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This bibliography highlights resources to assist community-based organizations in developing their own service-learning programs or in working with K-12 schools or higher education institutions to develop partnerships around service-learning.
Source: Points of Light Foundation, January 2007.
Abravanel, S. (2003). Building community through service-learning: The role of the community partner. Denver, CO: Education Commission of the States.
This issue paper explains the role of the community partner in school-based service-learning, and includes a how-to guide.
Billig, S. (Ed.). (1998). Building support for service-learning. Denver, CO: RMC Research Corporation.
Chapter 5 "Building Collaboration to Support Service-Learning" addresses the value of creating partnerships and examining how policies support partnerships (including community partnerships) in service-learning programs. It also discusses the potential and promise of forming strong partnerships, and lists types of partnerships and quality standards. It concludes with examples and suggestions of how you can build partnerships to support your service-learning program.
Cairn, R. (2003). Partner power in service learning: Manual for community-based organizations to work with schools. Minneapolis, MN: ServeMinnesota.
Partner Power is one of the very few resources designed to aid the community partners for school-aged service-learning - the people who place and supervise students in their organizations. Partner Power offers these community-based organizations a basic introduction, step-by-step instructions for getting started, strategies for quality programming, and more.
Cairn, R., & Cairn, S. (1990). Collaborators: Schools and communities working together for youth service. St. Paul, MN: National Youth Leadership Council.
This guide describes the ways CBOs can be resources to schools and schools can be resources to CBOs. Fourteen CBOs explain their missions and significant needs and specific examples of how young people can meet those needs. Guidelines for successful collaborations are also included.
Cairn, R., & Kielsmeier, J. (Eds.). (1991). Growing hope: A sourcebook on integrating youth service into the school curriculum. St. Paul, MN: National Youth Leadership Council.
This book provides service-learning information organized into three sections: Background and Rationale, Implementation, and Sample Program Materials. It is aimed at K-12 audiences, but the tips on nuts and bolts and list of project ideas can be useful to CBOs engaged in service-learning.
Cairn, R., & Scherer, C. (1994). Agencies plus schools equals service-learning: A training toolbox. Washington, D.C.: Points of Light Foundation.
A comprehensive manual to assist trainers, agencies, and schools engaged in service-learning. Illustrates how to produce effective training sessions and provides sample agendas and handouts. Discusses how to guide agencies in developing service-learning opportunities. Explores how agencies and schools can develop successful partnerships.
Education Commission of the States. (2002). Learning that lasts: How service-learning can become an integral part of schools, states and communities. Denver, CO: Author.
Primarily about school-based service-learning, but includes a chapter on "Partnership and Community."
Freeman, N. (2003). A meeting of minds: A handbook for community-campus engagement. San Francisco, CA: Community Campus Partnerships for Health.
This handbook focuses on the form of community-campus partnering called service-learning. It is hoped that this guide will be helpful to community organizations, agencies or schools, and by associations of these groups, who are new to service-learning. It is also hoped that this guide will aid members of the higher education community who are working with community partners, either for the first time, or who have ongoing relationships with the nearby community. This guide is offered primarily for higher education partnerships, but can be useful to the community partners who work with K-12 schools.
Geiger, E., & Britsch, B. (2004). Out-of-school time program evaluation: Tools for action. Portland, OR: Northwest Regional Educational Laboratory.
An online resource with advice and tools for the evaluation of out-of-school time programs that includes: user-friendly surveys for the full range of participants, discussion and examples of analysis, display, and use of results and a guide for taking action based on your results. While directed generally at out-of-school time programs, may be useful to community service-learning program which are in fact out-of-school time programs.
Gulati-Partee, G., & Finger, W. (Eds.). (1996). Critical issues in k-12 service learning: Case studies and reflections. Alexandria, VA: National Society for Experiential Education.
This guide is broken into sections on each of the critical issues, including "community." This section has six articles written by teachers, agency project managers, and those whose role it is to manage partnerships between schools and agencies.
McCurley, S. (1991). Involving youth in the community: A planning manual for school volunteer programs and volunteer centers. Alexandria, VA: National Association of Partners in Education.
This manual outlines a process by which directors of school volunteer programs and community volunteer centers can collaboratively plan for and implement youth community service projects. Sample materials are included.
Minnesota Office on Volunteer Services. (1993). Power and potential of youth in service to communities. St. Paul, MN: Author.
This guide reviews why youth involvement in service is important, gives a history of youth service, and is an excellent tool for those just beginning their programs. There are over 50 programs profiled and a workbook to guide CBOs through the planning process of developing a program.
Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. (2003). A toolkit for service-learning partners. Jefferson City, MO: Author.
This online document helps community-based organizations in understanding service-learning, exploring possibilities for partnerships, and preparing an agency for such partnerships.
National Institute on Out-of-School Time. (2000). Making an impact on out-of-school time. Wellesley, MA: Author.
This manual was created to help Corporation for National Service programs become more effectively involved in enhancing the quality of out-of-school time programs for young people ages five to fourteen. It offers ideas resources and examples of successful programs for coordinators, trainers, as well as members and volunteers who wish to enhance the quality of young people's out-of-school time.
Roehlkepartain, E. (1995). Everyone wins when youth serve: Building agency/school partnerships for service learning. Washington, DC: Points of Light Foundation.
This publication highlights the power of creating service-learning opportunities for youth in agencies. Written for agencies, this easy to read booklet discusses the service-learning, benefits of involving youth, common concerns related to creating service-learning opportunities in agencies and first steps agencies can take to develop these kinds of opportunities.
Roehlkepartain, E. (1995). A practical guide for developing agency/school partnerships for service learning. Washington, DC: Points of Light Foundation.
This manual guides organizations from the agency perspective on how to provide service learning opportunities for youth. It includes information on the concept of service learning, how to develop partnerships with schools, involving youth, and practical and logistical elements related to developing a service-learning program. It is presented in an easy to read format with ready to use worksheets.
Taylor, B. (1996). Expanding boundaries: Serving and learning. Washington, DC: Corporation for National Service.
Although this publication is intended for higher education audiences, there are two articles that may be useful to CBOs working with higher education institutions. "The Power of Community Partnerships" provides information about a specific program and general advice and "Finding Partners in Business: How to Make the Contact" walks through the steps of forming a partnership with a local business or a large corporation.
Taylor, B. (Ed.). (1997). Expanding boundaries: Building civic responsibility within higher education. Columbia, MD: Cooperative Education Association.
The second volume in this series includes even more articles on the role of CBOs in service-learning programs. Of particular note are: "Campus and Community at Providence College," "Taking the Next Step: Fostering University-Community Collaborations that Reach Beyond Service-Learning," "University-Community College Partnership Development for Eldercare Service-Learning: A Model for Rural Community Impact," "Reflecting on Campus-Community Relations," and "Academically Based Community Partnerships: Fulfilling Higher Education's Commitment to Scholarship and Civic Responsibility."
YMCA. (2004). The YMCA service-learning guide: A tool for enriching the member, the participant, the YMCA, and the community (2nd ed.). Chicago, IL: Author.
This guide provides ideas and resources to help YMCAs carry out successful and sustainable service learning programs. Broken into three main sections, this resource explores the main components of the service learning process: establishing learning objectives, performing meaningful service, and reflecting on the experience.
