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CISFL Announces Florida's Largest VISTA Project. VISTA GRANT INCREASED for 2008-2009 to 43 Members. Value Statewide: $1,080,200
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For the past 25 years, Communities In Schools of Florida and its local CIS affiliates have been coordinating volunteers and engaging community partners to increase the capacity of communities to meet the needs of their students, families, and schools. We are pleased to announce that CISFL now has the largest VISTA Project in Florida, with 38 VISTA members in place. As one of the most successful national grantees,
our grant was converted to a Standard Project with approval for 43 VISTA volunteers for 2008-09. Each VISTA represents a value of more than $24,550 to a CIS affiliate. Students and families statewide are receiving the benefit and value with VISTA volunteers working on a diverse number of community capacity building and outreach projects. These VISTA members are located in schools assisting the parent liaisons with special projects (celebrations, parent expos, school expos) and making connections to valuable community resources that can assist the schools, teachers, and students. As one example of the success of our VISTA members, due to their involvement, schools have experienced a dramatic increase in parental involvement -150% or greater.
What is AmeriCorps VISTA?
Frequently referred to as the Domestic Peace Corps, AmeriCorps VISTA is the national service program designed to fight poverty. Founded as Volunteers in Service to America in 1965 by President John F. Kennedy, VISTA has been on the front lines in the fight against poverty in America for more than 40 years. VISTA members commit to serve full-time for a year at a nonprofit organization or local government agency, working to fight illiteracy, improve health services, create businesses, strengthen community groups, and much more. With passion, commitment, and hard work, they create or expand programs designed to bring individuals and communities out of poverty.
How VISTA Members are Strengthening Communities at CISFL?
Consistent with the CIS mission, the CIS VISTA Project is designed to engage community partners. As VISTA Members accomplish their service goals, the community strengthens its overall capacity to serve at-risk students and families living in poverty. The mission of the CIS VISTA Project is the initiation of systems that increase volunteerism, increase resources and align services in Florida communities and schools that target at-risk youth and families living in poverty. The members in this project lay the groundwork for smoother coordination among youth serving organizations and schools, thereby improving services to at-risk youth, and helping them make long-term academic and life gains.
A primary component of the CIS Florida VISTA Project focuses on breaking the intergenerational cycle of poverty by:
- Communicating with parents of students living in poverty about local/state resources
- Empowering Local Grassroots Initiatives for Family Formation and Development
- Assisting After School Programs and Child Care Providers
- Increasing Childhood and/or Adult Literacy
- Assisting Families Affected by Hurricanes
- Expanding Rural Initiatives/Resources
In 2007-08, the CISFL VISTA Project accomplished:
- The recruitment of 14,918 Volunteers
- 4,964 Home Visits made to families in need
- 43,443 Parents contacted about their child's educational progress
- 21,400 Parents attended a school function (many for the first time)
- $86,623 of in-kind donations collected
- $28,100 collected in contributions
- 13,019 Families connected to local or state resources
- 1,440 community partnerships developed
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Project Staff:
AmeriCorps VISTA Website:
http://www.americorps.org/about/programs/vista.asp
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