AmeriCorps - SC First Steps

AmeriCorps

Gain valuable experience and give back to your community through service with First Steps AmeriCorps. Our AmeriCorps members engage directly with families and communities, helping to ensure that all children start school ready to reach their highest potential.

Volunteers in Service to America (VISTA)

 

South Carolina First Steps is actively recruiting three (3) VISTAs to use their talents to increase the capacity of 46 nonprofit affiliates, known as local partnerships, to support families with young children. The 3 VISTA members will operate as a team to brainstorm and execute plans to influence the nonprofits’ operations in these focus areas:

Communications - Storytelling allows for families to tell their experience. VISTA will concentrate on collecting the experiences of families in SC through blogs, photography, video, and other written and visual communications designed to inform and create change.

Fundraising - Raising dollars to support new initiatives for families. VISTA will focus on building community partnerships and generating ideas to increase donations for family support services in SC.

Nonprofit Management - VISTA will influence change in 46 county nonprofit operations by creating the toolkits and other resources to make statewide family support services more efficient and effective.

*This program is available to all, without regard to race, color, national origin, gender, age, religion, sexual orientation, disability, gender identity or expression, political affiliation, marital or parental status, genetic information, and military service. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.

APPLY FOR VISTA

First Steps AmeriCorps (National/State Program)

Up to 38 part-time service opportunities are available across the state and at the South Carolina First Steps office in Columbia, SC. 

Two service positions, HIPPY Parent Educator & Family and Community Engagement, complete activities ranging from providing one-on-one support for parents to hosting outreach events about school readiness and local early childhood services.

First Steps AmeriCorps provides 2 stipends per month ranging from $204.28 to $550.00.

AmeriCorps members receive the Segal Education Award to pay down student loan debt or cover upcoming tuition costs. The award ranges from $1,718.25 to $4,546.50, and it is based on the number of hours completed during the 8 to 10 months of service.

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Service Details 

The Service Year

AmeriCorps VISTA

12 months of service starting from the date you complete the virtual VISTA Member Orientaiton (VMO). Hours of service may be completed between 9:00 am to 5:00pm totaling 37.5 hours per week.

AmeriCorps National/ State

Serve your community for 10 months, from August 2024 to June 2025. Schedules are flexible and determined by the AmeriCorps member and the service site. Hours of service may be completed between 7:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m.

To see how our First Steps AmeriCorps Members manage their busy schedules, take a look at our Day in the Life schedules.

Minimum Requirements

AmeriCorps VISTA

AmeirCorps National/State

  • Be at least 21 years of age or older. Candidates under the age of 21 are onboarded if selected by the AmeriCorps service site.
  • Have or be working towards a high school diploma or its equivalent
  • Be a citizen, national, or lawful permanent resident alien of the United States
  • Complete a criminal background check in accordance with the National Service Criminal History Check eligibility criteria
  • Satisfy the South Carolina Department of Social Services Central Registry of Child Abuse and Neglect

Service Benefits

  • Living Allowance (stipend) provided to you twice per month.
    • VISTA- $22,880 per year
    • AmeriCorps National/State- yearly amounts vary, review availabe position description 
  • Professional development and connections to a vast childcare professional network
  • Mileage Reimbursement
  • Access to childcare scholarships, if eligible
  • Ed Segal Education Award to cover student loan debt and/or tuition cost. The award is provided at the end of the service year. Education award amounts are listed below.

15 hours per week (450 Service hours) – $1,678.57

20 hours per week (675 Service hours)- $2,417.14

25 hours per week (900 Service hours)- $3,172.50

35 hours per week (1200 Service hours) -$4,441.50

VISTA Segal Education Award- $6,895.00

Application Process

 Applications are accepted on a rolling basis, and orientations are hosted virtually twice a month.

  1. Complete your application online. Prepare to submit your Driver’s License and Social Security card.
  2. You will receive an email requesting you to schedule your candidate screening.
  3. You may be invited to complete a panel interview with the AmeriCorps site.
  4. Complete a background check, if selected by the AmeriCorps site to become a First Steps AmeriCorps member.
  5. Complete orientation, then serve your community!