About CACC » Our Programs » HELP Program

HELP Program
(Higher Education Learning Program)

by AmeriCorps and CACC

History & Goals

The HELP Program began in 1997 after Washington Campus Compact (WACC) secured a grant through the Corporation for National and Community Service. WACC, in partnership with the state Compacts of California, Hawai’i, Montana, Oregon, and institutions in Idaho have fostered the civic engagement of thousands of higher education students. By participating in an AmeriCorps grant, we have been able to achieve a variety of goals, and follow the AmeriCorps motto of "Getting Things Done".

Through the HELP Program, you will be introduced to local, regional and national service-learning opportunities. The HELP Program strives to develop a regional network of student leaders committed to serving and strengthening their local communities in partnership with P-16 educators and community-based organizations in the areas of education, literacy, public safety, environmental initiatives and human services.

Sponsorship & Funding

Funding is provided by the Corporation for National and Community Service, which is the federal organization that manages national service programs such as AmeriCorps, National Senior Service Corps, and Learn and Serve America.

Terms of Service and Education Awards

The HELP Program offers students the opportunity to choose one of three terms of service (essentially, the number of hours a member agrees to complete). The resulting education award amount varies, depending on the selected term of service. For the 2002-03 program year (Aug. 2002 – July 2003), the education award amounts are:

300 Hour Term = $ 1,000.00*
450 Hour Term = $ 1,250.00*
900 Hour Term = $ 2,362.50*

Within the HELP Program, students who hold Federal/State-funded Work Study positions that are service-related may also apply to become a member of HELP. Work Study positions are the only paid positions eligible for participation. If a student has a service-related, non-paid internship, they may also be eligible to participate.

Service Focus Areas

The HELP Program partners with P-16 educators and community–based organizations in the focus areas of Education, Public Safety, Environmental Initiatives and Human Needs/Services. Some examples of direct service activities may be:

• Tutoring/mentoring; literacy programs; volunteer teaching of ESL or GED classes; after-school programs; service-learning activities on campus; University courses with a service-learning component; or
• State or Federal Work Study funded positions with a service focus (the only eligible paid positions); non-paid, academic internships with a service focus; or
• Volunteer firefighting; serving with the Red Cross; volunteering within the criminal justice system; or
• Stream restoration; revegetation/reforestation projects; recycling programs; wildlife conservation; or
• Serving at domestic violence shelters; food banks/soup kitchens; serving with homeless individuals; etc.

How Does It Work?

1. You will first locate service projects in which you are interested. All members must be enrolled as a student at a Campus Compact member institution during their term of service.
2. You must attend a mandatory orientation session for the program. You receive training in student leadership and learn about AmeriCorps and educational awards. Within two weeks of the orientation, a Term of Service commitment (either 300, 450, or 900 hours) is chosen and enrollment paperwork completed.
3. After successfully completing the application process, you become an AmeriCorps Member and accumulate service hours over the course of the year. You will submit monthly time logs, and progress is reported to your respective state Campus Compact office.
4. Members work closely with a person at their service site, called a Site Supervisor, who assists them in developing a service position description, and identifying member goals. Site supervisors also verify monthly time logs and monitor your compliance with Prohibited Activities.
5. You will have two years (24 months) from the date of orientation to complete the 900 hour term; and have one year (12 months) from the date of orientation to complete the 300 or 450 hour term.
6. Upon successful completion of the Term of Service and necessary paperwork, members exit the program and become eligible for an education award.

Member Listserv

If you are a California state HELP member, please subscribe to our listserv to ensure that you remain up-to-date one important programmatic information. To subscribe to our listserv, follow these steps:

1. Send an e-mail message to this address: learningpartners-request@sfsu.edu
2. Leave your subject line blank
3. Type ‘subscribe’ in the body of your message
4. Don’t include a signature line

Downloadable Documents

Member Resource Book (1184k) Enrollment Checklist (60k) Pre-Service Orientation Eval (61k) Member Agreement (115k) Site Agreement & Service Position Description (69k) Member Develop't Plan 1 (77k)

Time Log (100k) Cumulative Hours Form (101k) Exit Checklist (76k) Member/Program Eval (133k) Site Supervisor Eval (58k) Member Develop't Plan 2 (58k)

 

More Information

For program information, materials, and updates specific to California participation, please contact Lily Rahnema, Project Coordinator, at 415-405-7587, or send email to sis@cacampuscompact.org.

AmeriCorps website address is: www.americorps.org