AmeriCorps NCCC is a full-time, residential, team-based program for young adults aged 18-24.* They maintain four programs, Traditional Corps, FEMA Corps, Summer of Service, and Forest Corps.
- In Traditional Corps, members’ service assignments include leading youth development activities; constructing and rehabilitating low-income housing; helping communities develop emergency plans and respond to emergencies such as flood, hurricanes, and public health emergencies such as COVID-19; performing environmental clean-up; constructing and rehabilitating low-income housing, coordinating volunteers; and addressing other local needs.
- FEMA Corps is a partnership with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) where members gain professional skills in emergency management while serving with FEMA on disaster response and recovery efforts. FEMA Corps works solely on emergency management and long-term recovery activities within FEMA, helping coordinate services for disaster survivors. FEMA Corps projects may involve indirect assignments in the FEMA offices that support FEMA’s overall mission or direct assignments in disaster sites, such as helping survivors in remote regions sign up for Disaster Survivor Assistance.
- Summer of Service is a simplified version of NCCC's other programs, on a shortened timeframe. As with all other NCCC programs, members will participate in pre-service training, albeit a shorter version, and serve on teams.
- Forest Corps is a program partnership between AmeriCorps NCCC and United States Forest Service. Members perform direct, hands-on service in the areas of wildfire risk mitigation, reforestation, environmental conservation, and resource management.
*AmeriCorps NCCC is a program for 18-24 by statute. During this study 25- and 26-year-olds were permitted by the CARES Act to participate.
Leadership Skills (Longitudinal Study) Report
AmeriCorps NCCC’s theory of change sets forth the core outcomes of leadership through service: 1) gain professional skills; 2) develop life skills; 3) teamwork; and 4) engagement in civic life. This report discusses the findings on whether and how service impacts members’ leadership skills through two objectives:
- Estimate the impact of service on members’ leadership skills.
- Examine the association between service project assignments and members' leadership skills.
Member Retention Report
Retaining members through their year of service is an important in order to achieve AmeriCorps’ desired impact on those who serve, the beneficiaries and the communities. Retaining members maximizes the program’s cost effectiveness and enhances sustainability. This report discusses the findings on factors that affect the retention of members through four objectives:
- Describe the characteristics of members who do not complete their term of service (early exit members).
- Describe motivation for service and reasons for leaving service.
- Identify factors that contribute to member retention through the end of the service term.
- Discuss the lessons learned and best practices that can inform how best to maximize member retention.
Strengthening Communities Report
AmeriCorps promotes community building through service and demonstrates the capacity of government and nonprofit partnerships to improve communities and serve the most vulnerable. This report discusses the evidence of how AmeriCorps NCCC strengthens the communities in which its members serve through three objectives:
- Define what strengthening communities means in the context of AmeriCorps NCCC.
- Assess the evidence of how AmeriCorps NCCC strengthens communities where its members serve.
- Calculate the social return on investment of AmeriCorps’ response to the COVID-19 pandemic.