Project Overview/Need: Ventura County Library, in collaboration with Ventura County Probation Agency, is pleased to announce a new AmeriCorps program focused on literacy tutoring for incarcerated adults, ages 18 to 25, at the Ventura County Juvenile Justice Facility. Thanks to a generous donation from the Ventura County Library Foundation, two full-time AmeriCorps members will serve as Learning Coaches for one year starting October 2022.

The goal is to help individuals improve reading and writing skills and find academic success in the Probation Agency’s new Providence Scholars initiative. The Ventura County Office of Education’s Providence School currently partners with the Probation Agency to provide educational services to the minors incarcerated in the Detention and Commitment Housing Areas within the Facility.

Project Plan: Learning Coaches from AmeriCorps will help deliver high-quality educational experiences, foster a sense of belonging, and offer opportunities for personal growth to incarcerated adults in a challenging, safe, and supportive learning environment. The Library will be responsible for recruiting, supervising, and training Learning Coaches using the proven READ Adult Literacy tutoring model.

The Library Foundation is providing $5,000 for each AmeriCorps member—for a total of $10,000—under a cost-sharing agreement with California Library Literacy Services, a department of the California State Library. This agreement allows each member to be eligible to receive a $25,500 living allowance and a $10,000 education award. In addition to obtaining professional development that sharpens skills and bolsters resumes, members connect to a network of over 500 employers who value the AmeriCorps experience.

This program aligns with the Library Foundation’s vision of creating a community where all people are engaged, literate, and empowered to participate in society.