Safe Families AmeriCorps
Program Fact Sheet                        

What is AmeriCorps?
Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS)
Illinois Commission on Volunteerism and Community Service (ICVCS)
What is the role of AmeriCorps within the American Red Cross?
How do I Apply?
Safe Families Site Locations
Training of AmeriCorps Members
Eligibility
Compensation and Education Awards
Child Care
Health Care
For more information

What is AmeriCorps?
The AmeriCorps program is a federally-funded initiative, often referred to as a "domestic Peace Corps."  It offers full and part-time opportunities for participants, called members, to provide service to society through community organizations.  While AmeriCorps is a federal initiative, it is locally driven and has a four-fold mission, which embraces:

• Getting Things Done by helping a community meets its education, public safety, environmental and other human needs through direct service
• Strengthening Communities
• Encouraging Responsibility
• Expanding Opportunity by providing members with job skills, invaluable experience, and scholarship or loan repayment for school or job training. 

AmeriCorps includes three national programs managed by the Corporation:

1. AmeriCorps*USA (including state and national programs)
2. AmeriCorps*VISTA
3. AmeriCorps*NCCC (National Civilian Community Corps)

The American Red Cross is an AmeriCorps*USA state program.

Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS)
The Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS) was established in 1993 to engage Americans of all ages and backgrounds in community-based service.  The AmeriCorps*USA program is administered through state commissions on service. 

Illinois Commission on Volunteerism and Community Service (ICVCS)
The Illinois Commission on Volunteerism and Community Service(ICVCS) was established to administer service programs and promote volunteerism throughout the state.  The American Red Cross applies for its AmeriCorps*USA grant through ICVCS. 

What is the role of AmeriCorps within the American Red Cross?
The mission of the American Red Cross is to help people prevent, prepare for, and respond effectively to emergencies.  The AmeriCorps program helps the Red Cross achieve its mission by paying special attention to the neighborhoods and communities that need services the most, yet are least likely to be able to afford them. 

The AmeriCorps program is dedicated to bringing Red Cross safety and health programs to underserved neighborhoods, schools, and communities throughout the state of Illinois. Red Cross health and safety programs include CPR, first aid, HIV/AIDS, community disaster education, youth programs, and more. The AmeriCorps grant defines underserved populations as follows:

• Youth
• Minorities
• Low-income
• Senior citizens

Please note:The AmeriCorps program does not offer classes free of charge to businesses, organizations or individuals who can afford to pay for the courses.  The program is intended to focus on unmet community needs. 

How do I Apply?
The program runs from the beginning of August to the following August.  Apply by going to www.AmeriCorps.org.  Click on “Join Now” under Individuals.  Our program is an AmeriCorps State program serving Illinois. The program name and number is Safe Families American Red Cross - (Listing ID:  94ASCIL0140101-1).  You can also contact the Manager, National Service Programs manager at (312) 729-6175 or email ChicagoCS@usa.redcross.org for an application.

Safe Families Site Locations
Our Programs is a state wide program, covering most, but not all, of the counties in Illinois.  We have locations in the following American Red Cross chapters in Illinois: 

• Adams County Chapter (Quincy)
• American Red Cross of Greater Chicago (Chicago and Suburbs)
• American Red Cross of the Quad Cities Area (Moline)
• Central Illinois Chapter (Peoria)
• Mid-Illinois Chapter (Decatur)
• Northwest Illinois Chapter (Freeport)
• Rock River Chapter (Rockford)
• Southwest Illinois Chapter (Alton)
• St. Louis Area Chapter (Fairview Heights)
• Western Illinois Chapter (Galesburg)

AmeriCorps Member Training
All members must participate in a week-long orientation training, AmeriCamp, to kick-off the program.  During AmeriCamp, members will learn how to become instructors of such programs as first aid, CPR, babysitter’s training, HIV/AIDS education, community disaster education and kid safety presentations.

Attendance at four mandatory trainings throughout the year is required.  These trainings will take place at site locations throughout the state of Illinois. The final training with be combined with a graduation celebration at the end of the program year.

Eligibility
To be eligible for AmeriCorps, members must possess a high school diploma or GED, or agree to obtain one; be at least 17 years old; and be U.S. citizens, U.S. nationals, or lawful permanent residents of the U.S.  Unfortunately, full-time students CANNOT be full-time members. 

Compensation and Education Awards
Full-time members are required to serve 1,700 hours (about 35 hours a week) and will receive a living allowance of $10,900 per year.  The living allowance is paid to the member bi-weekly.  Following the successful completion of a term of service, full-time AmeriCorps members will receive a $4,725 educational award.  It is available for up to seven years from completion of service and may be applied toward attendance at a qualified institution of higher education, an approved school-to-work program, or to repay qualified student loans.

Child Care
Child care is available to any full-time eligible member who needs this service in order to participate in the program.  The Corporation will fund child care directly, and will pay 100% of the allowance that is determined by the Child Care and Development Block Grant (CCDBG).  The Corporation provides child care technical assistance through the National Child Care Resource and Referral Agencies (NACCRRA).  NACCRRA makes payments directly to the child care providers. 

To be eligible to receive child care:

• the member's total family income must be less than 75% of the state median income
• the Member must be the parent or guardian
• the child must be under 13 and reside with the member
• the Member must certify the need for child care in order to participate in the AmeriCorps program

Health Care
Full time AmeriCorps members will be provided with health coverage, if they are not otherwise covered by a health care policy.  There is a $100 deductible.  Dependents are not covered.
The following minimum benefits will be provided:

• Physician services for illness or injury
• Hospital room and board
• Emergency room
• X-ray
• Laboratory
• Prescription drug
• Limited coverage for mental/nervous disorders and substance abuse. 

For more information, please contact:

Manager, National Service Programs
American Red Cross of Greater Chicago
2200 West Harrison Avenue
Chicago, IL 60612
(312) 729-6175
ChicagoCS@usa.redcross.org