Service Site Listing 2008-09
- Alternatives for Battered Women
- Center for Dispute Settlement
- Center for Teen Empowerment
- The Center for Youth
- Charles Settlement House
- City of Rochester Recreation and Youth Services
- Community Place of Greater Rochester, Inc.
- The Gandhi Institute
- Gay Alliance of the Genesee Valley
- Hillside Children's Center/ Hillside Family of Agencies
- Judicial Process Commission
- Mercy Residential Services
- Monroe Community College
- Monroe County Family Court
- Monroe Family YMCA
- Mount Hope Family Center
- Partners in Restorative Initiatives
- Rochester City School District
- Rochester Housing Authority
- Rochester Police Department
- Rochester Surround Care Community Corporation
Site Descriptions
COURT ADVOCACY PROGRAM: The AmeriCorps member will be placed with the Court Advocacy Program (CAP) of Alternatives for Battered Women (ABW). Located in the Hall of Justice, CAP provides court accompaniment and advocacy, parent education, domestic violence advocacy, and safety planning for victims of domestic violence and their children. By working to assist the criminal justice system to have a constructive response to domestic violence, CAP increases the possibility that victims of domestic violence will obtain orders of protection and increased access to needed services. Court advocates are invaluable resources to judges, court clerks, and other court personnel in assisting the criminal justice system to be more responsive to the needs of, and to enhance the safety of, victims of domestic violence and their children. CAP also refers victims of domestic violence to the many services provided by ABW and to other related community resources. CAP also works to facilitate a coordinated community response to domestic violence by working in an integrated way with the Courts, District Attorney's Offices, Probation, Public Defenders, Guardian Ad Lidums and Law Guardians as well as community service providers. This program seeks to be a change agent in the criminal justice system to enhance victim safety and to support the choice victims of domestic violence are making to pursue violence free lives.
The AmeriCorps member will work directly with victims of domestic violence and will provide services to victims on a daily basis. The AmeriCorps member will work with the Coordinator of the CAP Program, who oversees the AmeriCorps project, as well as interns, volunteers and ABW per diem staff. Although located off-site, the CAP staff is integrated into the larger continuum of ABW services through weekly meetings and trainings.
Center for Dispute Settlement
MONROE COUNTY CUSTODY & VISITATION MEDIATION PROGRAM: The Center for Dispute Settlement presents an alternative to the court system by providing a forum for peaceful resolution of everyday conflicts through the use of fact-finding, negotiation, mediation, arbitration, conciliation, and training. One of the Center's most successful and in-demand programs is the Custody and Visitation Mediation Program. This program provides a private, confidential meeting where parents can discuss issues around the child(ren)'s custody and visitation with the assistance of a trained, neutral third party-a mediator. The goal is to help parents communicate and make decisions with the children's best interests in mind. Many parents come to CDS through referrals generated in Family Court.
One role of the AmeriCorps member will be to be present in court in order to obtain immediate referrals and conduct intakes while parents are still at the Courthouse. Providing immediate information to parents will reduce the referral no call/no show rate and allow an increase in the number of successful referrals and intakes generated for the services of the program. By helping parents to understand that there is another way to communicate about important issues, thereby preventing or reducing recurring court visits or potential conflicts in the child's home, the program provides parents and the community an alternative way to resolve disputes.
Center for Teen Empowerment
TEEN EMPOWERMENT YOUTH ORGANIZING PROJECT: Teen Empowerment (TE) promotes civic engagement and prevents high-risk behaviors while building communities that are supportive and nurturing for young people. The program's primary strategy is hiring urban youth (ages 14-19) to organize their peers to improve their communities. TE's AmeriCorps members will serve as Associate Coordinators working as part of a team responsible for day-to-day operations. Members will work with the Program Coordinators in the development of leadership and organizational skills of the low-income urban youth who work for Teen Empowerment as youth organizers. Activities will include planning, attending and facilitating daily group meetings of youth; assisting youth in identifying critical issues and crafting strategies to address these issues; identifying and working through group dynamics that surface among youth; organizing and archiving youth work, such as speeches and theater pieces; attending staff meetings and trainings; and participating in organizational development, strategic planning meetings and discussions, and logistical tasks.
Teen Empowerment expects the following major outcomes: increased capacity to deliver services to urban youth and adults; provision of accessible and close-in-age role models for youth organizers; and, in the future, expansion of the program toward operating several local sites in specific communities for maximum impact.
*Note: Preference for the two Teen Empowerment placements will be given to individuals who have previously been involved in the program's activities as youth organizers.
The Center for Youth
The mission of The Center for Youth is to support youth in making positive decisions that affect their lives by providing free, confidential, accessible and responsive services. The Center strives to be the best organization to turn to for young people seeking to deal with, explore, or understand issues of importance to them-from their perspective, and on their terms. Started by kids, for kids, all Center services-from counseling, to shelter, to education, to referrals-are rooted in and delivered with the knowledge that youth want to, and can, take responsibility for their life choices. There will be six placements available with the Center for Youth.
ALTERNATIVE TO SUSPENSION PROGRAM: The Social Learning Specialist (SLS), as part of a student support services team, will work to create within the school a youth/family/faculty friendly presence that is founded on cooperative relationships and direct communication. While the SLS is cross-trained and able to provide the full continuum of care, specific areas of focus are alternative to suspension services and prevention education. The SLS will be assigned primarily to one elementary school and will also assist in the co-facilitation of prevention services at additional schools. Examples of duties include: outreach and information dissemination; individual assessments and goal identification; referral and referral readiness; immediate response and support; asset development; research and design of service; record keeping and other duties as assigned.
LEARN2EARN/READY4LIFE: A component of the Runaway Homeless Youth Services Department is the Learn2Earn/Ready4Life program. The member placed with this program will help provide employment readiness training to out-of-school community and/or foster care youth. Member responsibilities will include the development and weekly updating of an employment opportunity list, forging partnerships with potential employers, organizing job fairs, and assisting with weekly training opportunities for youth.
PREVENTION EDUCATION SERVICES: As a Prevention Education (PE) Specialist, the member will be responsible for developing and delivering youth and adult workshops, trainings and groups. PE Specialists conduct research on topics relevant to youth, families and those who work with youth and deliver and evaluate research and science based curriculum with fidelity. Services are provided through schools, community agencies, neighborhood organizations, churches and other groups and associations interested in promoting the healthy development of youth. Note: PE Specialists perform services outside normal office hours and rotate assignments on weekends and evenings, as needed and appropriate. PE Specialists play an essential role in promoting and marketing the Center's prevention services, routinely consulting with requesters of service to discuss and assess needs. Based on the outcome, customized service contracts are developed and implemented. Additionally, through the execution of services, PE Specialists conduct outreach to youth, families and those who work with youth by providing information on the full array of agency services. PE Specialists also facilitate youth development groups including providing life skills training for the clients of the Center House - an emergency shelter for runaway and homeless youth. As needed, PE Specialists provide consultation to other programs and are a training resource within the agency. Because of their wide array of youth serving contacts, PE Specialists actively network with schools and agencies throughout the community to help coordinate county-wide prevention efforts, services and resources.
PROJECT SAFE PLACE: One member will play an instrumental role in the oversight of Project Safe Place, a component of the Runaway Homeless Youth Service Department. Safe Place provides assistance to any youth in Monroe County requesting removal from an unsafe situation or environment, 24 hours a day, seven days a week, year round. Member responsibilities will be varied and will include site recruitment, training and monitoring; recruiting and training of community volunteer responders; community outreach and information dissemination, and impact tracking. As needed, additional service hours will be available at the Center House, an emergency shelter for runaway and homeless youth.
STUDENT AND FAMILY SUPPORT CENTER: One member will be placed at East High School (the RCSD's largest school) in the Student and Family Support Center. As an integrated member of the Student Support Center Team, the member will provide expanded on-site prevention education, youth development and immediate response services to students. The member will also provide basic computer instruction to students who have limited exposure to technology and will identify the needs of the youth being served and resources to meet those needs such as: True-Life Interactive, STAR Reading program; Basic Computer Skills Training such as Word Processing, Use of the Internet, Internet Safety and Web Page Design. Summer activities will focus on assisting in the orientation process of the incoming students to the school and co-facilitating the Summer Exchange Program. This program brings a group of urban and suburban youth (ages 11-16) together to participate in a cultural exchange to develop and execute community service projects.
TEEN COURT: Teen Court is a peer to peer diversionary program which encompasses three major components: accountability, education, and service. The program is designed to educate youth about the judicial process, promote accountability for actions, and reinforce responsibility to society through community service and educational sentencing. Teen Court promotes a diverse range of enriching academic and social experiences while addressing early anti-social, delinquent and criminal behavior in a secure environment. It strengthens connections between youth ant the community by encouraging civic responsibility, allowing the community to view youth as resources and allowing young people to realize and experience the value of community service.
The Rochester Teen Court Outreach Organizer will maintain court advocacy and assist in promoting awareness of the program at potential community service sites to encourage partnerships. Once service sites are established, the organizer will monitor attendance of defendants and schedule random visits during service hours. In addition, when necessary the organizer will maintain a connection with parents of participants to track follow-through with assigned sanctions and contact participants' home schools to track attendance.
Charles Settlement House
YOUTH DEVELOPMENT SERVICES: The AmeriCorps member will be engaged as a youth development worker in the youth and preschool development programs and will be involved with planning, implementation, evaluation and direct service with children and youth. Major project activities will include: planning, staffing, and evaluating positive youth development programs; assisting in the classroom and implementing supplemental reading and computer programs for preschoolers; and conducting home visits and outreach programs in teams to communicate with parents and inform families about available human service programs and opportunities to get involved in neighborhood initiatives. The major anticipated outcomes include expanded/enhanced youth and preschool development programs; increased academic success, social competencies and developmental assets among 5 - 18 year old youth participants; increased youth volunteerism and involvement in community service activities; and social, motor and school readiness skill development among preschool program participants.
City of Rochester Recreation and Youth Services
JUNIOR RECREATION LEADER AND STAFF TRAINING COORDINATOR: The member will fill a position that will allow the Program Office to run the Junior Recreation Leader Program. The member will act as coordinator of the program, organizing an eight week job readiness training for 15 youth. S/he will then act as a mentor and mediator for the youth as they complete an eight week internship at a recreation center site. This position will allow 15 youth to be trained in job readiness and team building skills and allow them to be introduced to the work force. The member will also fill a position that will focus on the needs of our staff who work directly with our youth and will help with the day-to-day operation of the Program Office.
YOUTH VOICE, ONE VISION (YVOV)/HEART COALITION ASSISTANT: The member will fill a position that will allow the Program Office to coordinate monthly service projects in partnership with the youth officers of Youth Voice, One Vision. The member will also fill a position that will allow the HEART Coalition for a Drug Free Rochester to operate in an organized and professional manner. The member will be responsible for planning and facilitating monthly service learning projects and assist in the coordination of monthly full council Youth Voice, One Vision meetings.
YOUTH VOICE, ONE VISION TALK SHOW AND TEEN VIBE NEWS MAGAZINE: The member will assist youth in finding a voice and gaining a better understanding of civic engagement through the use of media. S/he will work closely with youth on both print and digital media projects, helping them to understand the way in which media affects their daily lives and choices. The member will prepare participating youth with skills that will help defend them against the manipulative effects of media as well as give them hands-on experience that will allow them to create positive media with a youth voice. This member will coordinate the Youth Voice, One Vision (YVOV) television show as well as work with community producers to create positive neighborhood shows. The project will also focus on the development of several issues of the youth news magazine, Rochester Teen Vibe, with students from Marshall High School and Imaging and Technology students from Edison High School.
YOUTH SPORTS & GENDER EQUITY ASSETS LIAISON: After being trained in the Search Institute's 40 Developmental Assets, the member will assist recreation staff in incorporating the assets into their coaching. By helping to implement these assets into recreation sport leagues, the member will help to ensure that the leagues are more about positive youth development and that all participating youth are winners. The member will also help to organize and assist in sports trainings. The member will also focus on recreation's gender equity initiative, creating a safe and comfortable environment for girls not only in sports, but in all aspects of recreation programming.
RECREATION ASSISTANT FOR EDGERTON: The member will assist by increasing the scope, quality and magnitude of activities and special events. S/he will make connections to neighborhood agencies to form strong collaborations and ties with the Community Center. The Edgerton placement will have a strong focus on the technology lab to impact the digital divide.
RECREATION ASSISTANT FOR FLINT STREET: The member will assist by increasing the scope, quality and magnitude of activities and special events. The member will make connections to neighborhood agencies to form strong collaborations and ties with the Community Center.
RECREATION ASSISTANT FOR WEBSTER AVE.: The member will assist by increasing the scope, quality and magnitude of activities and special events. The member will make connections to neighborhood agencies to form strong collaborations and ties with the Community Center. This member will assist in the opening of a brand new community center which is being joined with the Public Library.
Community Place of Greater Rochester, Inc.
FAMILIES AND FRIENDS OF MURDERED CHILDREN AND VICTIMS OF VIOLENCE: The work of Families and Friends of Murdered Children and Victims of Violence (FFMCVV) is to provide support services to those who have loved ones who have suffered violence or death resulting from violence, and to provide interventions that aid in preventing such violence. Activities include extended family support, court watch, counseling, and volunteer capacity-building. The AmeriCorps member will help with support group facilitation, volunteer recruitment and coordination, canvassing and community outreach, special event planning, anti-violence training, data analysis, and partnership development.
The Gandhi Institute
COMMUNITY CHILDREN AND YOUTH DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM: The mission of the M.K. Gandhi Institute for Nonviolence, founded in 1991 by the grandson of Mahatma Gandhi, Arun Gandhi, and his wife, Sunanda, is to educate about nonviolence, and to inspire and support efforts that promote harmony in our communities. The Institute recently relocated to the University of Rochester and has forged already important ties on campus, in area schools and in the greater Rochester community.
The Institute's AmeriCorps member will function as Program Coordinator for the newly established Children and Youth Development Program. The member's role will be to gather and mobilize volunteers from the university campus and the community to plan and carry out projects that will impact area children and youth. The vision of the program is to encourage young people "to be the change they hope to see in the world," and to give them tools to do that. Potential projects include conferences and forums, a children's peace museum, and a volunteer program in the Children's School of Rochester. This placement provides a unique opportunity to help shape the future direction and activities of this new program.
Gay Alliance of the Genesee Valley
COMMUNITY PROGRAMS: The Community Programs Assistant will work with programs of the Gay Alliance of the Genesee Valley to increase the organization's visibility, effectiveness and volunteer involvement. The AmeriCorps member will work primarily with the Youth Program, Campus Out Program and HIV Vaccine Program. All three of these efforts rely heavily on volunteers and an educated and involved constituency. The AmeriCorps member will be critical to our ongoing success and growth, from reaching out to new volunteers and community members to providing educational sessions.
Hillside Children's Center/ Hillside Family of Agencies
ALTERNATIVES FOR INDEPENDENT YOUTH: Alternatives for Independent Youth (AIY) provides advocacy, assessment, independent living skills training, community linkages, street outreach, and counseling and support services to homeless and runaway youth. The program's Drop-In Center offers a safe and structured setting for the provision of services. The project's primary emphases are: 1) to reach out to youth through the youth drop-in center that operates three afternoons/evenings a week, providing a safe place for youth to gather, gain support, learn helpful and useful skills, and obtain needed survival aides such as emergency food, clothing, medical care, personal hygiene and safe sex education and supplies; 2) to outreach to street involved youth, high risk youth involved in gangs and/or youth living in unsafe places, and youth at high risk of sexual exploitation and victimization; and 3) to provide supportive contact to youth that are involved in the Monroe County Correctional Facility and the City Jail who are at risk of being released to the streets or an unsafe or unhealthy living situation.
CLARA BARTON SCHOOL #2 WELLNESS CENTER: This placement involves working at a city elementary school providing asset building and after school activities to students in grades K-6. Activities include mentoring/asset building with individual students, in-class support to at risk students, and tutoring in the after school program. The member's specific responsibilities include working with a case load of students to increase social skills, coping strategies and mentoring during their breakfast or lunch periods; providing in-class support of a case load of at risk students to increase school success; and working in the after-school program located at School #2 to provide tutoring and social/recreational activities. Expected outcomes include increases in social skills and coping strategies and increased academic performance.
Judicial Process Commission
REENTRY PROJECT: The Judicial Process Commission is a grassroots, nonprofit organization that challenges society to create a just, nonviolent community that supports the right of all people to reach their fullest potential. We do this by providing support services for those involved in the criminal justice system, educating the public, and advocating for changes in public policy. The member will provide case management and mentoring to ex-offenders and will receive training and supervision throughout the assignment. Activities will include: attendance at JPC orientation and training opportunities, weekly supervisory meetings, weekly meetings with ex-offenders, recruiting and training mentors, supervising seven mentors and maintaining data base records. Major outcomes include decreased recidivism, increased employment rates, increased enrollment in vocational training and school programs and many other measurements of success.
COMMUNITY ENRICHMENT: Mercy Residential Services, a ministry of the Sisters of Mercy, provides a continuum of quality residential programs to homeless, pregnant and parenting teens aged 16-21 and their children. Our programs offer emergency and transitional housing and life skills education in a nurturing environment. A holistic, non-denominational approach is used to empower women in their development of healthy relationships and strengthened independent living skills. Volunteers help us make our services complete, providing the additional support and services necessary for our clients to succeed. Our volunteers serve in a variety of capacities, i.e. facilitating parenting or budgeting groups, providing childcare so participants can attend the groups, completing facilities projects, reading books to the children during literacy events, or just helping residents prepare a meal. Community Enrichment, the project to be provided by an AmeriCorps member, allows us to make better use of community volunteers and enhance overall services and program outcomes. As Community Enrichment Provider, the member will coordinate and mentor volunteers as they assist and support our residents in achieving their goals of self-sufficiency and healthy relationships. Participant outcomes include staying in school, finding permanent housing and acquiring parenting and life skills. In addition, the AmeriCorps member in collaboration with MRS staff will facilitate community volunteer activities for the young women enrolled in our programs.
SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY ENTRY PROGRAM (STEP): STEP is a grant-funded program that provides support and enrichment to 7th through 12th grade students from groups underrepresented and historically underserved in the sciences-minority or economically disadvantaged students. The AmeriCorps member will act as a Program Advisor for STEP. Duties will include providing personal and academic advisement and supervising tutoring, as well as contributing to Saturday College, the summer program, and workshops. The member will assist students with preparation to compete at local, state and national conferences such as Science Bowl, LEGO League, and STEP Annual Research Conference. The member will also organize and supervise the first-ever STEP annual service project and will develop a shadow program. A passion for working with youth, a positive outlook towards math and science, flexibility, and "outside of the box" thinking are required for this placement.
JUVENILE DRUG TREATMENT COURT: The Monroe County Family Juvenile Drug Treatment Court (JDTC), developed in June of 2000, provides a judicial alternative for alcohol and other drug affected youth. The mission is to prevent or reduce out of home placement and keep the Rochester community safer through intense Judicial monitoring. The goal of JDTC is to reduce recidivism and relapse and prevent the progression to more serious crimes. JDTC promotes participants' educational and vocational achievement and provides opportunities for community service as well as an adventure-based program. Since its inception, the JDTC has had over 400 adolescents referred and currently has 34 active participants.
The four key components of the JDTC include the educational/tutoring/vocational program, community service, adventure-based program and assigned community work hours. The two AmeriCorps positions will help coordinate these critical aspects of our program. The AmeriCorps members will be an integral part of the Drug Court Team, providing services which are not fully available at the current time due to lack of staff. While the primary recipients of the services will be the Drug Court participants, the people who will benefit from this service include the participants' families, the local agencies to whom the court provides community service, the Judicial system with the reduction in the need for out of home placement, and the community at large as a result of not only a safer community but the return to productive behavior by JDTC participants.
TEEN CITY COMMUNITY OUTREACH/YOUTH DEVELOPMENT: The Monroe Family YMCA provides youth and teen recreational programming and is a pioneer in leadership development for young teens through initiatives such as the Leaders Club and Leaders in Training. The neighborhood served by this project has identified a need for more and improved youth development services targeting elementary, middle and teenage groups as well as increased opportunities for youth to build positive neighborhood relationships. Under the direction of the Teen Program Coordinator, the member will facilitate positive and encouraging relationships with teens, while assisting Teen City staff in program development, youth outreach and recruitment, coordination of service projects and special events, and development and presentation of age-appropriate workshops and programs. This will allow for the expansion of drop-in hours and allow the YMCA and staff to provide services to more teens. The member will also coordinate with Teen City staff to identify community service initiatives for area teens (with neighborhood associations, schools, churches and agencies) and build a solid volunteer base at the teen center.
PATHS CLUB/CHILDREN'S CENTER: The Mt. Hope Family Center offers a unique combination of service, training and research. Service components focus on the assessment and treatment of families experiencing severe familial dysfunction and of children at risk of foster care placement and/or emotional difficulties. The At Risk School Age Program is designed to build the children's self-esteem and to improve their peer relationships utilizing the PATHS (Promotion Alternative Thinking Strategies) curriculum. The AmeriCorps member will work in conjunction with the PATHS Club Coordinator and Assistant Coordinator to provide support and training to staff throughout the year. Activities will include maintaining and enhancing a library of materials for staff use and assisting with staff training. The member will also contribute to the operation of the Children's Center located at Monroe County Family Court. Responsibilities will include recruiting and training volunteers, coordinating community events, and assisting in the development of a curriculum and activities for the center. The member will participate in activities with children ages 0 - 12 in the various programs throughout the year.
Partners in Restorative Initiatives
PARTNERS IN RESORATIVE INITIATIVES: PiRI provides training, education, advocacy and facilitation services in the areas of conflict resolution and peacemaking. The organization's staff and volunteers work in schools, as an adjunct to the courts, in neighborhoods and within organizations to help people speak, and be listened to, on a more meaningful level. Project activities will include peacemaking circles and community conferencing within schools, community conferencing arising from disputes in neighborhoods, and efforts to assist in curbing the increase in neighborhood violence. The AmeriCorps member will support and help coordinate all PiRI programs including recruiting volunteers, assisting trainers, co-facilitating conferences and circles, assisting staff in presentations, coordinating the writing and editing of the newsletter, updating program brochures, and attending all meetings and retreats. Major outcomes expected include a substantial increase in the use of restorative justice processes in schools and a corresponding measurable change in school climate; increase in the number of community members trained and practicing restorative justice in their communities, and an increase in the use of restorative justice within the court system.
Rochester City School District
CHILD AND ADOLESCENT PARTIAL HOSPITALIZATION SERVICE: The Child and Adolescent Partial Hospitalization Service (CAPHS) is an intensive outpatient mental health program that treats patients between the ages of 12 to 18 who are at risk of psychiatric inpatient hospitalization. The CAPHS interdisciplinary team, operating in a milieu setting, offers multi-modal treatment including group therapy, art, music and recreational therapies. Academic instruction, an integral part of the program, is provided by Rochester City School District teaching staff. The member placed in this program will assist with math and reading instruction, provide testing support, assist in student transitions, facilitate discussion groups, and assist in the overall implementation of each student's treatment plan. Responsibilities will also include attending daily case conferences and supporting students in a calm and quiet environment. The program, through the provision of these acute services to at-risk youth, is intended to enable youth to improve their mental health and stability and be able to continue functioning in the community and in school.
ROCHESTER HOUSING AUTHORITY: The Rochester Housing Authority (RHA) provides housing and related services for lower income families and senior citizens throughout the metropolitan Rochester area. The primary component of RHA's Youth Programming is the After School Program (ASP). Its goal is to foster an environment conducive to learning, as well as gaining a sense of community spirit and belonging. During the after school hours, children are introduced to a variety of education and fun activities, including computer lab, arts and crafts, field trips, workshops, movies, and bowling. The program begins with a Homework/Tutorial Session and ends with recreation time; games, group activities, videos etc. Evening programs may include special seasonal activities during the holidays. The program runs throughout the school year, and during the summer (July-August), RHA sponsors a summer camp open to all public housing resident youth.
Two AmeriCorps members will enhance and further develop our after-school programs. One will be the Lexington Court After-School Site Coordinator, getting this program up and running during its first year and creating an environment of engagement and enrichment for the school-age children living in this public housing site. The other member will be the Tutoring Coordinator. This person will focus on ensuring that all three after-school sites are addressing participants' tutoring needs with the goal of improving academic performance. There will be an emphasis on both direct service and volunteer recruitment and coordination to meet this goal.
Rochester Police Department
VICTIM ASSISTANCE PROGRAM: Three AmeriCorps member will provide services to domestic violence victims, including court accompaniment, crisis intervention, short-term counseling and referral, court advocacy, filing for NYS Crime Victims Compensation, and safety planning. Through learning coping mechanisms, clients will become empowered to change their lives and, in turn, their children's. The members' involvement as victim assistance counselors will allow the unit to expand services by helping a greater number of people in a timelier manner.
Rochester Surround Care Community Corporation
YOUTH VOICE IN THE ZONE: The Rochester Surround Care Community Corporation (RSC2, formerly the Rochester Children's Zone, Inc.) is a comprehensive resident-driven initiative to respond to neighborhood and community needs that were identified by teams of over 400 residents and representatives from the faith community, service providers, community organizations, businesses, government, pre-school through post-secondary education, foundations and other concerned citizens. The AmeriCorps member's role will be to engage youth to become leaders and active members of the RSC2 network. The member will promote RSC2 through presentations and one-to-one contact; recruit and engage youth to participate in ways that interest them; and orient them and assess their interests, strengths, goals and development areas. Other responsibilities will include matching youth with adult team members; creating learning and development opportunities; providing support and referral to resources; seeking youth input and feedback; developing ongoing communication vehicles to keep all youth informed; and advising youth in planning and executing special events and activities. Youth will be engaged in the following activities to build skills and develop group process and leadership capacity: individual assessments of strengths, assets, leadership potential and areas for development; creation of a Personal Promise Plan to articulate personal goals, dreams and promises to oneself; leadership training workshops; mentoring and coaching; group feedback circles: planning and implementing community service projects; and planning and executing large community youth events under the direction of the Director of Accountability and Support.