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Community Outreach

Jumpstart for Young Children at UConn

Would you like to

JumpStart
  • earn your work-study??
  • earn an additional education award of $1132??
  • improve the life of a young child??

Jumpstart positions for the Fall 2010-Spring 2011 year!

About Jumpstart

To combat the crisis in early literacy, Jumpstart, a national early education organization, works toward the day every child in America enters school prepared to succeed. Jumpstart partners 3,500 college student and community volunteers with preschool children in low-income communities for a full school year. Jumpstart helps children develop the language and literacy skills they’ll need to thrive in school and in life. During the 2009-2010 school year, Jumpstart served nearly 13,000 children, in partnership with more than 250 early learning centers and 62 universities and colleges throughout the country. Jumpstart’s national sponsors include American Eagle Outfitters, AmeriCorps, Pearson, and Sodexo. Jumpstart is the five-time recipient of the Fast Company/Monitor Social Capitalist Award (2004-2008) and has received a 4-star rating from Charity Navigator. For more information, visit the Jumpstart Web site at www.jstart.org.

About the UConn-Jumpstart Partnership

Jumpstart

The University of Connecticut partnered with Jumpstart in the 2007-2008 academic year. Since then, over 100 UConn students have participated in Jumpstart, touching the lives of hundreds of local pre-school children with more than 40,000 hours of service! We are always searching for motivated, enthusiastic students to contribute to our program and its leadership. Current preschool partners are located in the Vernon-Rockville area of Connecticut.


Get Involved!

There are many ways that UConn students can make a difference! We are now accepting applications for Corps Members for the Fall semester. Apply now!

Jumpstart

Corps members work directly with preschool children in yearlong mentoring relationships in order to promote children’s school success. Students serve together in teams at local preschools, and work with a consistent group of preschool children for the duration of the school year. Individually, Corps members also serve in the preschool classroom during the regular school day.

Jumpstart at UConn FAQ

  1. What is it like being a Jumpstart Corps member?
    Serving with Jumpstart is usually described as a very rewarding experience. To find out more, read a Corps Member’s story or check out the Jumpstart model. As a Jumpstart Corps member, you have the opportunity to be part of a national movement working towards the day every child in America enters school prepared to succeed.
    Working as a Jumpstart Corps member requires a commitment of the full academic year for 12 hours every week. Corps members are not expected to serve during UConn breaks, though occasional weekend work is required. Corps members serve twice a week in Jumpstart sessions; each consists of two hours working directly with a consistent group of children, followed by a one hour planning session with their team. Corps members also provide several hours of classroom assistance time each week working in the preschool classroom as a volunteer. Corps members typically create their Jumpstart schedule around their course schedules.
  2. What are the benefits of being a Jumpstart Corps Member?
    Jumpstart offers UConn students the chance to engage in meaningful service while receiving extensive early childhood and professional development training. College students who participate in Jumpstart have the ability to make an extraordinary difference in the life of a young child.
    All Jumpstart participants who complete 300 hours of service over the course of the year are eligible for an AmeriCorps education award (worth up to an additional $1132). Students who are work-study eligible may also earn their Federal Work-Study by working in Jumpstart.
  3. Where are the Jumpstart sites located?
    Jumpstart partners with pre-schools in the Vernon-Rockville area of Connecticut.
  4. I don’t have a car on campus. How will I get to my Jumpstart site?
    There are several ways for Corps members to travel to their pre-school sites. Corps members will most likely get to and from Jumpstart sessions together in transportation organized by Community Outreach, either in UConn-owned and operated vehicles or by carpool. Public transportation may also be available, depending on the site. Jumpstart works closely with Corps members and Team Leaders to organize all transportation.
  5. What kind of hours do I need to work?
    All Corps members are expected to complete at least 300 hours of service over the course of the school year. This means that Corps members hired to start in the fall semester typically work 12 hours each week. In the event that a Corps member is hired to start in the spring semester, they can expect to work closer to15-20 hours every week.
  6. What does a Corps member's schedule typically look like?
    Corps members complete a Jumpstart session with their team two days every week. These sessions last 2 hours, and consist of small group reading and activities, as well as a large-group circle time. After the session, the Jumpstart team holds a Team planning meeting, which is an hour long. Additionally, each Jumpstart Corps member participates in at least 6 hours of Classroom Assistance Time volunteering in their pre-school classroom at other times during the week.
  7. What if I can only make it to one of the Jumpstart sessions every week?
    Unfortunately, it is required that Corps members attend both Jumpstart sessions every week, meaning that an applicant must be available at the same time on Monday and Wednesday or Tuesday and Thursday every week.
  8. Can I still participate if I don't have work study?
    Yes! We welcome all students with an interest in Jumpstart, but do expect that students put in the same levels of effort and dedication regardless of whether they are receiving a work study stipend or volunteering their time.
  9. What if I don’t know very much about children or teaching?
    Jumpstart at UConn welcomes students excited to learn more about early childhood education and social responsibility. All you need to apply is a willingness to participate and learn. Jumpstart provides over 60 hours of training for all Corps members, as well as ongoing support and supervision throughout the year.
  10. How do I apply?
    You can apply by filling out the online application here.
  11. What happens after I submit my application?
    A Jumpstart-UConn staff member will contact you, and if you are a strong candidate for the position, you will be asked to complete a brief phone interview. The most promising candidates will be asked to come in for an in-person interview that should last about a half-hour.
  12. What if I have more questions?
    If you have any questions, contact the Jumpstart student leader, Lina Ronk, at Uconn.co.jumpstart@gmail.com.

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