Central Valley Communities for Children AmeriCorps Program

Contact Person: Mr. Jeff Coomber, Program Coordinator
Address: 1300 – 17th Street, Bakersfield, CA 93301
Phone: (661) 636-4532
FAX: (661) 636-4329
Email: Jecoomber@kern.org
Web Site: http://kcsos.kern.org/schcom/AmeriCorps

Description of Organization:
The Central Valley Communities for Children AmeriCorps Program is a project of the Kern County Superintendent of Schools Office. Now in its tenth year, the program places AmeriCorps Members in schools and after-school programs in Bakersfield, Buttonwillow, Delano, Fellows, Lamont, Shafter, and Taft to serve as reading and math tutors. They also partner with community collaboratives and agencies to organize service projects to improve the neighborhoods in which the children live.

The Members are longtime local residents whose backgrounds reflect the diversity of the communities where they work. Many have faced the same tough challenges that students in their schools experience today. They have ranged in age from 17 to 61 years old. What they share in common is a strong desire to make a difference by improving their communities. They are an excellent example of local people solving local problems.

AmeriCorps is a national service initiative with over 75,000 AmeriCorps Members working on projects that meet critical local needs in education, public safety, human services, and the environment. Throughout the nation, there are over 1000 AmeriCorps programs run by non-profit organizations like the YMCA and Habitat for Humanity, by community-based organizations, by colleges and universities, and by local schools and police districts. For more information on AmeriCorps Programs across the nation, please visit the Corporation for National and Community Service website – http://www.cns.gov.

Literacy Programs:

Tutoring

Program Specifics:

  • Target population: Children and youth ages 6-17 (grades K-12)
  • Days of operation: Typically Monday - Friday
  • Hours of operation: During school day and in afternoon
  • Target Communities: 30 school sites plus various after-school programs in Bakersfield, Buttonwillow, Delano, Fellows, Lamont, Shafter and Taft

How Results are Measured:

  • Comparison of pre- and post-standardized test scores
  • Pre- and post-surveys of targeted students completed by teachers

Estimated numbers served:

  • 1400 students annually

Other notes of interest:

  • Program seeks volunteers for after-school programs

[ Print This Page ]   [ Email This Page ]