Rochester Youth Year AmeriCorps VISTA Fellowship Program Frequently Asked Questions for Prospective Fellows

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1 Rchester Yuth Year AmeriCrps VISTA Fellwship Prgram Frequently Asked Questins fr Prspective Fellws Q: What is the Rchester Yuth Year Fellwship? A: The Rchester Yuth Year Fellwship is a pst-graduate fellwship fr recent graduates f seven Rchester-area clleges. The Rchester Yuth Year prgram seeks t bring the talent and enthusiasm f lcal cllege graduates t bear n the challenges cnfrnting the yuth f Rchester, many f whm experience pverty. Thrugh their wrk in cmmunity-based rganizatins, RYY Fellws are expected t develp and enhance their hst rganizatins prgrams and relatinships with yuth and families thrugh vlunteer recruitment, resurce develpment, and substantive cllabratin with ther rganizatins. Q: What is AmeriCrps VISTA? A: AmeriCrps VISTA is the nly natinal service prgram designed specifically t alleviate pverty by helping individuals and lw incme neighbrhds t make psitive changes fr themselves. Funded as Vlunteers in Service t America in 1965 and incrprated int the AmeriCrps netwrk f prgrams in 1993, VISTA has been n the frnt lines in the fight against pverty in America fr mre than 40 years. AmeriCrps VISTA is a public service prgram f the Crpratin fr Natinal and Cmmunity Service (CNCS), an agency f the federal gvernment. VISTA prvides full-time members t nnprfit cmmunity rganizatins and public agencies t create and expand prgrams that ultimately bring lwincme individuals ut f pverty. Q: Hw is the Rchester Yuth Year Fellwship cnnected t AmeriCrps VISTA? A: The Rchester Yuth Year Fellwship first received AmeriCrps VISTA grant funding in Each RYY Fellw is als an AmeriCrps VISTA member and receives pay and benefits thrugh AmeriCrps VISTA. RYY prgram staff at the University f Rchester include a prgram directr and an AmeriCrps VISTA Leader. They wrk with CNCS and the RRN t ensure that the prgram is meeting bth AmeriCrps VISTA gals and the cre missin and visin f the RYY prgram. Q: What is the Rchester Reginal Netwrk? A: The Rchester Reginal Netwrk (RRN) is a cnsrtium f seven institutins f higher educatin in the Rchester-area. This netwrk administers the Rchester Yuth Year Fellwship by setting general prgram plicy, determining lng-term gals and strategies, recruiting prgram participants, and prviding training pprtunities fr RYY Fellws. The RRN supprts the peratin f the RYY prgram thrugh annual membership fees. The fllwing clleges and universities participate in the RRN: the Cllege at Brckprt, Nazareth Cllege, SUNY Genese, Rberts Wesleyan Cllege, Rchester Institute f

2 Technlgy, St. Jhn Fisher Cllege, and the University f Rchester. The RYY prgram is based at the University f Rchester. Individual representatives t the RRN: The Cllege at Brckprt, SUNY: Richard Harris, Crdinatr f Service and Cmmunity Building Nazareth Cllege: Adam Lewandwski, Assistant Directr fr Cmmunity Service Rberts Wesleyan Cllege: Brenda Myrthil, Assistant Dean fr Student Prgramming Rchester Institute f Technlgy: Phyllis Walker, Assistant Directr fr RLI Leadership & Cmmunity Service St. Jhn Fisher Cllege: Sally Vaughan, Service Schlarship Prgram Crdinatr SUNY Genese: Tm Matthews, Directr fr Leadership Educatin University f Rchester*: Glenn Cersaletti, Directr f Rchester Center fr Cmmunity Leadership *Hst Site Q: What benefits will I receive fr participating in the Rchester Yuth Year AmeriCrps VISTA prgram? A: There are several benefits assciated with RYY and AmeriCrps VISTA. A mdest bi-weekly living allwance A $5,730 AmeriCrps Educatin Award (can be applied t federal student lans r future educatin expenses fr up t 7 years) r a $1,500 end f service stipend t members wh successfully cmplete a full term f service. Student Lan Frbearance r Deferment f qualified lans. Repayment f interest accrued n qualified student lans (cntact yur lender fr mre specific infrmatin r t cnfirm yur lan status during AmeriCrps VISTA service) Nn-Cmpetitive Eligibility fr mst federal jbs after term f service Limited healthcare and prescriptin drug cverage Reimbursement fr relcatin travel expenses, if eligible Relcatin allwance f up t $500, if eligible Ten persnal days and ten sick days Frequent prfessinal develpment pprtunities Child care allwance f up t $400 per mnth, if eligible Life Insurance (can waive) Q: I m suppsed t live n a mdest living allwance? Hw? A: It isn t easy but it is 100% dable. Fellws are great budgeters and very crafty in making ends meet. Sme fellws chse t apply fr gvernment assistance (primarily fd stamps). All fellws cmmit t this public service prgram fr the experience, nt the paycheck. With that said, nte that yur federal student lans, if yu have any, are eligible fr interest-free frbearance during yur service year. The RYY prgram is cnstantly explring new benefits t ffer Fellws, s please keep in mind that the list abve may nt include everything we will be able t ffer Fellws fr the prgram year f We are cmmitted t ding everything we can t making this pprtunity viable fr all wh are interested.

3 Q: Can yu describe the Educatin Award in mre detail? A: The AmeriCrps Educatin Award is a huge benefit t RYY Fellws and can be used t pay educatin csts at qualified institutins f higher educatin, fr educatinal training, r t repay qualified student lans (i.e. federally-backed student lans in yur name). Yu can access the award in full r in part, and yu have up t seven years after yur term f service has ended t claim the award. The awards are nt paid directly t yu, but rather t the educatinal institutin r lender yu designate. If yu wn t be using the award fr the abve educatinal purpses, yu may instead claim an end-f-service stipend f $1,500. The awards are subject t available educatin trust allcatins t AmeriCrps VISTA. Bth the educatin award and the stipend are taxable. Q: Hw is the health cverage? A: Health cverage is prvided by the federal gvernment thrugh the AmeriCrps VISTA prgram. The Affrdable Health Care Act (ACA) refrmed healthcare and ensures that essential healthcare benefits are made available t all Americans thrugh state and federal health insurance marketplaces. AmeriCrps VISTA will ffer a Healthcare Allwance fr VISTA members wh maintain their wn health insurance fr the duratin f their service year. The healthcare allwance is used t ff-set yur ut-fpcket healthcare expenses. The allwance is capped at $6,600 in Yu can use the allwance fr yur annual deductible, cinsurance, cpayments fr qualified medical expenses, r similar charges fr qualified medical expenses. Fr mre cmprehensive infrmatin n the plan, visit Q: What are the gals f the RYY Fellwship Prgram? A: RYY gals evlve yearly with the varius prjects that cnstitute ur prgram. Hwever, there are three verarching prgram gals that guide the specific bjectives at each hst site. We take prgress n these gals and bjectives seriusly; prgress is assessed thrugh mnthly and quarterly reprts, which are ultimately reviewed by CNCS. While RYY prgram staff will wrk with individual hst rganizatins t develp apprpriate bjectives, all RYY prjects must align with the fllwing verarching gals: Alleviating the Effects f Pverty n Yuth RYY Fellws will wrk with their hst rganizatin and necessary stakehlders t develp measureable, sustainable services and prgrams that address the self-identified needs f Rchester s yuth and aim t build n their strengths and assets. Strengthening Cmmunities RYY Fellws will wrk t build the capacity f their hst rganizatins t develp and/r enhance prgrams that engage yuth and families in psitive and prductive activities and initiatives. Equally imprtant, RYY Fellws will wrk t empwer yuth and families t take an active rle in imprving their wn neighbrhds. Prmting Civic Engagement and Cmmunity-Centered Leadership RYY Fellws will create lasting partnerships between the cmmunity, their hst rganizatins, and their alma mater. Serving as rle mdels and liaisns, they will engage cllege cmmunities in substantial pprtunities t cntribute t the life f the Rchester cmmunity.

4 Q: What cmmunity rganizatins in Rchester hst RYY Fellws? A: There are eight rganizatins currently hsting RYY Fellws. Participating rganizatins are subject t change each prgram year. During this prgram year ( ), the fllwing rganizatins are hsting RYY Fellws: RCSD: Engagement & Empwerment Episcpal Life Senir Center RCSD: Reading by Third Grade Greater Rchester Summer Learning RCSD: Resurce Navigatr at Schl 22 Assciatin RCSD: Expanded Learning and Cmmunity Smali Center f Western NY Partnerships Yung Wmen s Cllege Prep Center fr Yuth Crisis Nursery Sutheast Neighbrhd Service Center Discvery Charter Schl Crnell Cperative Extensin/Citizen U Q: Where can I find an applicatin? A: Tw applicatin frms are required: a Rchester Yuth Year prgram applicatin wrksheet and an AmeriCrps VISTA applicatin. The Applicatin Wrksheet fr Rchester Yuth Year can be fund at each f the clleges participating in the Rchester Reginal Netwrk (RRN). Representatives frm each cllege will have applicatins t distribute t graduating senirs. A listing f representatives in the RRN can be fund abve. The career center at yur cllege will have applicatins as well. Yu can als find the applicatin nline at Q: What des the applicatin prcess entail? A: We are accepting applicatins thrugh March 13 th, Use the applicatin wrksheet at Althugh all applicatins will be reviewed with equal cnsideratin, we encurage interested candidates t submit their applicatins well in advance f the deadline. Selected applicants will be invited t interview with Rchester Yuth Year prgram staff shrtly after the applicatin deadline. Acceptance as an RYY AmeriCrps VISTA member is cntingent n federal apprval f yur AmeriCrps VISTA applicatin and yur participatin in required trainings (see next questin). Q: Will there be trainings and/r an rientatin prir t my start date? A: RYY prgram staff will prvide incming fellws with a ne day rientatin t the City f Rchester. We will address the cmmn challenges f cmmunity building and will review different mdels f cmmunity rganizing. Each RYY Fellw is required t attend a mandatry 4-day AmeriCrps VISTA Pre- Service Orientatin (PSO) immediately prir t their first day at their hst agencies. This PSO is funded by CNCS. RYY Fellws will attend PSO frm July 28-31, 2015 in Albany, NY. At the cnclusin f PSO, each RYY Fellw will be fficially swrn in as an AmeriCrps VISTA. An n-site rientatin will be prvided by the supervisr at each hst rganizatin.

5 Q: Are there any prhibited activities? A: Due t RYY s relatinship with the AmeriCrps VISTA prgram, RYY Fellws must nt: Be invlved with plitical advcacy, religius instructin, vter registratin, unin rganizing, r lbbying while serving r identifying themselves as an AmeriCrps VISTA member Displace the wrk, r what shuld be the wrk, f paid emplyees f the hst rganizatins, particularly tasks typically reserved fr administrative and/r clerical psitins. AmeriCrps VISTA members are t engage in prject-based wrk. Engage in direct service Receive any mnetary cntributin frm their hst rganizatin t supplement their bi-weekly stipend. Enrll in credit-bearing curses during their service term withut apprval frm RYY prgram staff and CNCS. Q: What type f wrk will I be ding as a RYY Fellw? A: The RYY prgram has established three pririty issues under which all prjects fall: educatin, public safety, and health and wellness. While each psitin in the RYY prgram will differ based n the hst rganizatin's prpsed prject, all share several verarching gals and brad strategies fr achieving AmeriCrps VISTA and Rchester Yuth Year bjectives. Our main gal is t empwer yuth experiencing pverty by directly engaging them in the wrk f strengthening their cmmunity. Althugh all RYY Fellws will wrk twards that end, methds will vary acrss hst rganizatins. All psitins will build the capacity nt nly f the hst rganizatin, but f Rchester yuth and families t be their wn advcates. RYY Fellws ften recruit vlunteers, develp resurces, and mst imprtantly, build partnerships, t achieve their gals. RYY Fellws wrk frm hurs per week. Wrk hurs are cntingent n prject needs and will vary acrss hst rganizatins. Q: Why shuld I apply t the Rchester Yuth Year Prgram? A: The Rchester Yuth Year Prgram is an excellent pprtunity fr new cllege graduates. Aside frm the afrementined benefits, there are many reasns t cnsider applying. Nt yur average entry level jb. As a ne year public service prgram, RYY prvides newly minted graduates with an pprtunity t cnduct substantial and meaningful wrk. While many entry-level jbs are heavily administrative, a psitin with RYY guarantees yu a highly valuable hands-n experience, which will benefit yu prfessinally and enrich yu persnally. A great transitinal pprtunity. Many peple wh take psitins with AmeriCrps VISTA als use their year f service as a transitin t graduate schl r ther wrk pprtunities. Resume. Public service prgrams are huge resume bsters! Selectivity. The renewed emphasis n civic duty is making public service prgrams and AmeriCrps VISTA in particular increasingly attractive t cllege graduates, thereby increasing the selectivity f prgrams such as urs. Netwrking. RYY Fellws are cmmunity rganizers. We try t integrate the principles f assetbased cmmunity develpment (ABCD) int ur gals and activities as ften as pssible. This wrk is all abut building relatinships and frming partnerships. Yu will meet many peple

6 ver the curse f the year, many f whm will likely be helpful t yu as yu pursue future endeavrs. Make a difference. Whether yu ve lived in Rchester fr just fur years r it is yur hmetwn, yu knw Rchester is a city with bth a great number f assets and significant challenges. RYY gives yu an pprtunity t use yur knwledge and skills t imprve ur city. Still have a questin r tw? Still harbring sme dubt abut applying? PLEASE rchester@yuthyear.rg r visit fr mre infrmatin! We can als put yu in tuch with current RYY VISTAs s yu can hear mre abut their individual experiences in the prgram. Like us n Facebk.cm/rchesteryuthyear