For some survivors of domestic violence, finding a job can be particularly challenging. “Sometimes they have not had a chance to have a job, because they have been kept isolated by their abuser,” said Anna Van Schoelandt, director of survivor services for the Willow Domestic Violence Center. “Or, their abuser will show up at their workplace and will be disruptive,” she said, which often leads to the victim fleeing the job or being fired.

That’s why Van Schoelandt is thrilled to have a United Way AmeriCorps member serving at the Willow for the next year whose sole aim is to help domestic violence survivors overcome the unique barriers they may face when trying to find and keep jobs in order to become self-sufficient.

The Willow is one of 13 organizations in Douglas County that serve as host sites where 18 United Way AmeriCorps members will provide direct service to community members in order to further United Way’s community goals of education, health and self-sufficiency.

United Way is beginning its 10th year administering the AmeriCorps program in Douglas County for its community partners. Last year, 16 United Way AmeriCorps members gave the community 27,200 hours of service, working at 10 agencies focused on health. The program has been so successful, that United Way is broadening the scope of the members’ service this year to also include its education and self sufficiency goals, said Lori Johns, United Way’s director of strategic volunteer engagement.

A program of the Corporation for National and Community Service, AmeriCorps is a lot like the Peace Corps, Johns said, but members serve in the United States, not internationally. They give a minimum of 1,700 hours of service during a 12-month period. For many nonprofits with skeletal staffs and limited budgets, having a staff person focused solely on program delivery is a godsend.

“The AmeriCorps members allow us to reach more people,” said Van Schoelandt, who herself served as a United Way AmeriCorps member at the Willow. “We are really excited to have someone focused on helping folks get a job. It’s something we have always done, but it’s good to have a member who can support people one on one, crafting resumes, doing mock interviews. Now we have this specialist position so we can engage the survivors more quickly and more in depth and allow them to get where they want to get faster.”

During the service year, which ends next August, 10 members will serve under the United Way health community goal at Bert Nash Community Mental Health Center, Centro Hispano Resource Center, Health Care Access, Heartland Community Health Center, Just Food, Lawrence Community Shelter and Lawrence-Douglas County Health Department. Six members will serve under the self sufficiency goal at Ballard Community Service’s Penn House, Catholic Charities of NE Kansas, Lawrence Community Shelter, Lawrence Douglas County Housing Authority, Van Go and the Willow, helping people obtain and sustain employment.

Two additional members will serve at Kennedy Elementary School, United Way’s education goal pilot program site, implementing the Kidz Lit reading program for students in kindergarten through fifth grades.

In addition to their service at their host agencies, the AmeriCorps members will also develop and deliver monthly health related programming at the Lawrence Public Library’s Health Spot, delving into topics like teen health and nutrition.

“The AmeriCorps program is a huge resource we can provide to our partner agencies and the community as a whole,” said Johns. “It allows the agencies to extend their reach to serve people they otherwise might not be able to reach with their current staff. The program allows them to serve more people and have more impact.”

“The AmeriCorps members give a fresh eye to projects that have been long standing,” Van Schoelandt added. “They bring that enthusiastic look, using a new lens, to make programs more efficient and to reach more people. They are integral in bringing new ideas and not wanting to settle for what has been done before.”