CAP Center's AmeriCorps Programs
One of the CAP Center’s premier strategies to reduce child abuse is with its highly successful CAPC AmeriCorps programs. AmeriCorps is a national service program in which AmeriCorps members volunteer their time to help meet the nation’s critical needs in education, public safety, health, and the environment. Citizen volunteers are recruited and trained to work in CAP Center partner agencies offering community-based programs that help vulnerable families and children.
AmeriCorps volunteers are provided with a living allowance, health benefits and an educational award that allows them to continue their education once their service has been completed. Working throughout California and in partnerships across the country, CAPC Corps members provide tutoring, home visitation services, assistance in family resource centers and much more. The AmeriCorps experience not only enhances the lives of families and children, but also motivates and challenges its volunteers to continue their own professional development in public service.
AMERICORPS MEMBER BENEFITS AT A GLANCE
Segal AmeriCorps Education Award – The Education Award
is provided to an AmeriCorps member who has successfully completed a required
term of service in an approved national service position and meets all
program eligibility requirements. A member who successfully completes a
1700 hour term of service receives an education award of $4,725.00. A member
who successfully completes a 900 hour term of service receives an education
award of $2,362.50. All education awards are released from the National
Service Trust.
Education awards can be used to repay qualified student loans, pay current
educational expenses at a qualified school or pay current educational expenses
while participating in an approved school-to-work program.
Training – CAPC Corps members receive training throughout their term of service on various topics as defined by the CAPC Corps Program, Service Site Agencies, and local partnerships. Areas of training include Orientation, Mandated Child Abuse Reporter, Cultural Awareness, Conflict Resolution, Family Violence, Professional Boundaries & Confidentiality, Active Citizens, Neighborhood Emergency Training, Breastfeeding Peer Counselor, Strengthening Multi-Ethnic Families & Communities, Make Parenting a Pleasure, Healthy Families America (HFA) and Life After AmeriCorps.
Living Allowance Stipend – CAPC Corps members receive a pre-determined monetary stipend to be paid as determined by the CAPC Corps Program and Service Site Agencies.
Childcare – AmeriCorps members who serve in a full-time capacity (900 hours in six months or 1700 hours) may receive a childcare subsidy while they are participating in national service. In order to receive the subsidy, the member’s family must be income eligible and the child(ren)’s caregiver must be considered a legal provider in California. Children under the age of 13 are eligible for coverage.
Healthcare – All AmeriCorps members who serve in a full-time capacity (900 hours in six months or 1700 hours) and who are not enrolled with another health insurance plan (excluding Medi-Cal) are eligible to enroll in the AmeriCorps Healthcare Insurance Plan.
Loan Forbearance – AmeriCorps members are eligible to have the repayment of certain student loans postponed during their term of service while they are earning an education award. Additionally, upon successful completion of their term of service, the National Service Trust will pay a portion of the interest that accrued on the forbeared student loans while the member was serving.
Workers’ Compensation – All CAPC Corps members are covered by workers’ compensation by the Child Abuse Prevention Council of Sacramento as part of the CAPC Corps Program.
HOW TO APPLY
CAPC Corps members are selected by the partner service sites to participate
in the CAPC Corps program.
Applicants must meet the following criteria and provide the required documentation
in order to be eligible to enroll in the AmeriCorps program:
- Be a U.S. Citizen, U.S. National, or lawful permanent resident alien of the United States (Please note that individuals who are in the United States under a student, work, or tourist visa are not eligible to become AmeriCorps members. Similarly, individuals who have refugee status but nothing indicating permanent resident status are not eligible to become AmeriCorps members.);
- Be at least 18 years of age at the commencement of service or 17 years of age with consent of legal guardian (with approval from CAPC Sacramento);
- Complete an application packet, provide a minimum of two references and participate in a successful interview;
- Complete the National Service Criminal History Check, consisting of:
- fingerprint clearance from the California Department of Justice;
- fingerprint clearance from the Federal Bureau of Investigation; and
- clearance from the National Sex Offender Public Registry.
For more information or referral to a service site, please contact the Child Abuse Prevention Center at (916) 244-1900.
PROGRAMS
Birth & Beyond is a community based child abuse prevention program that uses three strategies: home visitation, family resource centers and multi-disciplinary teams.
1st 5 Service Corps is an eighteen county school readiness program that targets at risk children 3 to 5 years of age to promote social, emotional, and cognitive development.
Great Beginnings is a breast-feeding support and education program.
Youth Investment Center is a three county program targeting foster youth to build life skills and academic performance to facilitate emancipation from the foster care system.
Child Welfare System Redesign is a twelve county program designed to implement
best practices in child welfare systems to reach families before their risk
factors necessitate open child protective system cases.
Great Beginnings is a breast feeding and nutrition program designed to
promote maternal-infant bonding and healthy beginnings.
Child Abuse Prevention Alliance is a four state program that replicates best practices in home visitation and family resource centers.