Iowa AmeriCorps 4-H Outreach Program Accepting Applications for Host Sites


June 10, 2021, 2:15 pm | Celine Beggs-Shoemaker

A young woman helps a teen girl with homework by Philipimage/stock.adobe.com.AMES, Iowa – The Iowa AmeriCorps 4-H Outreach program has reopened the host site application for the 2021-2022 grant year. The signed application is due by 4:30 p.m. on July 9, by email to cmbeggs@iastate.edu.

The Iowa AmeriCorps 4-H Outreach program is a unique partnership between AmeriCorps and Iowa State University Extension and Outreach 4-H Youth Development. The program places AmeriCorps members in host organizations across the state. Government, faith-based, nonprofits or community-based organizations that focus on youth programming must identify a community need or needs that a member will work to solve during the term of service.

Iowa AmeriCorps 4-H Outreach members spearhead community and organizational efforts to provide youth with positive development experiences through youth-adult partnerships and research-based experiences. The members’ work plan can focus on project leadership and organization, volunteer development, building local capacity and direct service.

In exchange for their service, the AmeriCorps members develop skills that build strong resumes, earn a monthly living allowance, and receive a post-service education award to finance higher education or pay toward qualified student loans. Members serving a full-time term can apply for insurance and child care subsidies.

Host sites that are accepted into the Iowa AmeriCorps 4-H Outreach program are expected to invest in the partnership by providing a non-federal cash match. The contribution is used to cover a portion of the total grant cost and the cost of the member serving at a site.

“The match for a full-time member serving 1,700 hours is $6,800, which is a great value as the total cost to support each member is over $27,500,” said Celine Beggs, 4-H youth program specialist.

“For the last two years, youth programming across the state halted. Now as sites begin to reopen and increase their capacity, youth-focused organizations are looking to build back better than ever. Becoming an Iowa AmeriCorps 4-H Outreach host site may help organizations meet their youth programming goals and community needs,” said Beggs.

The Iowa AmeriCorps 4-H Outreach program is a $1.2 million grant, funded through AmeriCorps, Volunteer Iowa, Iowa State University Extension and Outreach and private matching funds.

For more information on the Iowa AmeriCorps 4-H Outreach program, please contact Celine Beggs, youth program specialist, at 515-294-8013 or cmbeggs@iastate.edu, or visit the website at https://www.extension.iastate.edu/4h/americorps.

 

Photo caption: Iowa AmeriCorps 4-H Outreach members provide youth with positive development experiences through youth-adult partnerships and research-based experiences.

Photo credit: Philipimage/stock.adobe.com

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