ADOPTED - OCTOBER 26, 2010

                                                                                                                                                   Agenda Item No. 17

 Introduced by the Judiciary and Finance Committees of the:

INGHAM COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS

RESOLUTION TO AUTHORIZE A MICHIGAN COMMUNITY SERVICE COMMISSION AMERICORPS GRANT POSITION PLACEMENT FOR THE FAMILY DIVISION OF CIRCUIT COURT

RESOLUTION #10-351

WHEREAS, the Power of We Consortium successfully competed for a grant from the Michigan Community Service Commission (MCSC) for a Michigan’s AmeriCorps project that will place full-time AmeriCorp members within organizations throughout the greater Lansing area to improve residents physical activity and nutrition; and

WHEREAS, the Power of We selected MSU Extension Office as a host site in the 2009/2010 grant year; and

WHEREAS, the Power of We Consortium notified MSU Extension Office that they were selected again as a host site for an AmeriCorps volunteer for 2010/2011; and

WHEREAS, the Ingham County Board of Commissioners established the Ingham County Family Center Advisory Board in Resolution #08-85 to monitor the integrity of the current and future services under the Ingham County Family Center roof, provide advice and recommendations to the County Circuit Court/Family Division and Judiciary Committee, and to develop policies and procedures for the Center; and

WHEREAS, the Ingham County Family Center Advisory Board endorses the green campus vision for the Ingham County Family Center; and

WHEREAS, the Ingham County Family Center Advisory Board is recommending to the Board of Commissioners to enter into a contract with MSU Extension to fund an AmeriCorps volunteer position, to be supervised by MSU Extension, funded through the Juvenile Justice Millage; and

WHEREAS, the AmeriCorps volunteer would work directly with youth involved in the Ingham County Family Center programs (see attached Scope of Services and Position Description). 

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Board of Commissioners authorizes entering into a placement agreement with MSU Extension to oversee the AmeriCorps volunteer from October 18, 2010 through September 30, 2011, at a cost of $6,300.00, to be paid from the fund balance of the Juvenile Justice Millage.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, the Ingham County Board of Commissioners authorizes the Board Chairperson and the County Clerk to sign any necessary contract/placement documents that are consistent with this resolution and approved as to form by the County Attorney.

JUDICIARY:   Yeas:  Nolan, Bahar-Cook, Davis, Tsernoglou, Schafer, Dougan

      Nays:  None               Absent:  None             Approved 10/14/10

FINANCE:  Yeas:  Grebner, Tennis, Bahar-Cook, Schor, Holman, Dougan

Nays:  None                       Absent:  None           Approved 10/20/10

Scope of Service for MSU Extension’s Support for Programs at the

Ingham Family Center

Purpose: MSU Extension will provide on-site programming support to programs at the Ingham

Family Center that directly relate to increasing community knowledge of, and accessibility to, healthy lifestyle options for youth and families served by the Ingham Family Center.

Goals: Programming will align with the following goals:

1) Creating, expanding, maintaining community gardens, sustainable food systems, and access to healthy foods;

Focus Areas: Direct service will be provided, via an AmeriCorps member, in three focus areas:

1) Recruitment and mobilization of community volunteers (where desirable and appropriate);

2) Community education (where desirable and appropriate);

3) Training, supporting and modeling direct service work

Duration and Hours Provided: Staff will be provided an average of 32 hours per week from the period of October 18, 2010 through October 17, 2011. Training and development opportunities are included in this average.

Current Situation: In 2010, an AmeriCorps member coordinated the Ingham County Family Center Youth Garden to including an after school program for the Ingham Academy students, a chicken coop with five chickens, Garden Gala dinner, two raised beds, a cooking program for Pride students, and a youth farm stand that sold at the Grady Porter building and Hilliard building.  A hoop house is scheduled to be built in the month of October. 

Proposed Programming Activities: Programs will be planned collaboratively with Family

Center staff and others such as the Ingham Academy, Highfields, etc. 2011 will be the third season of gardening at the Center.  The new AmeriCorps member will have a nice starting foundation to continue developing the program expansions such as the after school program, garden expansion, annual garden gala, youth farm stand, full utilization of garden produce, chicken coop, hoop house, and the composting system.

MSU Extension will assist, again via an AmeriCorps member, with recruitment, training, coordination, and recognition of community volunteers to assist with and support the garden and farm stand activities. The member will also work alongside volunteers to lead the work and provide support. The member will do presentations for the Family Center Advisory Board, Greater Lansing Youth Gardening Conference, and to other stakeholders for educational purposes and to keep them updated on the progress of the project and to seek their input for future goals.

Educational activities will be provided by the AmeriCorps member by using the “2009 Youth

Farm Stand Toolkit” developed by the C.S. Mott Group for Sustainable Food Systems at MSU and the “4-H Jump into Food and Fitness” curriculum. These two specific resources and others will be used to educate the youth.

Ingham County MSU Extension

AmeriCorps Member Position Description

Ingham Family Center Project

9/16/10

General Summary

The primary responsibility of the AmeriCorps member will be to coordinate the Ingham Family Center Youth Garden and expand programs related to the green campus vision.  A large garden has been planted and tended by the youth and staff and the produce has been incorporated into the lunches and dinners served at the Family Center. 2011 will be the third season gardening at the Center.  The new AmeriCorps member will have a nice starting foundation to continue developing the program expansions such as the after school program, garden expansion, annual garden gala, youth farm stand, full utilization of garden produce, chicken coop, hoop house, and the composting system.

Essential Functions

• Coordinating youth garden program and farm market activities.
• Assist with recruitment, training, coordination, and recognition of community volunteers.
• Serve alongside youth and volunteers to lead projects and provide support.
• Develop and coordinate after-school clubs to provide educational opportunities.
• Give presentations to stakeholders for educational purposes and to keep them updated on the progress of the project and to seek their input for future goals. 
• Be active on the Youth Garden Coalition and assist with the coalition’s functions
• Assist with planning and implementing fundraisers for garden supplies and youth development activities.

Qualifications

• Minimum of two years in college.
• Must have reliable transportation.
• Must be able to pass background screening.
• Must have good driving record and have valid car insurance.
• Experience teaching and leading youth programs.
• Ability to establish positive rapport with diverse groups of people.
• Experience working with at-risk youth in a day treatment setting preferred.
• Ability to develop extensive project plans and be independent.    
• Desire to help youth develop leadership and job skills and make a difference in their communities.
• Effective communication skills and professional demeanor.
• Ability/willingness to participate in intense physical labor.

Physical Requirements

• Ability to lift twenty pounds
• Ability to do repetitive movements needed to garden and move debris such as: dig, bend, cut, squat, kneel, and haul.

Serving Conditions

• Available to serve an average about 33 hours a week for 52 weeks.
• Indoor office responsibilities and outdoor field responsibilities depending on activity.

• Outdoor activities will involve many different weather conditions such as: rain, heat, and cold.
• Teaching and motivating youth with behavioral problems.
• Flexible schedule including evenings and weekends with advance notice.

Remuneration:

· AmeriCorps members will each be provided extensive training (on and off site)

· An $11,800 a year living allowance

· Health coverage

· A $5,350 educational allowance at the successful completion of the service term.

AmeriCorps members will begin their service year on October 18, 2010 and will be required to complete 1700 service hours within one calendar year.

Required Documents (must be received by October 6^th)

Send resume and cover letter to [email protected] or:

Ingham County MSU Extension

Attn. Stephanie Reuter

121 East Maple Street

Mason, MI 48854

Location

Office will be located in at the Ingham County Family Center which is located in southwest Lansing, Michigan.