Looking for a paid service year program in the USA? Not sure what options are availbe to you? To help you in your search, here is some important information about 9 different service year opportunities that may just work for you!
Mission & Goals: The mission of Americorps is "to improve lives, strengthen communities, and foster civic engagement through service and volunteering." The specific mission of the National Civilian Community Corps (NCCC) is "to strengthen communities and develop leaders through direct, team-based national and community service." The Federal Emergency Management Agency's (FEMA) goal is to "help people before, during, and after disasters."
Length & Location: Both of these programs are 10-11 months. Members train at one of four main campuses (located in Colorado, Iowa, Mississippi, and California) then travel around the country to serve in different communities across the USA.
Requirements to Participate: Corps members must be between the ages of 18-26 but there is no upper age limit to be a team leader. You must be a U.S. citizen or legal resident.
What's Provided: Housing, three meals a day, a bi-weekly living stipend, travel to and from campus, and an education award upon completion of the program.
What You Do: Both programs are team-based residential programs where you travel to various communities around the USA to provide assistance. In FEMA corps you focus on disaster relief and preparedness for communities that have been effected by disaster. In NCCC you work hands on in various service sectors completing all kinds of service projects that range from; disaster response, urban and rural development, environmental stewardship/conservation, and more.
Notable Information: For a more in depth breakdown of these programs, check out The Difference Between Americorps NCCC and FEMA corps. Want more info on NCCC? Check out A Year in NCCC: At the Pacific Region. Or, to listen to a breakdown and comparison of the four core AmeriCorps Programs, click here.
Mission & Goals: The mission of Americorps is "to improve lives, strengthen communities, and foster civic engagement through service and volunteering." Volunteers in Service to America (VISTA) is an anti-poverty program designed to provide needed resources to nonprofit organizations and public agencies to increase their capacity to lift communities out of poverty.
Length & Location: Most VISTA positions are a full year but there are summer only placement options. Placements are offered in every state across the USA.
Requirements to Participate: All members must be at least 18 year olds and a U.S. citizen or legal resident.
What's Provided: A bi-weekly living stipend, non-competitive eligibility, and an education award upon completion. Members can also opt out of the education award and receive a smaller cash stipend instead.
What You Do: As a VISTA member, "you will support a [single] organization to make sustainable change in areas that effect poverty, including education, public health, climate, access to benefits, and more, [by completing tasks such as] fundraising, grant writing, research, and volunteer recruitment..."
Notable Information: All VISTA positions focus on alleviating poverty in the USA. For a similar program in a different service sector, check out AmeriCorps State and National. To listen to a breakdown and comparison of the four core AmeriCorps Programs, click here.
3. City Year
Mission & Goals: The program's mission is "to build democracy through citizen service, civic leadership, and social entrepreneurship." City year strives to ensure that students have the environment and relationships to help them thrive in an out of school.
Length & Location: 11 months in one of 350 schools, in 29 cities, across 21 U.S. states.
Requirements to Participate: Ages 17-25, have a High School Diploma or GED, be a U.S. citizen or legal resident, have not served more than 3 terms as an AmeriCorps member.
What's Provided: A bi-weekly living stipend, a one time relocation allowance, an education award upon completion, possible free or discounted transportation passes to and from your work location, and more. You can view all benefits, here.
What You Do: This is a team based program where you will serve as a student success coach by tutoring and mentoring youth in systematically under-resourced schools. You will get the chance to create strong relationships with students that will allow you to support them by fostering positive social and academic skills that they can use in the classroom, during extracurricular activities, and in their daily life.
Notable Information: This is an AmeriCorps program with the main focus of supporting and fostering youth in and out of schools. It is a program where you are looked at as a role model each and everyday and will be actively working with kids everyday.
Mission & Goals: Their missions is "to create a just and equitable society and the diverse leadership to sustain it."
Length & Location: 10 months in one of 20 locations, located across 15 U.S. states.
Requirements to Participate: Must be 17 or older, have a H.S. Diploma or GED, and be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident.
What's Provided: A living stipend, health care, child care, and an education award upon completion.
What You Do: You will serve with partnering organizations in a non-profit apprenticeship. You will participate in several different service sectors, such as; youth development, education, public health, economic development, and the environment. While serving you will also focus on developing your leadership skills by taking part in team building activities and other leadership programs.
Notable Information: Public Allies truly believe that everyone has the skills to bring communities together and make a real difference, and is open to all members no matter their past history (with a few exceptions). They actively focus on making sure their program is inclusive and diverse. They have a heavy focus on developing leaders.
Mission & Goals: "SCA’s mission is to build the next generation of conservation leaders and inspire lifelong stewardship of the environment and communities by engaging young people in hands-on service to the land."
Length & Location: Programs take place in all 50 states, including 35 National Parks. Programs for high school students ages 15-19 can last from 2 to 8 weeks. Internships and Team Projects for those over 18 can last between 3 to 12 months.
Requirements to Participate: They offer programs for different age groups: They have short term programs for high school students ages 15-19. Their internship programs are open for those over 18 (some will have an age limit of 25). To be apart of their Team Projects you must be over 18. To be a Field Leader you must be over 21.
Each opportunity may have some extra/specific requirements to join.
What's Provided: For their full time 18+ programs you receive a living stipend, housing (most likely a tent/campsite), travel expenses, and an education award upon completion.
What You Do: Your service work will focus on environmental conservation and/or education. You will have the opportunity to work hands on by building trails, preventing forrest fires, removing invasive species, and other tasks that focus on caring for our public lands. There are also programs that focus on the education side of things, where you will be teaching and educating the community about the importance of our public lands and how they can help take care of them.
Notable Information: These programs all focus on environmental conservation, and the majority of them will be hands on physical labor. They also offer many different placement opportunities. Depending on what opportunity you are looking to take part in, the following may vary; requirements to join, what is provided, and the specific tasks you take part in.
Mission & Goals: "In a spirit of mutuality, volunteers cultivate mercy and justice in the world by embracing compassionate service, social justice, spiritual growth, and a simple lifestyle in community."
Length & Location: 1 year in one of 9 cities across the USA. Short term 6-week placements are also available. They do have an option to serve for 1 year in Guyana, South America.
Requirements to Participate: Those who are 21yrs or older, a High School graduate with some college or work experience, have no dependents, and are currently a U.S. citizen.
What's Provided: A living stipend, housing, health insurance, and transportation to and around your city.
What You Do: You will serve with underprivileged and marginalized communities in one of 3 service sectors: education, health care, or social services. In the education sector you may be tutoring or assisting in after school care/activities. In the health care sector you could work in patient advocacy, or serve as a medical assistant or nurse. In the social serve sector you may be working with housing, food security, or immigration.
Notable Information: The program does accept people of all faiths but it is founded in Catholicism. You will need to be comfortable serving and living in a Catholic atmosphere.
7. American Conservation Experience (ACE)
Mission & Goals: "ACE is a non-profit organization dedicated to providing rewarding environmental service opportunities for youth, young adults, and emerging professionals of all backgrounds to explore and improve public lands while gaining practical professional experience."
Length & Location: 3 to 12 months in one of 4 states with their Crew Program: Arizona, Utah, North Carolina, or California. You can serve in other U.S. States with their Epic program. (Click here to see list of current opportunities/locations with their Epic Program.)
Requirements to Participate: Ages 18-30 (or up to 35 if you are a military veteran), capable of physically demanding labor, a U.S. citizen or permanent resident, and must be fully vaccinated against Covid-19.
What's Provided: A biweekly living stipend and an education award upon completion of most projects. Food, transportation, and accommodation are provided during work days. Communal housing is provided while not on a project.
What You Do: Members work alongside U.S. Fish and Wildlife, the National Park Service, the Bureau of Land Management and more, with the goal of protecting and preserving our public lands. You will complete tasks such as; trail maintenance/construction, forrest thinning/ fuel reduction, fencing construction, habitat restoration, invasive species removal, facilities maintenance, historic preservation, wildlife serving/monitoring, and more.
Notable Information: These programs operate as 4 to 8 days on a project and then 3 to 6 days off. You will be provided housing during your time in the program, but it may change during your on and off days. Housing, especially during work days, will most likely be a tent/campground set up. You will need to take care of your own meals/food during off days.
8. Bay Area Agency Consortium (BAYAC)
Mission & Goals: "BAYAC AmeriCorps Members commit to a full-time (40 hours/week) term of service in the Bay Area's most high-need communities, working to provide youth with opportunities for meaningful engagement, skill building, and emotional and social development."
Length & Location: 1 year in one of over 40 schools in the San Fransisco Bay Area of California.
Requirements to Participate: 17yrs or older with a High School Diploma or GED, and be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident.
What's Provided: A monthly living stipend, health insurance, child care, and an education award upon completion of the program.
What You Do: Members are placed in a school or community program to provide opportunities to youth of the bay area who have been impacted by poverty and
under-resourced schools. You will be a role model to youth in and out of the classroom to provide academic assistance and supervision, and promote physical health and social skills. You will also lead programs to support and encourage youth.
Notable Information: This is an AmeriCorps program with the main focus of supporting and fostering youth in and out of schools. It is a program where you are looked at as a role model each and everyday and will be actively working with kids daily. Your tasks and goals are a lot like that of the City Year Program.
9. Earth Corps
Mission & Goals: "EarthCorps develops leaders to strengthen community and restore the health of our environment. [They] envision a global community of leaders who create a world where people and nature thrive together."
Length & Location: 1yr around Seattle, WA / The Puget Sound Area.
Requirements to Participate: Ages 18-26 with a High School Diploma or GED and be fully vaccinated against Covid-19. Ability to lift 50 pounds and hike up to 8 miles while carrying 40 pounds.
What's Provided: A monthly living stipend and an education award upon completion.
What You Do: There are 3 main programs. Tasks vary depending on which one you join.
Earth Corps Crew - A team-based program where you will be working hands on with environmental projects such as; invasive species removal, planting native species, trail maintenance/construction, habitat restorations, and more.
Earth Corps Volunteer - Work in a small team to facilitate/participate in workshops with the goal of educating the community on how to get involved with and take care of the environment.
Earth Corps Specialist - For those who already have a background in habitat restoration to assists the teams out in the field through managing/organizing projects, aspects of the program itself, and promoting leadership. They will work hands on with restoration projects the majority of the time.
Notable Information: While in this program you will need to find your own housing (unless you are an international volunteer). They do have opportunities for non US citizens looking to volunteer abroad. This is a labor intensive program.
Conclusion
Hopefully one of these programs is the right fit for you! If you are looking for more options, you can also try searching for other opportunities using ServiceYear.org. Good luck during your service year and hopefully it is one where you will be able to make a lasting impact and learn more about yourself.