AmeriCorps VISTA, First 5 Service Corps

The mission of the First 5 Service Corps is to engage community members in local programs to ensure that all children ages 0 to 5 years and their families receive the support and services they need for children to enter school healthy and ready to succeed.

First 5 Service Corps is part of a statewide program administered by the Children and Families Commission of Orange County. This program, which is managed by CONNECT, a project of Orangewood Children’s Foundation, engages local community members in programs to ensure that all children ages 0 to 5 years and their families receive the support and services they need for children to enter school ready to succeed. These engaged community members serve as AmeriCorps or AmeriCorps *VISTA Members.

AmeriCorps and AmeriCorps *VISTA (Volunteers In Service To America) are part of a federally funded service initiative organized by the Corporation for National and Community Service in which individuals help communities meet specific needs through direct and indirect service. AmeriCorps Members provide direct serves, while VISTA Members provide indirect services to the community.

Members are placed in various nonprofits, Family Resource Centers, or county agencies throughout the state to improve the health and development of children ages 0 to 5 years and to provide their families with the support they need. Education, children’s health, and dental services along with homelessness are just a few of the areas in which members will make a lasting impact. During the year, AmeriCorps members also team up to perform various community service projects such as feeding homeless or low-income families, providing young children with educational activities, or participating in social activities with the elderly to name just a few.