Serve, Lead, and Empower Tennesseans
Who We Are
Community Cares AmeriCorps program at TCAC is a multi-focus AmeriCorps program that addresses important problems our communities of poverty face including helping seniors, people with disabilities and disadvantage youth. Services that our members provide are; independent living services, basic food support and distribution, and out of school enrichment support to youth who lack access to such programming. Our partnering service sites are all throughout the state of Tennessee. Service locations include public housing authorities, shelters, food banks, and youth centered organizations.
AmeriCorps Get Things Done
AmeriCorps is the “domestic Peace Corps” where thousands of Americans, both young and young in spirit, are willing to get things done through service in exchange for help financing their higher education or repaying student loan debts. AmeriCorps seeks to harness the energy and idealism of Americans who are dedicated to making their communities — and this country — a better place for all of us to live.
Take a chance, find your spark, and inspire someone to encourage a brighter future, help elderly maintain their lives, serve in the wilderness to conserve our public lands, and rebuild communities after disaster.
What We Do
Community Cares is a multi focus AmeriCorps state program that places AmeriCorps members (serving various term lengths) among service sites across Tennessee, to provide capacity and support to housing authorities and nonprofits that lack the necessary resources otherwise to provide direct services and activities, utilizing the theory that the member’s interventions will improve the quality of life for older residents and individuals with disabilities and empower and enhance the lives of young residents to create pathways to increased educational attainment and retention, self-esteem, and social and emotional functioning.
INDEPENDENT LIVING:
AmeriCorps members serving at host sites serving low income individuals with disabilities and seniors 55+ will provide assistance in independent living services. Direct interventions for independent living services received by the beneficiary can be any combination of: wellness checks, companionship, nutrition/food support, food delivery, community involvement, and paperwork help.
FOOD SUPPORT:
Our program has members serving the community at large while serving at food banks to assist with food insecurity. These members help distribute, prepare, and deliver pounds of food throughout the year to community partnered organizations and low-income families needing food support.
YOUTH SERVICES:
Youth living in low income community’s lack access to educational enrichment programming. TN has 95 counties with a large population of rural schools within these counties, it is challenging to have successful youth programs where children can have a safe learning environment outside of school. The Community Cares members aid in providing these services to the youth population while offering afterschool/out-of-school programming primary activities that involve literacy, mentoring, tutoring, computer skills, food support and family/social interactions.
Become a Member
The Community Cares AmeriCorps program offers service opportunities throughout the state of Tennessee in a variety of public housing authorities, community-based agencies, food bank, and nonprofit organizations. The program encompasses three different types of positions: Full time (1700 hours / 12 months), Half time (900 hours / 8-12 months) and Minimum time (300 hours / 10 weeks) service contracts may be available depending on service sites and positions offered.
In general, applicants should be at least 18 years of age, have a high school diploma or equivalency, be a citizen or legal resident of the country, and have a passion for serving others, getting things done and wanting to make an impact in their communities.
How to Become a Member:
Recruitment for our program is primarily handled by the individual service sites. However, if you are interested and have not been recruited directly by a site, please go to my AmeriCorps portal and complete an online application. Following the instructions for a more detailed guide when completing the application.
Contact the Community Cares Program Director, Rebecca Grubb rebecca@tcac1.org or
AmeriCorps
Program Coordinator, Hayley Davis americorps@tcac1.org with any questions or for more information.
My AmeriCorps Log in portal link- https://my.americorps.gov/mp/login.do
For more instructions on how to apply online, please contact us.
Benefits to Being a Member:
AmeriCorps members are given a living allowance, health care (if applicable), childcare (if applicable), and become eligible for the Segal AmeriCorps Education Award upon successful completion of the program. The Segal Education Award can be used to apply to a college, university, and pay off existing loans.
Childcare:
https://www.americorpschildcare.com/
Education award:
https://www.nationalservice.gov/programs/americorps/segal-americorps-education-award
Qualifications for Being a Member:
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Applicants must be deemed eligible to serve by the program and site based on the NSOPW, TBI, and FBI background check results.
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Have a high school diploma, equivalency, or (post-secondary education and/or related work are preferred) agree to obtain equivalency to receive Segal award.
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Be a U.S. citizenship or lawful permanent residency in the United States.
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Be drug free and abide by the Drug Free Workplace policy.
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Serve in a cooperative manner with other staff members and be able to interact in a positive, professional manner with program staff, agency staff, volunteers, and community members. Abide by the AmeriCorps program and TCAC’s core values.
*AmeriCorps applicants are immediately disqualified if listed on the sex offender registry or convicted of murder. Please review applications prior to recommending members to serve in our program. Applicants are required to disclose criminal history on the application, if applicant does not disclose this information the program then, will automatically disqualify the candidate.
Life After AmeriCorps:
Click to download the full PDF
Life-After-AmeriCorps-Guide-Nov2019-Final_508
Segal award- CNCS website link- https://www.nationalservice.gov/programs/americorps/segal-americorps-education-award
Job resources – https://www.nationalservice.gov/programs/americorps/alumni/alumni-job-resources
Becoming a Host Site:
Public Housing Authorities, local non-profits, and or faith-based organizations are encouraged to contact our office for more information on how to get involved with the Community Cares AmeriCorps program. If you are an organization that engages in; independent living services for low income individuals with disabilities and adults 55 and older, prepare/distribute food, and/or provide youth engagement services to disadvantage youth under 18 years of age that is interested in hosting one or more full, half, or minimum time members, please contact Rebecca Grubb rebecca@tcac1.org for more information.
We constantly strive to build stronger communities by working together and maintain meaningful relationships with our partner agencies and the communities in which we serve. Approval of a new service site is dependent on a variety of factors; programs application design, focus areas, funding, positions available, and time of year.
Where We Serve
TCAC has acquired over 23 years of experience in administering federal grants, with a partnership with National Service; including AmeriCorps VISTA, Learn and Serve, and AmeriCorps State and National. Throughout our 23 years we have directly served in more than 50 Tennessee counties in partnerships with public housing authorities, nonprofits, and community-based organizations across the state. Providing vase services to help Tennesseans’ improve their quality of life.
Hamblen County, TN; Putnam County, TN; Cumberland County, TN; Sullivan County, TN; Bledsoe County, TN; Greene County, TN; Washington County, TN; Jefferson County, TN; Unicoi County, TN; Coffee County, TN; Cocke County, TN; Roane County, TN; Carter, TN; Davidson County, TN; Hancock County, TN; Hawkins County, TN; Johnson County, TN; Knox County, TN; Shelby County, TN; Sevier County, TN; Blount Co, TN; Grainger Co, TN.
Current Partners: 22 Service Locations
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A Place to Stay
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Boys & Girls Club of Dumplin Valley
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Camp Ba Yo Ca
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Crossville Housing Authority
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Dickson Housing Authority
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Douglas Cherokee
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East Tennessee State University (ETSU): Access
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East Tennessee State University (ETSU): Service Learning
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Easter Seals
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Good Neighbors
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Highlands Residential Services
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Johnson City Housing Authority
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Kingsport Housing & Redevelopment Authority
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MATS (Ministerial Association Temporary Shelter)
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Memphis Housing Authority
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Morristown Housing Authority
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Narrow Ridge: Earth Literacy Center
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Nations Ministry Center
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Newport Housing Authority
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Nations Ministry Center
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Vanderbilt University: Next Steps
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Western Heights Baptist Center
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WHAT MEMBERS SAY
LaTrece Willis
We see the need, and act on it. People are people no matter how big or small/old or young, or the situation they're in, I'm just glad I am in the position to help those who need it.
Lakie Hensley
Stereotypes change, when you're surrounded by people ,their stories, and their paths of life... My own insecurities went out the window. It's not us (members) making the change, it's the people.
Denise Holt
It is a blessing to do this service, to see residents light up and the joy on their faces make all of this worth it, and gives meaning to 'Getting things done'
Program Administrators
Rebecca Grubb
AmeriCorps Program Director
Hayley Samples
AmeriCorps Coordinator
"Geared to serve, AmeriCorps 'get's things done.' "
Phone: 423-586-7636 Ext. 301