A New Season of Service Begins!
Now in its’ 16th year, the Ohio Community Service Council will support 30 AmeriCorps programs in PY 2009-2010 with initiatives focusing on education, public health, disaster preparedness, environmental issues, and human needs. Funding for the programs will exceed $7 million to support over 650+ AmeriCorps members who will be serving in local communities throughout the state. Programs within the Council’s Competitive portfolio include: American Red Cross/Central Ohio, City Year/Cleveland, City Year/Columbus, The Ohio State University, and Public Allies/Cincinnati. Competitive funds are awarded by the Corporation for National and Community Service, via national competition and supplement a state commission’s formula allocation. The Council also awarded three planning grants for organizations to develop administrative and member systems to become operational during the next program cycle. Programs include: Cleveland Botanical Garden (Green Corps urban Youth Program), First Grace United Church of Christ (Wellness360), and the National Church Residences (Ohio Community Outreach Program). Click here for Statewide AmeriCorps Directory! Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act With the passage of the Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act, President Obama has called on Congress to create new service and volunteer opportunities for Americans that will help to build a stronger country. This legislation answers his call. It will launch a new era of service that will give Americans of all ages the opportunity to help our nation recover and make progress on education, health care, energy and other key goals by volunteering, whether it is helping students achieve in school, weatherizing homes and greening communities, rebuilding cities in times of disaster, feeding the hungry, helping seniors live independently, and much more. 2010 Grant Competition In the FY 2010 grant competition, the funding priorities will be projects that address compelling, unmet needs in one or a combination of the following five national service priority areas: Education: Unmet educational needs that help children and youth achieve success in school and prevent them from dropping out before high school graduation. NOTIFICATION OF FUNDING OPPORTUNITY and Application Instructions will be posted in December 2009. Information Sessions for new program applicants will be held in early 2010.
NEW
LICENSE PLATE TO HELP
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
 |
|---|
National Preparedness Month
Highlights ...
The Ohio Community Service Council/Ohio Citizen Corps joined forces with the Ohio Emergency Management Agency to promote September as National Preparedness Month. A diverse group of state and local partners led efforts across the state to highlight the importance of emergency preparedness and promoting community involvement.
The month-long effort, kicked off August 28 at the Ohio Emergency Management Agency (OEMA) with the preparedness partners including the Ohio Department of Public Safety, Ohio EMA, the Central Ohio Transit Authority and the Ohio Community Service Council.
OCSC Executive Director Bill Hall shared with guests, " Congress recently passed the Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act, which
included for the first time the authorization and Federal recognition of September 11 as a National Day of Service and Remembrance –
a bill signed into law by President Obama."
National Preparedness Month is an initiative of the federal Department of Homeland Security, sponsored by FEMA's Ready Campaign and Citizen Corps.
 The annual Field of Flags Memorial is designed in the shape of the Twin Towers, the Pentagon, and has a 6-ft aisle - representing the open filed in Pennsylvania. |
|---|
 Devon Sirback, 4, of Jackson |
|---|
ServeOhio.org |
ServeOhio.org is Ohio's Address for
Service and Volunteerism!
Serveohio.org provides a calendar of events, best practices on screening volunteers, tips on finding the right volunteer opportunity, links to volunteer/funding opportunities, homeland security updates, Ohio's National Service Programs, Ohio Citizen Corps, Ohio's Volunteer License Plate, updates on legislation of interest to the field of national and community service - and much more!
 |
|
Thanks for
DOING YOUR PART …
Ohio Remains National Leader!
For 10 consecutive years, Ohio has led the nation in the number of volunteer service projects on Make A Difference Day - the largest national day of service! More than 40,000 Ohioans were expected to spend Saturday, October 24 volunteering in one of more than 1,000 projects held which included…food drives, hospital and nursing home visitations, neighborhood and environmental cleanups, health screenings, clothing collection and distribution - and much more!
 |
|---|
| Make A Difference Day Ohio kicked off Friday, October 23 at a project featuring the Columbus Housing Partnership's AmeriCorps after school program with MDDO Honorary Co-Chair Frances Strickland. Time was spent reading a book - For Every Child a Better World - then teaching the children how to make clean water, planting plants to promote clean air, and creating cards for the sick. Pictured above: (Back): Frances Strickland, AmeriCorps members Julian Cennamo and Natalie Fortino (Front): Na'Khyya Johnson, Moravian Latham-Aekins. |
First Lady of Ohio Frances Strickland, OSU Head Football
Coach Jim Tressel, the Ohio Community Service Council,
a statewide Steering Committee, and corporate sponsors
have led efforts to provide information, promote, and recognize outstanding volunteers throughout the state.
“Volunteerism is a win-win proposition,” said Frances Strickland. “It benefits the community and the volunteer. Make A Difference Day Ohio is an opportunity to work, learn and grow together. Volunteers across the state work to give back to their communities – and we're all better for it!”
Welcome ...
Lisa Meadows Smith |
Kelsey Conaway |
|---|
 |
|
Ohio is responding to the current H1N1 flu incident with ongoing monitoring of the situation and distribution of flu vaccine and medical supplies. Ohio Citizen Corps and Medical Reserve Corps volunteers are contributing to the support of the efforts to help others in the community. A State Declaration mentioning work of volunteers has allowed for liability protection be in place for volunteers who are called out to assist. Volunteers with both medical and non-medical skills are working throughout Ohio in call centers and flu clinics. Healthcare professionals are assisting with vaccinations along side health department staff. The demand for services has certainly placed a focus on the benefits of the volunteers. Nearly 2000 volunteers have participated in 140 H1N1 Flu activities. These numbers continue to grow as the need increases. New volunteers continue to register with over 1000 new volunteers registering in the past month on the Ohio Responds database. For people wanting to register and get involved with H1N1, Get the Facts and latest Updates: http://www.odh.ohio.gov/. National Recognition for Ohio Citizen Corps Council – and Cuyahoga County Citizen Corps Council One of the highlights of the National Conference on Community Preparedness in Arlington, Virginia, was the announcement on August 11, that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) recognized the Ohio Citizen Corps Council as one of the top four State Councils in the country - for its achievements in making our communities safer, stronger, and better prepared to manage any emergency situation. Cuyahoga County Citizen Corps was also honored for having one of the top four Citizen Corps in the country for its achievements in integrating volunteers into its emergency plans and responses. Way to go OHIO …Congratulations! To find out more, click here: Ohio Citizen Corps
Rochelle Shelton, a pleasant, cheerful and positive volunteer, is a lifetime resident of Portage County. Always a pleasure to talk to and continuously looking for ways to help others, it’s that cheerful and upbeat attitude that allows her to help her six clients as well.
|
Ohio Community Service Council
CNCS, Ohio Office
51 N. High Street - Suite 800
Columbus, Ohio 43215
614.728.2916
888.767.OHIO (Toll Free)