<p>Posting quickly due to lack of time, but just spoke w/S who has an opportunity for an Americorp job this summer that would also be major related (education). If anyone has children who have had experience would be interested in pluses/minuses of the program.</p>
<p>Apparently there is a every 2 weeks stipend, no time off for the period of the job and an educational incentive (S mentioned $1100) at the end. I see that you cannot work any other job during the Americorp period.</p>
<p>Any input appreciated.</p>
<p>No time off? Well, there are various Americorps positions. My D has had ample time off. The main thing is to get the requisite number of hours in. She is on the left coast, so has been home for Xmas, and taken 3 day weekends. She also works 6 day weeks many weeks, and evenings, but that is her particular position and her choice. My S also did Americorps at a school, and worked 5 days a week, and some evenings when there were programs. But again, it depends on what the sponsoring institution wants and needs, and that may vary widely. </p>
<p>After living on a student budget, my D feels she is living high on the hog with Americorps wages. But her rent is not high.</p>
<p>This is just a summer position. He would receive a stipend and then some $ for education after completing his position. Is that typical? Is the stipend taxed? ( maybe a stupid question, but I don’t know!)</p>
<p>He will likely fill out the app. Just wondering if the Americorp process is fairly smooth, worthwhile or …whatever others might have experienced.</p>
<p>D had an education-related job with Americorps during the school year. Same set-up in that she received a stipend plus a “scholarship” at the end.</p>
<p>The job was supposed to be part of a pre-literacy initiative in an underserved community. The reality was that she worked in a preschool (really more of a day care) 15 hours a week. On a daily basis she had to deal with teacher drama in a less than desirable preschool/day care setting, and she didn’t have the quality time with the kids that she envisioned. Her Americorps contact, who hired her and did occasional training sessions, came out about once a month. By the end of the academic year D was in tears many days because the high teacher turnover resulted in D having to “take over” several days. She made it through, but just barely. The only reason she stuck it out was to receive her scholarship bonus, and because we encouraged her to complete her agreement.</p>
<p>I think it probably depends on the local situation. In D’s case, her time probably could have been better spent doing a different job. although she agreed with the premise of her position. The reality was very different though.</p>
<p>I can’t remember if it was taxed.</p>
<p>I think it is taxed, as I just added it to her income when doing her taxes. But don’t quote me on this. </p>
<p>Yes, the programs are all quite individual. My S was working with the school in our area that had failed the ‘No Child Left Behind’ standard, so his program was thrown at the school as a solution. He was in charge of finding volunteers for the after school program, as well as working with kids during the day, and communicating with families in Spanish. Their were some political parts of the interaction between the program and the host school that were less than functional. He enjoyed many parts of the program, like working with a food pantry, as they encourage volunteerism in other community serving efforts. There was a lot of diversity in what he did, and he did enjoy that, and it gave him some new skills for the resume. </p>
<p>My D is living what I would love to have done with my life this year, and I am jealous, though not of the pay. She is in an amazingly beautiful part of the country, working for a land trust, and learning all sorts of things about the natural history of the area. There are plenty of challenges for her, and it also is a resume building experience. </p>
<p>In both programs, there were some gatherings of all volunteers, and attempt to help them form a community. My D has appreciated visiting other land trusts in her area, which Americorps organized. </p>
<p>The educational stipend for full year commitment is around $4000. </p>
<p>Justtry, how hard to watch your D go through that experience. How stressful!</p>
<p>I served a six-month AmeriCorps position through the Student Conservation Association. It was one of the best working experiences of my life and led directly to my current graduate studies and career-track federal job.</p>
<p>My placement was in the Alaska Region headquarters office of the US Forest Service, where I did communications and outreach work in the recreation division - designing brochures, facilitating community meetings, developing social media platforms, leading environmental education programs, stuff like that. The stipend + food stamps was enough to live on (not richly, but a living it was), and housing was provided in the seasonal employee apartments. At the end of my internship, I was hired as a park ranger and got accepted to graduate school in the outdoor recreation/interpretation field.</p>
<p>Justtry, that sounds like a horror show! I would have complained to my supervisor!</p>
<p>I have not had a child in AmeriCorps, but have worked in organizations that hired AmeriCorps folks.</p>
<p>Talking to them, they had great experiences and it gave them a real leg up in applying to med school, graduate school, etc. (the positions were health related)</p>
<p>So it sounds like it is a good resume addition. Acceptance of your application has nothing to do with income, correct?</p>
<p>That’s correct. Entirely based on your merit for the position.</p>
<p>D2 worked an Americorps job last summer. About 2/3 of her compensation was via paycheck and the other 1/3 was an educational stipend. She worked with inner city children and enjoyed it. She is returning to the same job this summer. The income is taxed; she received a W2. D3 will be employed by Americorps this summer also. I like that 1/3 of their summer incomes will go towards their tuition bills instead of concerts and cute summer clothes : )</p>
<p>Programs vary. Daughter worked in DC in a well run health related program that has been in place for many years. I believe that’s key. Sometimes new sites come onboard and it takes time to develop a quality program. Experience was challenging but great in so many ways. She had time off too but as mentioned it’s based on hours of service. She worked 4 days a week at her site and then 1 day was with other Americorp volunteers in various projects. Weekend activities were frequent and boosted the hours. Definitely needed food stamps to supplement the stipend but doable. Those who commit to Americorp don’t typically live lavish life styles. I believe the education award at the end is now up to $5500 and yes, it is taxed. State taxes are not taken out of the bi-monthly stipend so one needs to plan for that.</p>