The AmeriCorps Job Ready Program, a partnership between Mount Wachusett Community College and Fitchburg State University, is now accepting applications to host an AmeriCorps Member for the 2012-2013 service year.

As you think about how a Member might benefit your organization, take the following into consideration:

This program was designed to address the north central Massachusetts high unemployment rate through job preparedness training and career exploration activities that assist three distinct target populations:  high/middle school students; college students and alumni; and  the unemployed, underemployed, and dislocated workers.  The program goal is to help these target populations identify a career, the education required to pursue that career, and find a job. 

AmeriCorps members will spend about 80% of their time providing direct service at their service sites and about 20% of their time participating in professional development trainings.  Each Member will develop and coordinate one volunteer or service project related to job preparedness and career exploration at their service site each year.

Members can assist with new program development or expand upon existing job preparedness/career exploration programs within north central MA that target job seekers to provide skill development to find and obtain a job.  Members will be responsible for delivering trainings on issues such as: different careers and the educational requirements to pursue these careers, conducting an online job search, administering career interest inventories, teaching 21st Century workplace competencies, using social media to find a job, resume writing, networking, interviewing, and job search skills.  Trainings can be delivered in a group format or individually.  Members will work with host organizations to expand the scope of existing trainings to additional communities or to additional individuals. AmeriCorps Members may also coordinate job shadowing experiences for clients and serve as a mentor for program participants, working one-on-one on an as-needed basis to reinforce topics taught in trainings.

The program, entering year three of a three-year federal grant, exists to increase job readiness and preparedness in members of the North Central Massachusetts community through outreach to the target populations listed above.

AmeriCorpsJob Ready will coordinate placements of Members based on the needs of the organization and the skills of the Members. In addition, factors such as Member personality, host organization work environment and Member transportation needs will all be taken into consideration. In order to guarantee the best possible match, service site applications are due Friday, June 29, 2012. Sites will be contacted for follow-up shortly after receipt of their applications.

All host sites must send at least one representative (preferrably the designated site supervisor) to a mandatory host site orientation to be held in late August. The date and time will be announced in July 2012.  Lunch will be provided. Additional information will be provided to host organizations with the notification of a Member placement.

AmeriCorps Job Ready Placement Information

AmeriCorps Job Ready placements are only available for non-profit and community-based grassroots organizations serving North Central Massachusetts.

Cost Share - AmeriCorps Member placements require a $3000 upfront match from the community agency. Should your AmeriCorps Member leave the program prior to reaching a minimum of 510 hours, your Member position may be replaced with a new Member. Should your AmeriCorps Member leave the program after reaching a 510 hour minimum, your site placement fee will be refunded back to you on a pro-rated basis and no new AmeriCorps Member will be placed at your site.

Placement Continuation - You are eligible to re-apply for a new Member every year. However, there is no guarantee you will be assigned a new Member, nor is there a guarantee of continuation of the same Member for a second year.

Group Service Project - All Members participate in a group service project designed by the group. However, Members are advised to seek host organization permission for any absences during their normal work hours due to their involvement in this project. The Member's work at your site is his or her first priority.

Individual Service Project - Members are all required to complete an individual service project of their own design that directly impacts and/or benefits your site. Within the first eight weeks of placement, Members will be encouraged to meet with their site supervisors and conduct an environmental scan to assess the needs of their organizations.

Site Visitation - A minimum of one site visit will occur per year, conducted by the Assistant Director of the AmeriCorps Job Ready Program. This will most likely occur in early January at a mutually convenient date and time.

Orientation - All site supervisors will be given an orientation to the AmeriCorps Job Ready program and the work plan format.  Host sites will also be given AmeriCorps stickers to readily identify their organizations as site partners. In addition, all site supervisors will be required to attend a one-day orientation at MWCC a date in late August (to be announced in July).

Professional Development - One of the goals of the AmeriCorps Job Ready Program is to provide leadership experience and opportunities for Members to increase their skills and knowledge. As such, all Members are required to participate in a class taught at the Crocker Center for Civic Engagement at Fitchburg State University. The class runs throughout the duration of the program and takes place from 3:30pm-5pm every Wednesday evening. Please allow Members leave from their host site (including travel time, to the degree necessary) to participate in this class each Wednesday.

In addition to the class mentioned above, Members are required to attend four quarterly meetings (8am-5pm) throughout the year. Members might also be provided with optional training opportunities that can only be attended with the approval of their site supervisors.

Please enter the information indicated below.

How many AmeriCorps Job Ready positions are you applying for?

Please select all populations who will be served by an AmeriCorps Job Ready Member placed at your site.

Give an overview of the proposed placement for an AmeriCorps Job Ready Member(s) including the specific types of projects or initiatives they would lead.

How would having an AmeriCorps Job Ready Member placed at your organization benefit that organization?

Placements are full time, approximately 40 hours per week beginning Tuesday, September 4, 2012 and concluding by Monday, July 1, 2012 . Members must complete 1700 hours of service total. Please enter your prosed schedule of work, including days of the week and hours.

Please use the space below to provide a proposed job description for your AmeriCorps Job Ready Member.

Please use the space provided below to describe the type of supervision and oversight that will be provided to the Member, as well as who the supervisor will be and relevant contact information (if different than above).

Please use the space provided below to describe your organization's capacity for -- and commitment to -- mentoring and supervising a full-time AmeriCorps Member in terms of time, effort, and methodology.

Please use the space provided below to provide us with any additional information that is relevant to your capacity to host an AmeriCorps Job Ready Member.

I (my organization) agree(s) to the guidelines listed above in regards to supervision, financial committment of $3000 per Member placement fee, prominence of AmeriCorps logo, and participation in orientation in late August 2012.