March 1, 2006: Headlines: Americorps: San Fransisco Chronicle: Beginning next year, the White House would reduce funding for the AmeriCorps National Civilian Community Corps from $27 million to $5 million with the goal of closing it down, according to the president's budget
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March 1, 2006: Headlines: Americorps: San Fransisco Chronicle: Beginning next year, the White House would reduce funding for the AmeriCorps National Civilian Community Corps from $27 million to $5 million with the goal of closing it down, according to the president's budget
Beginning next year, the White House would reduce funding for the AmeriCorps National Civilian Community Corps from $27 million to $5 million with the goal of closing it down, according to the president's budget
Created by President Bill Clinton in 1993 as a kind of domestic counterpart to the Peace Corps, AmeriCorps is a network of three federal programs devoted to youth service in areas such as education, health, public safety and the environment. Participants in all three become eligible for education grants of $4,725 to pay for college or to repay student loans.
Beginning next year, the White House would reduce funding for the AmeriCorps National Civilian Community Corps from $27 million to $5 million with the goal of closing it down, according to the president's budget
Budget plan would slash AmeriCorps component
'Ineffective' disaster relief program faces destined shutdown
Christopher Lee, Washington Post
Wednesday, March 1, 2006
Washington -- President Bush, who embraced AmeriCorps as part of his "compassionate conservative" agenda in 2001, now wants to shut down a part of the national service program that his administration has deemed "ineffective."
Beginning next year, the White House would reduce funding for the AmeriCorps National Civilian Community Corps from $27 million to $5 million with the goal of closing it down, according to the president's budget. About 81 full-time staff members would lose their jobs.
Created by President Bill Clinton in 1993 as a kind of domestic counterpart to the Peace Corps, AmeriCorps is a network of three federal programs devoted to youth service in areas such as education, health, public safety and the environment. Participants in all three become eligible for education grants of $4,725 to pay for college or to repay student loans.
The National Civilian Community Corps brings more than 1,100 18- to 24-year-olds together on five residential campuses to spend 10 months working on service projects, with an emphasis on homeland security and disaster relief.
The nonprofit group AmeriCorps Alums is urging advocates to contact members of Congress, and former member Thomas Howard Jr., 29, created SaveNCCC.org on the day the budget came out in February.
In the 1990s, congressional Republicans, who had no love for one of Clinton's favorite initiatives, regularly targeted AmeriCorps for budget cuts.
They said the program cost too much per volunteer and undermined the spirit of service by giving participants monetary rewards.
Bush's embrace seemed to offer AmeriCorps a measure of protection, even as it suffered controversy and internal financial management problems in 2003.
But now the White House says the NCCC program, at least, is not worth the money. A review by the Office of Management and Budget found it to be "extremely expensive," with a per-participant cost of $27,859. In contrast, the other nonresidential AmeriCorps programs typically have a per-participant cost of $16,000.
The review also noted that only 7 percent of members' service was focused on disaster relief. Instead, most time was devoted to tutoring children, building trails for national parks and building houses for low-income families.
David Eisner, chief executive of the Corporation for National and Community Service, AmeriCorps' parent agency, called the 7 percent "a little misleading" because it focused on data from 2004, when there was comparatively little disaster relief work.
When this story was posted in March 2006, this was on the front page of PCOL:
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| Paid Vacations in the Third World? Retired diplomat Peter Rice has written a letter to the Wall Street Journal stating that Peace Corps "is really just a U.S. government program for paid vacations in the Third World." Director Vasquez has responded that "the small stipend volunteers receive during their two years of service is more than returned in the understanding fostered in communities throughout the world and here at home." What do RPCVs think? |
| RPCV admits to abuse while in Peace Corps Timothy Ronald Obert has pleaded guilty to sexually abusing a minor in Costa Rica while serving there as a Peace Corps volunteer. "The Peace Corps has a zero tolerance policy for misconduct that violates the law or standards of conduct established by the Peace Corps," said Peace Corps Director Gaddi H. Vasquez. Could inadequate screening have been partly to blame? Mr. Obert's resume, which he had submitted to the Peace Corps in support of his application to become a Peace Corps Volunteer, showed that he had repeatedly sought and obtained positions working with underprivileged children. Read what RPCVs have to say about this case. |
| Why blurring the lines puts PCVs in danger When the National Call to Service legislation was amended to include Peace Corps in December of 2002, this country had not yet invaded Iraq and was not in prolonged military engagement in the Middle East, as it is now. Read the story of how one volunteer spent three years in captivity from 1976 to 1980 as the hostage of a insurrection group in Colombia in Joanne Marie Roll's op-ed on why this legislation may put soldier/PCVs in the same kind of danger. Latest: Read the ongoing dialog on the subject. |
| PC establishes awards for top Volunteers Gaddi H. Vasquez has established the Kennedy Service Awards to honor the hard work and service of two current Peace Corps Volunteers, two returned Peace Corps Volunteers, and two Peace Corps staff members. The award to currently serving volunteers will be based on a demonstration of impact, sustainability, creativity, and catalytic effect. Submit your nominations by December 9. |
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Story Source: San Fransisco Chronicle
This story has been posted in the following forums: : Headlines; Americorps
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