members will provide economic opportunity services, including financial education, individual financial counseling and case management services to domestic violence survivors through Kentucky Coalition Against Domestic Violence member programs and other community partners across the state.
- Another statewide program benefitting from the grants is the Environmental Education Leadership Corps, engaging a part-time/full-time blend of 20 Kentuckians. AmeriCorps members will help deliver environmental education programs and activities to the public in various locations throughout our state.
- In Fayette County, Math Success 18 part-time AmeriCorps members will provide tutoring to sixth grade students using the computer-based Successmaker Math program, providing homework help, and tutoring in other classes at the following Fayette County middle schools: Bryan Station, Crawford, Lexington Traditional, and Winburn. Family Resource and Youth Services Centers (FRYSC) Corps will provide literacy tutoring and address food insecurity in economically disadvantaged schools in central and eastern Kentucky. This funding commitment will engage 58 Kentuckians on a full- and part-time basis.
- In Jefferson County, 16 full- and part-time AmeriCorps members will teach students and support students in the Global Game Changers Children’s Education Initiative. Outcomes will include gains in social-emotional skills, power skills and academics.
- Across our state, housing services, new home construction activities, home repair and financial literacy classes for economically disadvantaged Kentuckians will be offered via the Homes for All program. It engages 39 Kentuckians full-time.
- Building a college-going culture will get a boost from the Kentucky College Coaches program, engaging 131 on a part-time basis. AmeriCorps members will coach and mentor high school and college students. These activities will take place in 50 high schools and Area Technology Centers and 6 higher education institutions throughout the state of Kentucky.
- Another statewide program that has been funded is Kentucky READY Corps. Serve Kentucky will identify and provide direct assistance to vulnerable individuals and groups, and conduct disaster planning in communities across the commonwealth. It will engage 36 Kentuckians full- and part-time.
- Morehead State University Corps, providing evidence-informed math and reading tutoring for at-risk, economically disadvantaged elementary and middle schoolers in Bath, Bourbon, Boyd, Bracken, Carter, Clark, Elliott, Fleming, Greenup, Harrison, Lawrence, Lewis, Magoffin, Mason, Menifee, Montgomery, Morgan, Nicholas, Powell, Robertson, Rowan and Wolfe counties, has also been funded. The support will result in full-time engagement for 30 Kentuckians.
