Monday, November 08, 2010
USI AmeriCorps program places tutors in Pigeon Township
Marcey Head-Vanpell
Contact for more information:
Betty Vawter Senior Editor, News & Information Services 812/480-1873 The USI Department of Social Work's Center for Social Justice has received a grant of $1.2 million from the Indiana Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives to support the program for three years. Dr. Iris Phillips, associate professor of social work and director of the Center for Social Justice, is principal investigator for the project, which is designed to help participants from Pigeon Township be successful in reaching education goals. Almost 40 percent of the individuals living there have an income below the poverty level. Less than 70 percent have a high school diploma. AmeriCorps is a national organization that engages individuals in service to meet local needs. To provide the tutoring and mentoring services, the Center for Social Justice will work with community partners, including Community Action Program of Evansville (CAPE), Counseling for Change, Carver Community Organization, the Juvenile Division of Vanderburgh Superior Court, and others. Marcey Head-Vanpell has joined USI as AmeriCorps coordinator. She will coordinate the program with partner agencies and direct the activities of the students who will become AmeriCorps members. The AmeriCorps members will provide tutoring for high-risk youth who need assistance in completing their General Educational Development (GED) diploma or assistance in enrolling in vocational or postsecondary education. Members also will tutor younger children, model academic behaviors that lead to achievement, and engage families in learning activities. The AmeriCorps members also will work with the partner agencies to recruit volunteers and implement educational assistance programs. Recruitment of the first group of 30 students to serve as tutors is in progress. The deadline to apply is November 11. Applications are available online or from the Department of Social Work in the Education Center. Students from Ivy Tech Community College in Evansville also are eligible to apply. Orientation will be held in December services begin in January. Head-Vanpell said students from any major who are interested in working with young adults, children, and families may apply to serve as tutors. Tutors will become acquainted with the work of local agencies while gaining experience working with individuals. The first group of tutors will complete 900 hours of service, including 108 hours of professional development, by August 2011. Tutors will receive a living allowance of $5,326. In addition, upon completion of 900 hours they will receive a Segal AmeriCorps Education Award that can be used to pay college tuition or repay qualified student loans. The education award is pro-rated for part-time service. The full-time amount is currently $5,350. The tutors will be half-time AmeriCorps members. Head-Vanpell earned undergraduate and graduate degrees in social work from USI. She completed the bachelor's degree in 2008 and the master's degree in 2009. She was most recently an advocacy specialist for Indiana Protection and Advocacy Services, a state agency that protects and advocates the rights of people with disabilities. For additional information contact Head-Vanpell at mlhead@usi.edu or 812/461-5411. |
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