All youth can benefit from positive interactions with adults and peers. The following section describes the investments federal agencies are making for youth aged 16 to 24 in areas such as positive youth development, mentoring, youth-adult partnerships, and community service. To find out more about positive youth development, please see the positive youth development, civic engagement and volunteering, mentoring, and service-learning youth topics.

Resources

Corporation for National and Community Service

AmeriCorps National Civilian Community Corps
Eligibility: Youth aged 18 to 24
Focus: Service learning, positive youth development

The National Civilian Community Corps (NCCC) is one of three programs that form AmeriCorps, a network of national service programs that engage Americans in service to address critical community needs within the United States. NCCC is a full-time, team-based residential program for men and women aged 18 to 24. The NCCC mission is to strengthen communities and develop leaders through direct, team-based national and community service.

For ten months, members serve on teams to meet urgent community needs in disaster relief, environment, education, public safety, and unmet human needs. Teams work on projects throughout the country with non-profit programs, state and local agencies, and other community- and faith-based groups. During the ten-month term of service, members complete a variety of six- to eight-week projects throughout a multi-state region. NCCC members are provided with housing, food, health benefits, transportation to projects, and qualified student loan forbearance. Participants earn a modest living stipend of about $200 every two weeks, before taxes. Upon successful completion of the program, they also earn a $5,350 education award that can be applied to future schooling or existing student loans.