Transitioning from AmeriCorps to education or employment

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Abstract

Civic Corps, a youth corps program in Baltimore, Maryland, is actively involved in helping AmeriCorps members transition from AmeriCorps to education or employment. Their Corps-to-Career program helps young people explore career options and develop work skills throughout the year. This program is a PEPNet awardee.

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Issue

AmeriCorps members often face difficult decisions about what career or educational paths to follow after their year of service ends. By working with members throughout the year on exploring career options and developing work skills, Civic Corps is able to better prepare them for life after service.

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Action

Civic Works' Corps-to-Career initiative is sponsored by the National Association of Service and Conservation Corps. The program includes:

 

  • Bi-weekly sessions where corps members learn career development skills such as how to research career options and how to market oneself to achieve goals.
  • Staff specialists who work with participants to develop an individualized plan, teach them how to access resources to achieve goals, and guide them throughout the year.
  • A focus on building employability skills such as work ethic, being on time, meeting deadlines, evaluating projects, and team-building.
  • Exposure to a variety of career options, including further education. For example, members are introduced to community college programs and employers from industries.

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Context

Civic Works recruits young people between the ages of 17 to 25. Of the 140 members in 1998, approximately half were high school graduates or those who had dropped out of high school,  and half had some college experience.

PEPNet, the Promising and Effective Practices Network, is a system for enhancing the quality of programs that link young people (ages 12 to 25) to work and education to promote a successful transition to adulthood. PEPNet is comprised of a variety of elements that work together: the PEPNet Standards are the goals for programs to strive towards; the PEPNet Tools are resources and support to help achieve these goals, and the PEPNet People are the network of nationally-recognized programs and other professionals who share practical strategies, examples and lessons about successful efforts with youth.

PEPNet is a project of the National Youth Employment Coalition (NYEC), a membership network that improves the effectiveness of organizations that seek to help youth become productive and engaged citizens.


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Citation

National Youth Employment Coalition. "Profiles of PEPNet-Awarded Programs." Promising and Effective Practices [online database]. Washington, D.C.
Website: http://www.nyec.org/page.cfm?pageID=126

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Posted On

September 17, 2001

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For More Information

Dana Stein
Civic Works, Inc.
Executive Director
2701 St. Lo Drive
Baltimore, MD 21213
Phone: (410) 366-8533
Fax: (410) 366-1831

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Resources

For more information on this topic, see the online tutorial,
"What's Next: Life After Your Service Year. "

This tutorial will help you plan for transitions after your service term. You will find resources created specifically for AmeriCorps and VISTA members on going to school, establishing a career, and continuing in service, as well as important information on the education award.

Developed by the Northwest Regional Educational Laboratory's Recruitment and Development Initiative (EnCorps).

Source Documents

Related Practices

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Related sites

National Youth Employment Coalition

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