Since 1999, AmeriCorps and Children
Together (ACT) has been “Getting Things Done” for children
in counties across North Carolina. ACT combines the
AmeriCorps national service program with North Carolina’s
Smart Start initiative. ACT serves young children by placing
AmeriCorps members in childcare settings as Early Childhood
Education Assistants. The ACT program was designed to assist
with the need for teacher education and the enhancement of
quality childcare, for children ages birth through five. ACT
does this by training AmeriCorps members in child
development and early childhood education; utilizing members
to provide regular teachers/providers with release from the
classroom to pursue coursework in early childhood education;
and utilizing members as assistant teachers as a means to
reduce the high teacher-child ratios and provide additional
resources to care providers.
The AmeriCorps members receive a
modest living allowance for providing these services
over the 10 month program. At the successful completion
of the service year, the members receive an Education
Award which can be applied to future education or past
education loans. The program also provides tuition for
ACT members to enroll in college courses and earn NC
Early Childhood Credentials I & II.
AmeriCorps (pronounced “Ameri-Core”) is a network of
national service programs that uses more than 50,000
Americans annually to meet educational, public safety,
environmental and human service needs. Participants,
called “members,” are placed in non-profits, public
agencies and faith-based organizations throughout the
United States. More than 300,000 individuals have served
as AmeriCorps members since the program’s inception in
1993.
The Corporation for National
and Community Service, based in Washington, D.C.,
administers AmeriCorps and many other federally funded
service initiatives, including Senior Corps, which
utilizes older Americans as volunteers, and Learn and
Service America, which utilizes Americans under the age
of 18 as volunteers. Together these programs engage more
than two million Americans of all ages and backgrounds
in service each year.
More than three-quarters of AmeriCorps funding flows
from the Corporation to the state commissions. State
commissions then distribute grants to local agencies and
monitor grantees to ensure compliance with federal and
state requirements.
The N.C. Commission on Volunteerism and Community
Service was created in 1994 by an executive order signed
by then-Governor James B. Hunt, Jr. A bipartisan group
of 25 individuals, all appointed by the governor, serve
as commissioners. The Commission’s administrative staff
is housed within the Office of the Governor.
The Commission administers an average of 15 AmeriCorps
programs each year. In the past, AmeriCorps members in
North Carolina have tutored and mentored school-aged
youth, served preschool children in child care centers,
built houses for low-income homeowners, protected the
environment, provided immigrants and refugees with
interpretation and translation services, and assisted
individuals with disabilities.
Additional information about the ACT program can be
downloaded below. We are accepting application as of April
1st , 2010.
For more information, please contact:
Natalie Scarritt
Program Specialist
Phone: 336-985-2676 or 800-559-5606 ext. 143
Email:
nscarritt@stokespfc.com
Katie Snow
Program Coordinator
Phone: 336-985-2676 or 800-559-5606 ext. 168
Email:
ksnow@stokespfc.com
