CJFS Community Research and Engagement VISTA

As an AmeriCorps member in the VISTA program, you will support an organization to make sustainable change in areas that effect poverty, including education, public health, climate, access to benefits, and more. Through activities such as fundraising, grant writing, research, and volunteer recruitment, you will gain professional experience and leadership skills. This opportunity prepares you for a life of service in the public, private, or nonprofit sector.

Cuyahoga Job and Family Services (CJFS) connects residents with public benefits and work supports to help individuals and families on their journey to self-sufficiency. CJFS is tasked with determining eligibility and case management of five core benefit programs and workforce initiatives: Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), a federal food assistance program; Ohio Works First (OWF), the county form of the federal Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) cash assistance program; Medicaid, medical care and insurance for low-income families and the aged/blind/disabled populations; Child care assistance, making it easier for adult caretakers to find and maintain education and a career path; and Prevention, Retention, and Contingency (PRC), which provides aid and services to families due to unexpected emergencies. As a Community Research and Engagement VISTA with the Office of Community Engagement you will assess and increase the number of participants who are eligible for public benefits but may not yet be enrolled in the various public benefit programs. In this role you will support access to public benefits for low-income individuals by analyzing agency and community data for the non-citizen and limited- English proficient residents to strategize on ways to best engage the populations in the county.

Member Duties : Work heavily with data and using data to make recommendations on ways to improve access to public benefits for residents of Cuyahoga County. You will learn about the public benefit system and workforce initiatives in Ohio, particularly how they are carried out in Cuyahoga County. There is an opportunity for you to meet and develop relationships with CJFS staff and administrators. In this role you will identify the residents of Cuyahoga County that may be eligible for public benefits but not enrolled and the barriers they face. Recommend possible interventions/solutions to the barriers based on collected data. You will collaborate with community engagement staff to identify this population through fact-finding, and in-depth research and analysis. You will also develop an implementation strategy that includes development of informational materials, and an adaptable engagement and marketing approach tailored to each of the targeted communities. Program Benefits : Relocation Allowance , Education award upon successful completion of service , Stipend , Childcare assistance if eligible , Living Allowance , Training , Health Coverage* , Choice of Education Award or End of Service Stipend .