Service as a Solution
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 21, 2010
CONTACT: Bridget McFadden, Director, AmeriCorps Ohio College Guides
Office: 216.929.3536; Mobile: 440.666.8468; Email: mcfaddenb@ohiocan.org
Service As A Solution:
Ohio Community Service Council & Ohio College Access Network
invest more than $1.2M in AmeriCorps college advising
Columbus, Ohio – The Ohio Community Service Council (OCSC) along with the Ohio College Access Network (OCAN) and its partners will invest more than $1.2 million during the 2010-2011 academic year to provide college counseling to kids from low-wealth school districts across Ohio.
Sixty AmeriCorps Ohio College Guides will help serve more than 15,000 Ohio students, many of whom are from low-income families or would be the first in their families to attend college. The program places recent college graduates who dedicate their time to assisting at-risk youth directly in school districts and resource centers. This near-peer model allows Ohio College Guides to draw upon their recent college experiences to offer fresh insight into preparing for, funding, attending and graduating from post-secondary schools.
“OCAN is excited to double the number of AmeriCorps advisors in Ohio this year because it will make a direct impact on the lives of more students,” said Dr. Reginald A. Wilkinson, OCAN President and CEO. “Our approach also supports the Ohio Board of Regents’ citation that one way to improve the state’s educational productivity is by encouraging collaborations that address unmet educational needs in underserved regions,” added Wilkinson.
OCAN will partner with eight member programs for the 2010-2011 Ohio College Guides program including: Cincinnati Youth Collaborative (Cincinnati); Cleveland Scholarship Programs (Cleveland); Connect to Success (Marietta); Greene County College Success Partnership (Yellow Springs); I Know I Can (Columbus); The Ohio State University Economic Access Initiative (Lorain); Scholarship Central (Zanesville); and Stark Education Partnership (Canton).
These AmeriCorps grants are the first made under the Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act, passed by Congress last year which ushered in a new era of expansion, innovation and impact for the service movement.
“Service is an effective solution to many of the critical issues impacting Ohio families and local communities,” said William Hall, OCSC Executive Director. “By working with partners across the state, the Council can implement innovative, impactful national service and volunteer programming that is transformative for both the service recipient and the service participant.”
Ohio received a 40 percent increase in its AmeriCorps funding allocation in 2010 as part of the Serve America Act expansion. In exchange for their service, Ohio AmeriCorps members will earn an AmeriCorps Education Award to use towards furthering their own education or paying federal student loans.
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Ohio Community Service Council
The Ohio Community Service Council’s mission is to strengthen Ohio communities through service and volunteerism. Established by state statue in 1994, the Council administers programs and initiatives aimed at increasing the number of Ohioans engaged in national service and volunteer activities. Since 1994, over 20,000 Ohioans have taken the AmeriCorps pledge to get things done – serving more than 34 million hours in local communities. In exchange for their service, Ohio AmeriCorps members have earned more than $56 million in AmeriCorps Education Awards to use to further their own education. AmeriCorps members serve throughout Ohio in nonprofit organizations, public agencies, faith-based and other community organizations. Member service varies by program and includes such activities as facilitating college admission for first-generation students, providing job search assistance for veterans, and conducting nutrition education programs. To find an AmeriCorps or other national service programs in your area, visit www.serveohio.org.
The Ohio College Access Network (OCAN) was founded in 1999, by KnowledgeWorks Foundation, in collaboration with the Ohio Board of Regents, the Ohio Department of Education and the Ohio Business Roundtable. OCAN works to establish college access programs across the state and is the first statewide coordinating body for college access programs in the nation. The goal of the organization is to help more Ohio students pursue postsecondary education through the work of local college access programs, which provide financial aid advising, last dollar grants, career guidance, and other services. Currently, 39 college access programs serve nearly 300 of Ohio’s 612 school districts, and 17 private/parochial schools in 46 counties touching over 175,000 students annually. For more information, go to www.OhioCan.org.
OCAN Encourages its Members to Join OASFAA & OACAC
The Ohio College Access Network believes it is important to work closely with local associations to ensure that college access advisors have the most up-to-date college application, financial aid resources and information.
OASFAA (Ohio Association of Financial Aid Administrators) and OACAC (Ohio Associaton for College Admission Counseling) are committed to providing professional development and training for individuals dedicated to making college accessible and affordable. As a member of each organization, you will find a wealth of resources available on their respective websites www.oacac.org and www.oasfaa.org member's only pages, in addition to being eligible to participate in numerous training and other developmental opportunities to ensure that you are always current with Federal and State regulations and information. To join these associations, visit their website for more information.
Mission Statement