Located in Frankfort, the KCCVS is a part of the Cabinet for Health and Family Services.
We work to fulfill this mission through a variety of activities.
These are some of the supports we offer to non-profit organizations and faith based organizations in Kentucky.
These are some of the supports we offer to non-profit organizations and faith based organizations in Kentucky.
Show examples of certificates and citations Certificates of Appreciation and Governor’s Citations can be obtained, free of charge, by contacting Shannon Ramsey at shannon.ramsey@ky.gov or calling her at 800-239-7404. Nomination for the Governor’s Awards for Outstanding Volunteer Service are usually due to the KCCVS in February. The award ceremony is held in April in conjunction with National Volunteer Week.
The KCCVS participates and encourages participation in the following National Days of Service. AmeriCorps members are encouraged to participate in some type of service on MLK, Jr. Day if their service sites are closed. The KCCVS will participate with KY Child Now! in National Youth Service Day activities in 2007. Make a Difference Day brings the annual “Beef Stew” drive to Kentucky. We encourage all AmeriCorps members and other organizations to collect beef stew and other canned goods to donate to local food banks.
The mission of the Corporation for National and Community Service is to improve lives, strengthen communities, and foster civic engagement through service and volunteering. The Corporation for National and Community Service: Acts as a catalyst by providing strategic critical support to volunteer organizations that, in turn, deliver much-needed services to communities throughout the country. Promotes a healthy, vibrant non-profit volunteer sector that can deliver community services efficiency and effectively. Builds character and creates career and educational opportunities through the volunteer experience. Develops and cultivates knowledge that will enhance the overall success of volunteer and service programs. Cultivates the growth of a culture of citizenship and service in which contributing to your community becomes commonplace. To accomplish these goals, the Corporation provides grants and training and technical assistance to developing and expanding volunteer organizations. In addition, the Corporation explores, develops, and models effective approaches for using volunteers to meet the nation's human needs and conducts and disseminates research that helps develop and cultivate knowledge that will enhance the overall effectiveness of national and community service programs.
AmeriCorps, sometimes called the domestic Peace Corps, engages more than 40,000 Americans in intensive, results-driven service each year, teaching children to read, making neighborhoods safer, building affordable homes and responding to natural disasters through more than 1,000 projects. Most AmeriCorps members are selected by and serve with projects like Habitat for Humanity, the American Red Cross, Boys and Girls Clubs and many more local and national organizations. After their terms of service, AmeriCorps members receive education awards to help finance college or pay back student loans. AmeriCorps members train volunteers, tutor and mentor at-risk youth, build housing, clean up rivers and streams, help seniors live independently, provide emergency and long-term assistance to victims of natural disasters and meet other community needs.
Every 1 Reads – Members work to expand the Every 1 Reads, a community-wide partnership between business, local government, and Jefferson Co. Public Schools to address educational needs of at risk students through literacy training. Members will also recruit and train community volunteers to tutor the at-risk students. The Learning Corps – Through structured reading and math tutoring sessions, members and community volunteers will raise reading comprehension and math levels of K-8 students. Members will also facilitate the recruitment and training of volunteers to provide additional tutoring for the students. Kentucky Youth Leadership Corps – Members will identify and mobilize resources to address local priorities for youth; be trained in youth best practices and developmental outcomes to enhance quality and efficiency of the organizations they serve with; assist in recruitment, education and management of youth and adult volunteers; and support youth initiatives. Louisville Metro AmeriCorps Program – Members will address the health and nutrition, education, and human service needs of families who live in low-income urban communities by building capacity and social capital. Members will serve at various community organizations to recruit and support volunteers to expand the agencies’ capacities and enhance agency responses to community needs. Getting Things Done for Kentucky’s Homeless – Members counsel low-income families/individuals, assisting them in attaining permanent and/or transitional housing. Members also serve as construction assistants at non-profit agencies, rehabilitating and building housing in low-income communities.
Senior Connections – Members seek to improve the quality of life for at-risk low-income elderly by providing in-home assistance with chores, home repairs, home management, caregiver relief, benefit counseling and home safety education. Members initiate, implement and participate in senior centered activities; are trained in disaster response and assist in local community projects. SERV Corps – Members will provide reading tutoring and drug education for at-risk students. Members will also serve as drug education coordinators within their service site schools. FRYSC Corps – Members serving under the supervision of Family Resource and Youth Services Center (FRYSC) coordinators, will provide reading tutoring for academically at-risk students utilizing the “Great Leaps” reading curriculum. Homeland Security Corps – Members serve in rapid response agencies to educate individuals in public safety, public health and disaster preparedness issues; train agency-affiliated volunteers; and assist in developing closer collaboration among local response agencies.
For more information or to schedule a training session, please contact Melissa Newton at melissaC.newton@ky.gov or at 800-239-7404.
For more information on the Volunteer Insurance Program, please contact Marzelle Wurtsmith at marzelle.wurtsmith@ky.gov or at 800-239-7404. Insurance forms and summaries of coverage are available on our Web site, www.volunteerKY.ky.gov.
To be added to the newsletter e-mail or regular mail list, send your contact information to shannon.ramsey@ky.gov or call at 800-239-7404.
There are lots of good resources on the KCCVS Web site, including forms that can be personalized and used, a training and events calendar and information about the AmeriCorps grant opportunities.