Category Archives: Resources

06.05.09
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Evaluating the Impact of Youth Civic Engagement on Development

Picture 8As the momentum for youth civic engagement in the US and internationally continues, the need  to evaluate and demonstrate the impact of these activities on development becomes clearer, to encourage both greater and long-term investment in youth service.

Youth voluntary service programs exist in dozens of countries and communities around the world, and new programs and policy initiatives are currently being developed in many others, often with the help of international organizations like UNICEF, UN Volunteers/UNDP, and the International Youth Foundation. These programs engage many more young people in service while also making positive Continue reading →

05.29.09
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The Benefits of Collaborating with National and Local Disability Organizations and Communities

As national service programs work to expand their networks and include individuals of all abilities, it is important to consider the benefits of partnering with disability organizations within your communities.

The benefits of collaboration can enhance both your service program and the disability organization you partner with as you work toward mutual goals.

By a national service program collaborating with a disability organization, benefits to national service programs include:

  • Speaking about national service at a disability-focused event, conference or job fair.
  • Having staff at a disability organization inform specific constituents about opportunities to serve Continue reading →
05.22.09
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Disability and Inclusion related sessions at the 2009 National Conference on Volunteering and Service

“The 2009 National Conference on Volunteering and Service, taking place June 22-24 at the Moscone Center – West in the heart of San Francisco, is the world’s largest gathering of volunteer and service leaders from the nonprofit, government, and corporate sectors. This year’s theme —”Civic. Energy. Generation.”— reflects the tremendous excitement in our nation today as people of all ages and backgrounds unify in a powerful movement to bring about social change.”

Learn more about the 2009 National Conference on Volunteering and Service and register.

The National Service Inclusion Project will be conducting a pre-conference training, an immersion learning session and two workshops focused on disability and inclusion in national and community service at the National Conference on Volunteering and Service. Information and descriptions of each session is listed below:

Pre-Conference: Getting Buy-in: Crafting Partnerships that Fully Embrace Inclusion
Monday, June 22: 8:00 am- 4:00 pm — Participants of all levels welcome

People with disabilities are now, more than ever, engaged in community service or volunteering. Whether responsible for Continue reading →

05.20.09
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City Year Final Application Deadline – May 31

City Year app deadline - May 31The application deadline for City Year — the team-based AmeriCorps program that focuses on youth development and mentoring — closes in a little over a week. Today’s guest blogger is Michael Messina, from City Year.

So what are you doing next year? Thinking about making a difference?

The final application deadline for City Year is May 31. If you are interested in serving with the 2009-2010 City Year corps, we recommend that you apply as soon as possible. City Year has received a record number of applications this year – part of a larger trend of young people volunteering in record numbers. Applications to the Peace Corps and AmeriCorps have soared while organizations like Teach for America and Public Allies have also seen a significant spike in applications.

“Volunteering is not such a casual thing anymore. It’s part of our lifestyle…giving back is our own way of being empowered to Continue reading →

05.15.09
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Mental-Health Related Disabilities and Reasonable Accommodations

Picture 6May is National Mental Health Month. Given that AmeriCorps, Senior Corps, and Learn & Serve programs have service members with non-apparent disabilities, including members with mental health related disabilities, information and suggestions for providing reasonable accommodations are shared provided below.

According to the National Institute of Mental Health “an estimated 26.2 percent of Americans ages 18 and older—about one in four adults—suffer from a diagnosable mental disorder in a given year. When applied to the 2004 U.S. Census residential population estimate for ages 18 and older, this figure translates to 57.7 million people.”

Mental health related disabilities “refer collectively to all diagnosable mental [conditions]…[which] are characterized by Continue reading →