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How do I know that the services at Community Youth Services are high quality?
All CYS staff members have earned their college degrees in social work, psychology or in another related fields of study. Most supervisory staff has earned advanced degrees in social work or psychology. The agency maintains low staff-to-client ratios to ensure quality services.
In addition, CYS is a United Way agency and has been accredited by the Council on Accreditation of Services for Families and Children, Inc. The COA is an internationally recognized accreditor of mental health and social service organizations in the United States and Canada. Their web site address is www.coanet.org
Who can receive services at CYS?
CYS primarily serves at-risk teens and young adults through a variety of counseling and residential programs. Many of the services, such as job training, require that a youth be low income or have substantial barriers to employment. Please refer to our programs in the web page for a complete description.
Who is responsible for Community Youth Services?
A 17-member board of directors governs CYS. All board members are volunteers. The Executive Director is Charles Shelan. Mr. Shelan has been the director at CYS for the past 20 years. He earned his BA in psychology from the University of Texas and his Master's in Social Work from the University of Washington.
What is the term of service for the YIS AmeriCorps Program?
The program begins September 1st and ends July 31st.
How many positions are available with the Community Youth Services YIS AmeriCorps Program?
There are 20 member positions throughout Thurston County.
What sort of work do YIS members do?
Members perform the following activities:
- Support and Mentoring for youth and families at-risk
- Capacity Building for local non-profit organizations (volunteer recruitment, donation gathering and community partnership building)
- Coordinate and participate in local community service projects with your team
What is the age requirement for the program?
YIS members are 18-25 years of age.
What are the eligibility requirements to be a YIS AmeriCorps Member?
18-25 year olds who meet United States work eligibility requirements. Members must have a high school diploma or GED and should be passionate about helping children, youth and families.
Will I be serving with a team or individually?
The CYS YIS Program is a team-based program with both large group and small group elements. Members will be expected to participate in both groups fully. Members participate in team based training and planning days several times per month.
What else do YIS AmeriCorps members do?
Members participate in trainings with large and small groups. These trainings are largely hands-on, experiential and focused on applying what is learned to their service. This federally funded program requires members to collect and report data on how their services are affecting the community they are serving. Training on these procedures is provided.
Service Projects are an integral part of the program’s emphasis on community involvement; members are expected to participate in community service projects for all National Service Days.
What sort of environment will I be working in?
Members serve in local non-profit agencies and schools. Each site has a different workplace culture and professional expectations. Please refer to individual position descriptions for more information. Adaptability to different workplace environments is very helpful.
Where are the YIS sites?
Non-profit organizations and elementary schools located in Olympia and throughout Thurston County, Washington. This area is the southern most reach of the Puget Sound, includes the state Capital and is characterized by both urban/suburban and rural populations.
What time of day do I serve? Or, what are the hours?
Member serve 8 hour days with primarily day time service hours. Occasionally sites will require evening and weekend hours. Please refer to individual position descriptions for more information.
Do School Sites get School holidays?
No, members serving in school will serve during any school breaks except for federal holidays.
Are there any part-time positions available?
No, all positions are full time, 40 hours per week.
How much are members paid?
Members are paid a monthly living stipend of $1010. Federal Income Tax, Social Security Tax and Workers Compensation are withheld from the monthly living allowance.
Does the AmeriCorps program provide housing?
No, AmeriCorps Members are expected to provide their own housing.
Are childcare benefits provided?
Yes , based on family income. All income in each household, including the AmeriCorps living stipend, counts in your income qualification. Childcare benefits are available for participating full-time AmeriCorps members if they are income qualified by Washington State guidelines, need childcare to participate and the children are 12 years old or younger.
Is health care provided?
Yes, there is a medical plan available that applies to the AmeriCorps member only. Spouses and children are not covered by the health plan.
Is dental and vision insurance provided?
No, dental and vision benefits are not available.
Can I have another job while serving?
Members are allowed to hold a part-time job while serving. Additional employment must not interfere with service.
Are there any education benefits associated with the YIS AmeriCorps Program?
YES! YIS AmeriCorps members earn an education award of $4,725.00 after successfully completing a minimum of 1,700 hours of service and 11 months in the program. Awards earned are valid for 7 years and can be used at any accredited college, technical school or to pay back accredited education loans. Education awards are counted as taxable income.
What if I have current student loans to pay? Is there assistance with that?
Yes, members that have current accredited college loans that are not in arrears are eligible to place them into deferment during their AmeriCorps service.
Will I receive any training to help me with my service?
Yes, members participate in trainings throughout their year of service, free of charge, in a team setting. Members are required to attend pre-service training in Olympia at the start of the service year.
- Training is facilitated by AmeriCorps staff, other expert trainers, and returning AmeriCorps Members.
- Training topics may include but are not limited to the following: Volunteer Recruitment, Family Involvement, Multiple Learning Styles, Diversity, Effective Communication, Team Building, Leadership Skills, How to do a Press Release & PSA, Service Project Planning and Life After AmeriCorps.
Can I go to school while serving?
Members are allowed to attend school during their term of service. Courses must not interfere with the member’s service.
Does the living stipend interfere with current social service assistance and/or health insurance?
The living stipend does not count as income for purpose of eligibility for TANF grants, food stamps or section 8 housing. It may count as income for SSI or other state funded programs.
Are there other AmeriCorps programs?
Yes. There are 100’s of AmeriCorps programs across the nation. Please visit www.americorps.org to find out more.
Will I be provided with a uniform (like City Year)?
No. However, members are provided with an AmeriCorps T-shirt, sweatshirt and insignia to wear and are expected to follow the site’s dress code.
Do I get to choose the location I want to serve in?
After successfully completing a program interview, members are have a choice of interview sites.
Do I need transportation?
Some service sites require their member to have a vehicle and/or valid car insurance. Please refer to individual site descriptions for more information.
Are there opportunities for me to develop leadership and facilitation skills?
Yes, members are encouraged and provided opportunities to facilitate trainings and take on leadership roles.
Will I be required to travel out of town?
No. YIS members are not required to travel outside of Thurston County, except for an AmeriCorps event that takes place in the fall and transportation will be provided for that.
Is vacation and sick leave available?
Yes, members are given 80 hours of paid leave per year to be used when needed.
What holidays would I have off?
Members receive 9 National Holidays off throughout the service year. They are Labor Day, Veterans Day, Thanksgiving Day & the day after, Christmas Day, New Years Day, Presidents Day, Memorial Day and the 4th of July.
What is the term of service for the WRC AmeriCorps Program?
The program begins September 1 for both STATE and VISTA positions. STATE positions end July 15th and VISTA positions end August 31st. If positions are not filled by September 1st, members will be hired until positions have been filled.
How many positions are available with the Community Youth Services WRC AmeriCorps Program?
There are 11 AmeriCorps VISTA positions and 53 AmeriCorps STATE positions available.
What sort of work do WRC members do?
AmeriCorps STATE Members:
Daily tutoring of struggling readers in elementary schools for 10.5 months, 40 hours per week
Develop reading enrichment activities within the school’s literacy curriculum
Assist with school family involvement literacy activities
Coordinate and participate in local community service projects with your team
AmeriCorps VISTA Members:
Recruit community volunteers and solicit donations
Serve for 12 months, 40 hours per week
Recruit, manage, and train community volunteers that will tutor struggling readers
Develop and implement family literacy projects to help promote literacy in the home
Coordinate and participate in local community service projects with your team
May tutor up to 10 hours per week
What is the age requirement for the program?
The minimum age to serve in our program as a STATE member is 17 (parental permission required if under 18); VISTA members must be 18 years of age. There is no maximum age. In the past, participants in the WRC program have represented a large scope of ages.
What are the eligibility requirements to be a WRC AmeriCorps Member?
Members must be a minimum of 17 years old and be eligible to work in the US (citizen or registered alien). A criminal background check will be required for those selected.
Will I receive AmeriCorps clothing?
Yes, members are provided with an AmeriCorps T-shirt, sweatshirt, vest and insignia.
Will I be serving with a team or individually?
The CYS WRC Program is a team-based program with both large group and small group elements. Members will be expected to participate in both groups fully. We meet as a large group in Olympia, WA regularly and schools that are located near each other geographically are grouped together and meet as well.
What else do WRC AmeriCorps members do?
Members participate in trainings with large and small groups. These trainings are largely hands-on, experiential and focused on applying what is learned to their service.
This federally funded program requires members to collect and report data on how their services are affecting the community they are serving. Training on these procedures is provided.
Service Projects are an integral part of the program’s emphasis on community involvement; members are expected to participate in community service projects for all National Service Days.
What sort of environment will I be working in?
Members serve in an elementary school setting. Each school and its community possess its own culture making it difficult to identify one “typical” service environment. However, our program offers service opportunities in a variety of communities and environments across Western Washington.
Where are the elementary schools located?
We serve 17 elementary schools, in six counties across Western Washington: Grays Harbor, Lewis, Thurston, Pierce, Kitsap and Mason counties.
What time of day do I serve? Or, what are the hours?
Members serve during elementary school hours, 8 hours a day. The daily service hours for a member are determined by the school where they serve. Members occasionally serve on weekends or at evening event.
Do we get the same breaks as the schools?
No, members are expected to find alternative service sites during all school breaks (i.e. winter break, spring break, half days).
Are there any part-time positions available?
No, all positions are full time, 40 hours per week.
How much are members paid?
Members are paid a living stipend; the STATE position earns a stipend of $925 per month, the VISTA position earns $830 per month. Federal Income Tax, Social Security Tax and Workers Compensation are withheld from the monthly living allowance.
Does the AmeriCorps program provide housing?
No, AmeriCorps Members are expected to provide their own housing.
Are childcare benefits provided?
Yes, based on your family income. All income in each household, including the AmeriCorp | 
