AmeriCorps VISTA is a federally funded volunteer program that provides members with a monthly living allowance as well as an education award at the end of service. This is the first year of a 3-year VISTA project.

In partnership with public schools, CISSC brings resources and volunteers to help struggling students get back on track. Our purpose is to provide support for marginalized students by addressing inequalities in our society. We believe that students need a caring community that helps them achieve their goals in life. The CIS network exists to build on student strengths and overcome barriers through advocacy, partnerships, and one-on-one social/emotional support. Many of the young people we serve are facing challenges both inside and outside the classroom. What sets CIS apart is the way we coordinate a variety of services supporting the needs of these students. This allows them to come to school ready to learn and succeed. One-on-one support helps individual students overcome barriers to success at school while school-wide offerings like bully prevention assemblies and after-school enrichment meet broad student needs. Through an evidence-based approach, CISSC has adapted to meet each community's unique needs by focusing on providing equitable access to resources and education for students. Of the number of students served by CISSC in 2023, 88% were low income, 14 % were experiencing homelessness at the time, 95% had reported being exposed to trauma, and 6% of the students were English language learners.

The goal of this VISTA project is to strategically align organizational initiatives of CISSC, including through improvements to the volunteer program, grant writing optimization, and attention to partnership development. By addressing operational challenges and creating efficient systems, the project aims to enhance the organization's ability to provide a strong community of support for students, ensuring they thrive academically and in life. The overarching objective is to implement targeted programs that contribute to the organization's mission and advance its strategic goals in order to more effectively serve students in throughout Spokane County.

Member Duties: Improve the foundational structure of CISSC’s volunteer program, specifically focusing on volunteer recruitment and continued engagement. Facilitate active community engagement by establishing a volunteer program that encourages local individuals to contribute their time and skills, fostering support for students within Spokane area schools. Develop tools to support the organization’s ability to secure financial resources for programs and service through grant writing.

Learn more about AmeriCorps here: https://americorps.gov/

Learn more about Communities in Schools of Spokane County: https://spokane.ciswa.org/

Learn more about United Way of Spokane County here: https://www.unitedwayspokane.org/

View opportunity listing in the AmeriCorps portal: https://my.americorps.gov/mp/listing/viewListing.do?fromSearch=true&id=122495

Job Types: Full-time, Contract

Pay: $1,755.32 per month

Benefits:

• Dental insurance
• Flexible schedule
• Health insurance
• Paid time off
• Professional development assistance
• Relocation assistance
• Tuition reimbursement
• Vision insurance

Schedule:

• 8 hour shift
• Day shift
• Monday to Friday

Ability to Relocate:

• Spokane, WA 99202: Relocate before starting work (Required)

Work Location: Hybrid remote in Spokane, WA 99202