The VOCAL AmeriCorps program was developed to assist community and faith-based agencies in providing increased services to low literate adults in their communities, as well as juveniles residing in the Illinois Youth Centers (IYCs) through a three-pronged approach. The approach consists of:
  1. One-to-one and small group tutoring of low literate adults by AmeriCorps members
  2. Recruitment of volunteers to serve as one-to-one and small group tutors
  3. A member training and development program that instills in participants a lifelong ethic of service and provides them with the training and experience they would need should they pursue positions in the public sector, specifically in adult education.
The VOCAL AmeriCorps program was implemented by Literacy Volunteers of Illinois (LVI).
 
Study Goals:
The goal of this study is to assess the VOCAL program’s progress in meeting grant-specified goals and objectives.
 
Research Questions:
The evaluation includes both process and outcome questions. The research questions include:
  • Process Questions:
    1. Were the activities as described in the member descriptions and program plan carried out as planned?
    2. Were the desired number of AmeriCorps members recruited?
    3. Were the member retention standards of the CNCS met?
    4. Were all members properly trained to carry-out their tutoring and recruitment assignments?
    5. Were the desired number of students enrolled and tutors recruited?
    6. Did the infrastructures of the various host sites support the services of the members?
    7. Did the infrastructure and staffing patterns of LVI sufficiently support the needs of the members and host sites?
  • Outcome Questions:
    1. Did the adult learners improve in their reading ability to the level anticipated?
    2. How much change occurred?
    3. Were there specific tutoring practices used by VOCAL members as compared to the community volunteers that caused the reading ability change?
Findings:
The evaluation found the following:
  • LVIs’ experience managing VISTA and AmeriCorps grant awards from 1987 to the current PY19 VOCAL program reflects the agency’s unique credentials to implement successful national service initiatives.
  • VOCAL AmeriCorps expands the capacity of the host sites to effectively develop and implement programs to meet the education and employment goals of adults and youth.
  • Member development and training prepare members to successfully contribute to their host site programs.
  • Experiences in VOCAL AmeriCorps encourages members to commit to continued service through either public service employment or as a volunteer.
For more information, download the full report.

Full report

Full Report
LiteracyVolunteersofAmerica-Illinois.20AC221253.Report_508.pdf

Further information

Program/Intervention
VOCAL
Implementing Organization
Literacy Volunteers of America - Illinois
Intermediary(s)

Literacy Volunteers of America - Illinois

AmeriCorps Program(s)
AmeriCorps State and National
Age(s) Studied
6-12 (Childhood)
13-17 (Adolescent)
18-25 (Young adult)
Focus Population(s)/Community(s)
Rural
Suburban
Urban
Low Income
Outcome Category
Employment
Study Type(s)
Implementation
Outcomes
Study Design(s)
Non-Experimental
Level of Evidence
Preliminary
Researcher/Evaluator
Maureen Meehan
Published Year
2019
Study Site Location (State)
Illinois