MASON COUNTY — Mason County Schools and Step by Step, Inc. recently announced an opportunity for individuals interested in serving as AmeriCorps VISTAs, or Volunteers In Service to America, to address issues of bullying and other supports for students with disabilities.

It was reported through this program, AmeriCorps VISTAs will engage community stakeholders and leverage community resources in support of bullying prevention and intervention, academic and social engagement, and high school graduation. They will also identify and assess existing systems/services aimed at preventing and intervening in bullying situations, gaps and opportunities to develop, improve, or expand access to and coordination of student and family support services to students with disabilities and their families, coordinate interagency cooperation initiatives and support implementation of cross-sector bullying prevention and intervention programs and student success service, and develop resources to support sustainability of programs, services, and collaborations.

In addition to the duties listed above, it was also stated AmeriCorps VISTA members can serve in anti-poverty organizations and agencies, working on issues such as fighting illiteracy, improving health services, creating businesses, increasing housing opportunities, improving college access, and bridging the digital divide. VISTAs perform indirect service, which means they help build the capacity of organizations to deliver valuable direct services to people living in poverty. VISTAs typically create new programs, write grants, and recruit volunteers, such as establishing a tutoring program, recruiting and training volunteers, and raising money for the program, but not actually tutoring children.

As well as serving and making a difference to children within the community, VISTA members receive a monthly living allowance, training, limited health care benefits, childcare benefits if income eligible, student-loan forbearance or deferment and non-competitive eligibility for a federal government position. VISTA members who successfully complete a term of service are also eligible to receive awards to help pay for college or to pay off student loans.

For more information on this program, contact Marta Pate at 304-414-4429 or mpate@stepbystepwv.org or Jack Cullen at 304-675-4540, ext. 49123 or at jcullen@access.k12.wv.us.