Sixteen Americorps jobs now available at Think Together

Orange County First 5 Service Corps

16 AMERICORPS POSITION OPENINGS AT THINK TOGETHER

To learn more about the position, participation in an Information Session is highly encouraged:

• Friday, July 29th, 11:30 am — 1:00 pm OR Wednesday, August 3rd, 4:00 pm — 5:30 pm
• Orangewood Children’s Foundation, 1575 East 17th Street, Santa Ana, CA 92705

To RSVP for an Information Session, please click here.

The commitment term is a minimum of 1700 hours served in 11 months, which is approximately 38 — 40 hours per week.  The term starts Friday, September 16, 2011.

Minimum Qualifications for Position

• Must be U.S. Citizen or lawful permanent resident, and a least 18 years of age;
• Must have reliable transportation with valid driver’s license and auto insurance;
• Position may require lifting, working with vulnerable families, and working with culturally diverse populations;
• Must possess a High School Diploma;
• Must be available to work weekday mornings, afternoons as needed;
• Bilingual in Spanish or Vietnamese preferred.

Benefits Provided:

• A Monthly Living Allowance of $1,818.18 (pre-tax)
• Educational Award of up to $5,350.00 upon successful completion of a minimum of 1700 hours
• Current Student Loan Forbearance
• Health Insurance, if eligible
• Childcare Reimbursement, if income eligible
• Mileage Reimbursement
• Personal Professional and Leadership Development Training

REQUIRED CLEARANCES:

Applicant’s placement is contingent upon successful completion of National Service Criminal History Background Check: state and federal background investigation including LiveScan fingerprinting, National Sex Offender Public Registry (NSOPR) check, and TB test.

Physical, Emotional and Intellectual Demands

• Must be able to report to service site on a regular and reliable basis.
• Able to deal with stressful situations.
• Must be able to serve a flexible schedule, which may include, day and weekend hours.
• Able to travel between sites and offsite events.

Principal Working Relationship

• Site Supervisor
• AmeriCorps & VISTA Program Manager
• Community Service Staff
• County Agency Staff
• Families
• Various Community Agencies

What is the First 5 Service Corps?

The First 5 Service Corps is a statewide AmeriCorps program started in 2001 that involves community members in local community projects to help children reach school healthy, developmentally ready to learn and better prepared to succeed in life. AmeriCorps is a government funded community service program designed to help communities meet the specific needs in their area by recruiting and training individuals who are willing to devote one to two years serving in selected community projects. Service programs strengthen communities, encourage responsibility, expand opportunities for education, provide job experience and increase life skills.

The California First 5 Service Corps Program is sponsored by the Corporation for National and Community Services (CNCS) and local First 5 Commissions (responsible for administering Prop 10/Tobacco Tax dollars). The First 5 Service Corps AmeriCorps Project is administered by the Prevent Child Abuse California. The Orange County program is sponsored locally by the Children and Families Commission of Orange County who then contracts CONNECT, a project of Orangewood Children’s Foundation, to manage the administration of the project.

The California Children and Families Foundation (Grantee) contracts with Prevent Child Abuse California (Project Intermediary) to administer the First 5 Service Corps and to provide technical assistance on AmeriCorps policies and procedures. Currently, 11 First 5 County Commissions and their local partners serve as key program partners in the implementation of this statewide AmeriCorps Project.

Background on the Children and Families Commission of Orange County

The Children and Families Commission of Orange County (CFCOC) was formed in 1999 to allocate the Orange County’s Prop 10 (Tobacco tax) funds. Their mission is to fund and support programs promoting the Commission’s overall goal that all Orange County children are healthy and ready to learn when they enter school.

OPENINGS AT THINK TOGETHER

Service Site Overview

THINK Together is an extended service provider that works primarily in schools to support children and families. Although research has demonstrated the positive effects of early learning for children, not all children have the opportunity to attend preschool before attending kindergarten. However, parents and caretakers can teach a child effectively at home. In Santa Ana THINK enrolls disadvantaged primarily Latino children ages 3 ½ – 4 ½ years old to participate in two school based programs — Augmented Raising a Reader and Center Based HABLA.
Both programs aim at providing parents with the necessary skills to be their child’s first teacher. The program calls for children and their parents to come to a school site two times a week. Over time the parent learns how to initiate and sustain reading and play activities that offer language interaction, school readiness skills, and social emotional development for their child.

This AmeriCorps position will help to eliminate poverty in Orange County by educating parents, providing referrals, and preparing children for school success.

Service Opportunity Overview

The overall goal of an AmeriCorps THINK Together program is to provide parents with the knowledge and tools to become involved in their children’s development. The program also aims to have children enter kinder school ready.

Member Specific Responsibilities and Duties

• Plan and implement a school center-based literacy development program with activities that support children and parents. (60%)
• Attend various required meetings and trainings provided through service site, PCA CA, and CONNECT. Meet with supervisor for regularly scheduled reflective supervision a minimum of one time each week (15%)
• Conduct assessment and evaluation activities related to the children and parents served in the program. (10%)
• Encourage community involvement through the recruitment of volunteers to attend outreach and service events with the Commission and CONNECT. (5%)
• Participate and support site and AmeriCorps evaluation efforts on project progress. (5%)
• Provide outreach support through school and community event attendance and material development. (5%)

Necessary Skills

• Maturity and experience in successfully working in the community, with children and families and/or in nonprofits
• Experience working with culturally diverse communities and families, with the ability to be culturally sensitive and appropriate
• To be organized, a self-starter, and an excellent communicator both verbally and in writing;
• Ability to work independently and responsibly on a regular basis
• Completion of some child development units highly preferred

Please direct questions to Elena Gonzalez

To apply for a position, please visit: AMERICORPS

Art Pedroza Editor

Our Editor, Art Pedroza, worked at the O.C. Register and the OC Weekly and studied journalism at CSUF and UCI. He has lived in Santa Ana for over 30 years and has served on several city and county commissions. When he is not writing or editing Pedroza specializes in risk control and occupational safety. He also teaches part time at Cerritos College and CSUF. Pedroza has an MBA from Keller University.

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