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Healthy Kids, Healthy Communities

General Description: What is AmeriCorps?
AmeriCorps is an opportunity to make a big difference in your life and in the lives of those around you. It’s a chance to apply your skills and ideals toward helping others and meeting critical needs in the community. Each year, AmeriCorps offers 75,000 opportunities for adults of all ages and backgrounds to serve through a network of partnerships with local and national nonprofit groups. Children’s Hunger Alliance is one non-profit agency that hosts AmeriCorps members. The mission of Children’s Hunger Alliance is to break the cycle of childhood hunger through education, leadership, advocacy, and service.

The Basics: What are the responsibilities of the position?
We have two different AmeriCorps positions at Children’s Hunger Alliance. All members commit to an 11-month service period. Please read below for the different roles members hold at our agency.

Full-time Capacity Member (38-40 hour per week commitment)
Members will serve in Akron, Cincinnati, Columbus, Cleveland and Dayton. Members will spend 50% of their time teaching nutrition education and physical activity education to children attending community and faith-based afterschool programs. Members will spend the other 50% of their time on projects that increase the capacity of Children’s Hunger Alliance. Projects can include planning special events, developing and writing newsletters, community gardening, grant writing and helping to increase food access through afterschool and summer feeding programs.

Part-time Field Member (19-20 hour per week commitment)
Members work with several different community and faith-based afterschool programs, school classrooms, and children’s community groups in economically depressed areas of Franklin County (Columbus) to teach nutrition education and physical activity education to low-income children.

Full-time Summer Member (40 hour per week commitment)
Members will serve in Akron, Cincinnati, Columbus, Cleveland and Dayton. Members will spend 75% of their time teaching nutrition education and physical activity education to children attending community and faith-based afterschool programs. Members will spend the other 25% of their time on AmeriCorps training and projects that increase the capacity of Children’s Hunger Alliance. Projects can include planning special events, developing and writing newsletters, community gardening, grant writing and helping to increase food access through afterschool and summer feeding programs.

What are the requirements/qualifications to serve in this position?

U.S. Citizen, national, or legal permanent resident alien of the United States at least 18 years of age
Able to commit to and complete service term outlined for desired position
Full-time members are required to complete 1,700 hours within their 11-month term; part-time members are required to complete 900 hours; summer members are required to complete 450 hours
Able to attend weekly meetings
Able to attend training in Columbus for approximately 1-day every month
A desire and ability to make a difference in your community
Ability to work independently, adapt to new situations, and manage multiple tasks
Ability and desire to work with children and diverse populations
Interest in health/wellness and childhood health programs/issues

What are the benefits to serving as an AmeriCorps member?
An AmeriCorps position is an excellent way to gain experience in an education, health, or non-profit field and a great way to improve your overall career skills in general. Colleges and universities look highly upon community service work, and with AmeriCorps being the “domestic PeaceCorps,” not too many experiences can compare! Plus, what better way to serve your community and truly make a difference in the lives of Ohio’s children!?

Additional benefits include:

Monthly living stipend (full-time members receive $1,073 gross per month; part-time members receive $568 gross per month; full-time summer members receive $1,041 gross per month).
Education award of $5,350 for full-time members, $2,675 for part-time members, and $1,415 for summer members upon successful completion of service hours. The education award can be used to pay off existing student loans, make future tuition payments, or a combination of both. You have up to seven years to use the award.
Paid training & mileage reimbursement
Student Loan Forbearance
Health coverage and child-care assistance for regular full-time members

How do I find out additional information about this position?
Contact Amy Souders, AmeriCorps Manager at 614-341-7700, ext. 241 or ASouders@ChildrensHungerAlliance.org.
Or apply online by following the directions below:

To apply for a Healthy Kids, Healthy Communities position at Children’s Hunger Alliance:
You will need to create an account with the AmeriCorps Recruitment System, My AmeriCorps: https://my.americorps.gov/mp/loginSubmit.do.

Once you receive your account information via email, login to the My AmeriCorps portal
Use the navigation panel on the left to complete your application & reference information***
When your application is completely finished, login to your account and click "Search Listings" on left panel
Type "Healthy Kids, Healthy Communities" into the Program Name field and click "Search"
Click the listing to read program information. Then click "Apply Now" at the bottom of the page

***With this system, you need to select the program(s) you are applying for AFTER you complete the application, not before. Even if you find the program first and select "Apply Now" at the bottom of the posting.

Once your application has been submitted you will be contacted with next steps.