Transportation Access AmeriCorps VISTA

Founded in 1965, Volunteers in Service to America (VISTA) is a federal national service program designed to provide needed resources to nonprofit organizations and public agencies to increase their capacity to lift Americans out of poverty. In 1993, VISTA was incorporated into the AmeriCorps network of programs, housed at the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS). AmeriCorps VISTA supports efforts to alleviate poverty by recruiting Americans 18 years and older from a diverse range of backgrounds to dedicate a year of full-time service with a sponsoring organization ("sponsor") to create or expand programs designed to empower individuals and communities in overcoming poverty.

AMERICORPS VISTA BENEFITS
• Financial Support
o Monthly “living allowance” of $1,116 (pre-taxes) paid in biweekly installments. 
• End-of-Service Benefit
o This is a full-time contract and commitment for the course of one year (365 days). Upon successful completion of the contract, the AmeriCorps VISTA will receive one of two end-of-service benefits: 1) Segal AmeriCorps Education Award equivalent to $6,345 (to be used to pay for education costs at eligible institutions of higher education, for educational training, or to repay eligible student loans), OR 2) a $1,800 Cash Stipend.
• Healthcare Benefit
o Limited options provided through International Medical Group. 
o Visit https://americorpsvista.imglobal.com/ for more information.
• Leave Benefits
o 10 national holidays (observed by the IRC)
o 10 personal days
o 10 medical days
o Extended medical leave (up to 5 days)
o Parental leave for birth/adoption (up to 10 days) 
o Emergency leave for critical illness or death of immediate family member (up to 5 days)
• Travel (if relocating from 50 or more miles away from Salt Lake City)
o Relocation Travel Allowance: Based on the direct mileage ($0.40/mile) between permanent home of record and the IRC.
o Settling-In Allowance: $750 (pre-taxes) intended to help with initial expense deposits and utilities.
o Close-of-Service Allowance: Same amount as Relocation Travel Allowance if moving back to permanent residence once service year is completed. 
• Childcare Assistance

JOB OVERVIEW

Transportation access is one of the Social Determinants of Health. Without adequate transportation, individuals are unable to effectively navigate their communities and access medical care, education, employment, fresh food and public services. Much of Salt Lake County is developed in such a way that a vehicle is essential for daily life, yet low-income individuals often don’t have access to reliable personal transportation and must depend upon public transit. Refugees arrive in Utah with very limited experience with public transportation, and due to their low socio-economic status, lack of English language skills and frequent limited literacy, are unlikely to own a vehicle or obtain a Utah driver’s license within the first two years of residence. As a result, they are dependent upon learning to navigate the public transit system to integrate into their new community and attend to the activities of daily living. The Transportation Access VISTA will develop a comprehensive training program for clients that can be implemented by IRC SLC staff, interns and volunteers that will equip clients with the skills they need to ride public transit to and from medical appointments, employment, school, grocery stores and social service agencies. These skills are essential for refugees to become self-sufficient and rebuild their lives here in Utah and the Transportation Access VISTA will ensure that IRC SLC is able to teach them in a client-centered manner that incorporates adult learning styles and digital technology.

KEY WORKING RELATIONSHIPS

•Research, develop and implement a comprehensive transportation orientation and assessment for newly-arrived refugees who need to learn how to access public transportation in order to attend medical appointments, employment, education and social services agencies.

•Create client-centered materials that can be utilized by non-English speakers, low-literacy individuals and interpreters to train refugees on using public transportation for daily travel.

•Incorporate a variety of modes, including apps, video and online learning into the development of training materials.

•Develop trainer materials to be utilized by IRC staff, interns and volunteers in teaching refugee clients to use local public transportation.

•Create a sustainable transportation program for IRC-SLC office so that clients can navigate their new communities 

• Other duties as assigned.