The Local Initiatives Support Coalition (LISC) AmeriCorps program offers individuals the opportunity to serve communities, engage with residents, and develop skills that can benefit future career paths and educational goals.
Study Goals:
This study explores:
- The benefits of service for participating AmeriCorps members.
- How the structure, design, and management of the LISC AmeriCorps program contribute to member outcomes.
Research Questions:
The research questions were:
- What professional and educational outcomes do members gain following their service? Did the volunteer experience result in changes to how members view personal efficacy and civic engagement?
- What individual characteristics are related to these outcomes?
- What characteristics of the LISC AmeriCorps site recruitment and selection process influence the types of members selected and their assignment to placement sites?
- What characteristics of the placement partner are associated with positive member outcomes?
- What aspects of national and local LISC program management are associated with different placement partner practices and member outcomes?
Findings:
The results suggest that LISC operating offices can positively influence members’ professional and educational outcomes by ensuring their partner AmeriCorps placement site views their collaboration as successful and views the operating office as meeting its obligations.
The study/report/evaluation found the following:
- Members said their service made a positive contribution to their educational, professional, and personal goals.
- Members reported that participation in LISC AmeriCorps helped them figure out the next step in their career and education choices.
- Members were more likely to volunteer and participate in community organizations.
Additional findings are broken out by occupational, educational, and civic engagement/personal efficacy outcomes.
For more information, download the full report.
Full report
Further information
Program/Intervention
LISC AmeriCorps - Parent
Implementing Organization
Local Initiatives Support Corporation
Intermediary(s)
Local Initiatives Support Corporation
AmeriCorps Program(s)
AmeriCorps State and National
Age(s) Studied
26-55 (Adult)
Outcome Category
Benefit to national service members/volunteers
Study Type(s)
Impact
Study Design(s)
Quasi-Experimental (QED)
Level of Evidence
Strong
Researcher/Evaluator
Urban Institute; Nathan Dietz, Deondre’ Jones, and Brice McKeever
Published Year
2019