Civic Engagement and the Disadvantaged: Challenges, Opportunities and Recommendations

Well-designed volunteer and service opportunities, such as those that the Corporation for National and Community Service supports, offer at least two sets of benefits. One set accrues to the individuals and communities served by these programs through the provision of valued and needed services and supports at no- or reduced- cost. The second set accrues to the individuals who volunteer and provide the service. That experience can play an important role in their personal development. Proponents of service programs suggest that these benefits to individuals may include such things as increases in social capital, social networks, civic literacy and civic competence, self esteem and personal efficacy. A new study released by the Corporation for National and Community Service offers specific insights. The study examined the long-term impacts that a single year of service in AmeriCorps has on the people (members) who participated in either the AmeriCorps State and National or the AmeriCorps NCCC program between 1999 and 2000. It tracked whether levels of volunteering, educational attainment, voting and other behaviors and attitudes, of these members changed over time. The members were surveyed at four distinct periods in time: 1) before they served in AmeriCorps; 2) one year post service; 3) three-four years post service; and 4) eight years post service. The evaluation compared these AmeriCorps members with a comparison group that was also tracked.