AmeriCorps Member in Memphis, Tennessee at Porter-Leath

AmeriCorps is the federal agency for national service and volunteerism. AmeriCorps provides opportunities for Americans of all backgrounds to serve their country, address the nation’s most pressing challenges, and improve lives and communities.

Position Summary

Porter-Leath offers two different AmeriCorps positions, as follows:

• The AmeriCorps Enrichment Member will be assigned ten (10) students in need of academic enrichment in the areas of literacy skills, giving priority to those students with documented disabilities with an established IEP or IFSP. The Member will serve one-on-one or in small groups, twice a week, with the assigned students focusing on activities that will boost literacy skills, that include the domains of phonological awareness, print awareness, early writing and alphabet knowledge. Additionally, The Member will provide weekly direct service at partnering Early Head Start and Preschool sites. Members will engage in service to the community through AmeriCorps planned service projects, as well as attend team meetings and training as part of the service term.
• The AmeriCorps Outreach Member will be assigned to Books from Birth to plan, direct, and provide education outreach activities in the community to educate and recruit families to enroll eligible children (0-5 years) in the program. The members serving in this position require a high-level of computer and marketing skills that will be the key to increasing the program capacity. Each member will be assigned one zip code that aligns with the program's current focus area to increase program enrollment. The members would use their planning time to develop a promotion plan for the zip codes. Additionally, members will input enrollment information in the Books from Birth database, as well as, contact families to update information to assure delivery of books.

Benefits

• Living Allowance (stipend)
• Free healthcare, if eligible, worker’s compensation, and member assistance program
• Skills development for education, nonprofit, or public sector career.
• Childcare subsidy, if eligible
• Segal Education award upon successful completion
• Student loan forbearance, deferment and payment of interest on student loans, if eligible.
• Upon successful completion, members may qualify for full-time employment at Porter-Leath.

Essential Job Functions

1. Serve an initial quarter-term (2 or 3 months) and complete the minimum of 470 hours of service, with the opportunity to continue upon successful completion.
2. Attend and participate in all AmeriCorps training, including orientation and end of term meeting, and any Service Site specific training deemed appropriate.
3. Plan and participate in Service Projects within the community.
4. Be a positive role model for program participants.
5. Maintain a positive and professional performance.
6. Submit complete and accurate paperwork on time, including time sheets and all grant required documents.
7. Perform other related activities as needed.
8. Contributes to team effort by performing other duties as assigned.

Knowledge, Skills, Abilities

• Skills to evaluate given information, research additional needed information, and evaluate and compile information.
• Excellent oral communication and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to work effectively one-on-one or with other team members with varying needs.
• Organizational skills to determine workload priorities.
• Ability to work effectively in an outcomes-based environment consisting of a heavy workload and competing needs.
• Ability to exhibit initiative in reporting concerns to Management.
• Ability to perceive and deal with sensitive issues while maintaining confidentiality and objectivity.
• Recordkeeping skills to maintain legible, accurate, up-to-date files so that information is readily researched and retrieved.
• Ability to work as a team player and interact & assist all members or employees as necessary.

Physical Demands

While performing the duties of this job, the member is regularly required to sit and talk or hear. The member frequently is required to use hands to finger, handle, or feel and to stand and walk. The member will occasionally lift and/or move up to 10 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close and color vision. Work in a non-smoking environment.

• Eighteen years of age or older
• United States citizen, U.S. National, or lawful permanent resident of the U.S.
• High-school diploma or GED certificate (if accepting the Education Award)
• Pass Criminal Background Check
• Serve in a full-time capacity