26 Youth Corps Programs First to be Provisionally Accredited by Corps Center of Excellence
For Immediate Release
March 20, 2013
WASHINGTON, D.C. — 26 Youth Corps programs from across the nation are the first to have obtained provisional accredidation from the Corps Center of Excellence, an independent program of The Corps Network that is governed by an independent Advisory Committee made up of retired / former conservation corps leaders, retired/former federal land management agency staff, and other experts.
Youth Corps (also known as Service and Conservation Corps) are programs that enroll young people in a crew-based experience where participants complete service projects while receiving paid job training, educational development, mentorship, and support services.
The Corps Center of Excellence is dedicated to the promotion of high quality programming and standards for Youth Corps across America. The Corps Center of Excellence (CCE) ensures that programs have the capacity to meet the desired outcomes for participants as well as meet the high quality and production requirements of resource management partners.
The provisional accreditation allows potential sponsors to have the confidence that the provisionally accredited organizations meet the standards recommended by the 21st Century Conservation Service Corps (21CSC) Federal Advisory Committee. This accreditation will be good for at least one year, and may be extended as the Committee continues working toward a transition to a full accreditation process. Youth Corps can apply so that numerous programs within their operations receive the provisional accreditation.
“We are very pleased with the number of programs qualifying for accreditation,” said Ira Okun, Chair of the The Corps Center of Excellence Advisory Committee. “It speaks to the willingness of Youth Corps to do what it takes to continuously improve their programs, commit to best practices and better serve the young people and their communities. Corps, by their adherence to high standards, enable Corpsmembers to become more successful in their life and career choice.”
The Corps programs that have who been provisionally accredited include
· American Youth Works
· Anchorage Park Foundation — Youth Employment in Parks (YEP)
· Civicorps
· Coconino Rural Environment Corps (CREC) — CREC Youth Conservation Corps (YCC)
· Coconino Rural Environment Corps (CREC) — Northern Arizona Conservation
Corps (NACC)
· Conservation Corps North Bay — Natural Resources Program
· Conservation Corps of Long Beach
· Larimer County Conservation Corps
· Los Angeles Conservation Corps — Conservation Division
· Mile High Youth Corps — Land Conservation
· Montana Conservation Corps — Big Sky Watershed Corps
· Montana Conservation Corps — Veterans Green Corps
· Montana Conservation Corps — Youth Service Expeditions
· Montana Conservation Corps — MCC Field Crew Program
· Northwest Youth Corps — Leadership Development Program
· Northwest Youth Corps — Out Door Oregon
· Northwest Youth Corps — Spring, Summer, Fall Conservation Corps
(Youth Corps Programs)
· Rocky Mountain Youth Corps (NM)
· Rocky Mountain Youth Corps (CO)
· Sacramento Regional Conservation Corps
· Southeast Alaska Guidance Association — Alaska Conservation Corps
· Southwest Conservation Corps — Environmental Stewards (ES)
· Southwest Conservation Corps — Conservation Corps
· Urban Corps of San Diego County
· Vermont Youth Conservation Corps
· Western Colorado Conservation Corps
For more information about The Corps Center for Excellence and provisional accreditation, please visit www.21csc.org
About The Corps Network
Established in 1985, The Corps Network is the voice of the nation’s 151 Service and Conservation Corps. Currently operating in every state and the District of Columbia, Corps annually enroll more than 30,000 young men and women in service. Corps annually mobilize approximately 289,000 additional community volunteers who in conjunction with Corpsmembers generate 13.5 million hours of service every year. For more information visit www.corpsnetwork.org
Media Contact:
Levi Novey
The Corps Network
1100 G Street, NW, Suite 1000
Washington, DC 20005
Phone: 202.737.6272
Fax: 202.737.6277
Email: [email protected]