Montana Office of Community Service Accomplishments
The Office of Community Service funded four AmeriCorps programs last year – Montana Campus Corps, Montana Conservation Corps, Montana Technology Corps, the Literacy Support Corps, and the Community Engagement Research Fellowship Corps. The most profound impact of these programs will be seen in future years as their alumni practice the ethic of service acquired while working on projects that solved problems and met the needs of their neighbors, communities and our public lands.
The following summary provides a glimpse of the impact AmeriCorps had on the State of Montana in 2005/06:
275 individuals enrolled in AmeriCorps programs this year, serving a total of 271,463 hours and earning an estimated $788,737 in education awards that potentially could be redeemed for higher education in Montana.
- Goal #1: Expand service opportunities for all Montanans.
Accomplishment: AmeriCorps members worked in schools to enhance the ability of children to succeed both in and out of school:- Tutored and/or taught 2,107 students
- Mentored 460 at-risk students
- Provided access to technology to 1,297 youth, parents, and other community members
- Organized environmental service-learning projects for 521 youth
- Engaged adults 17,673 times in parent-child learning activities
- Facilitated 1,233 literacy-based parent child learning activities in 20 schools
Some of the highlights seen in schools include: a 90% increase in computer proficiency with students involved in technology; and, as a result of parent-child learning activities, 89.5% of parents reported an increased ability to support of student academic achievement.
- Goal #2: Provide training and technical assistance for community and national service programs in Montana to ensure they have the capacity to support volunteers.
Accomplishment: : AmeriCorps members worked on environmental projects to maintain, enhance access, and promote stewardship for public lands:- Built or restored 921 miles of trails
- Restored or conserved 12 miles of river and streams
- Constructed 49 miles of fencing to protect public lands
- Planted 31,967 trees
- Restored or conserved 2,008 acres of habitat on public lands
- Goal #3: Maintain a solid portfolio of AmeriCorps programs to meet the needs of Montana communities and provide participants with financial resources to pursue higher education.
Accomplishment: AmeriCorps members worked on a wide range of projects that meet human service needs that are beyond the resources of Montana agencies:- Weatherized 1286 homes
- Constructed or repaired 12 housing units for 38 individuals
- Improved 81 community buildings for over 50 community and faith based organizations.
- Generated 7,692 volunteers who gave 43,296 hours on community based projects.
- Demonstrated 170 partnerships with community and faith based organizations
- Generated 62 print and broadcast media stories
- 87% of sponsors reported that the service enhanced their organizational capacity.
Montana Office of Community Service Website: http://www.mt.gov/mcsn/
