START/END DATE: 10/2/2023 - 8/31/2024

Highline Public Schools/Nutrition Services Overview:

Highline Public School’s Nutrition Services operates the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) under the USDA National School Lunch (NSLP) and School Breakfast (SBP) Programs, as well as Afterschool Meals, Afterschool Snacks, Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program (FFVP), and Summer Meals. This role will support our schools in SeaTac, Seattle, Normandy Park, and Des Moines.

United Way Overview:

United Way of King County’s vision is to build a community where people have homes, students graduate, and families are financially stable. As part of our work to end poverty, we are committed to ensuring that children, particularly children of color, have access to healthy food in the places where they live, learn, and play.

Everyone deserves access to nutritious and culturally relevant food, but during the COVID-19 pandemic, local experts estimate that hunger in our community tripled. Low-income families and families of color were disproportionately impacted by the pandemic and are experiencing hunger at unprecedented rates. United Way is working to support an equitable recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic in our community, by developing and scaling high-impact strategies to reduce food insecurity.

You will join a dynamic cohort of direct service AmeriCorps members working in partnership with United Way staff, AmeriCorps, school districts, and community-based organizations to connect families with the food they need.

MEMBER ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

As a HungerCorps Member at Highline Public Schools, you will work across the district to support, grow, and shape their breakfast and afterschool meals programs to reach as many students as possible. You will work with specific schools in the district to support Breakfast After the Bell (BAB) model implementation and evaluation based on what works best for each school. Breakfast After the Bell is an innovative model for serving School Breakfast that allows equitable access for all students after the start of the school day. In this role, members may also support testing new breakfast foods with students. Additionally, this role will support increasing awareness of and access to the Afterschool Meals program by promoting it over Afterschool Snacks when fiscally feasible for schools.

Member roles and responsibilities include:

• Evaluating current BAB models and listening to each school on challenges.  Working with specific schools on ideas to improve access to breakfast, no matter what model is implemented, with the goal of improving access and participation.
• Supporting each school’s administrative requests.
• Working with production kitchens on new breakfast items to test with students to promote lower sugar breakfast foods that are over 80% acceptable to students.
• Assisting with accountability for various breakfast models and supporting accountability per USDA requirements.
• Developing marketing strategies to encourage participation in Afterschool Meals.
• Assisting with training and monitoring of Afterschool Meals requirements. 
• Assisting with development of breakfast promotion and marketing.
• Partnering on strategies for successful BAB enhancements with site management teams. 

As a part of this team, you will be supported with a robust orientation, ongoing training, and the tools and resources you need to be successful. Full training and certification provided.

Position Length: 12 Months

Benefits & Compensation:

• Bi-weekly stipend of $1,303.70 (pre-tax) 
• $6,895 Education Award upon successful completion of service 
• Loan deferment and payment of interest accrued during service year on qualified student loans (loans must be federally-backed; personal/private loans not eligible) 
• Health benefits that meet the minimum standards of ACA compliance 
• Unlimited free transportation with a pre-paid ORCA Card 
• Childcare assistance 
• 10 days sick leave, 10 days personal leave plus 11 federal holidays 
• Enrollment in an assistance program with 24-hour access to phone counseling 
• Access to emergency assistance program to mitigate unforeseen financial emergencies that put your continued participation in AmeriCorps service at risk 
• Monthly team meetings, high-quality training, professional development, and networking opportunities 
• Lifelong friends and colleagues who are passionate about service! 

As a member of this cohort, you will be supported with a robust orientation, ongoing professional development opportunities, training, check-ins, and the tools and resources you need to succeed. Members will walk away from their year of service with an understanding of on-the-ground food security work as well as a deep knowledge of anti-hunger strategies, federal meal programs, and increasing food access across the community.

WHAT WE’RE LOOKING FOR:

• Self-starters who are passionate about supporting their community and public service 
• Experience working independently in high-energy environments
• Flexible, resourceful, and adaptable
• Ability to build relationships and effectively communicate information to a broad audience, including conducting outreach to parents, youth and other community members
• Experience working with diverse populations and an ability to apply a racial equity lens towards anti-hunger work
• Second language skill (especially Spanish, Somali, Amharic, Vietnamese, Tagalog, Russian, or Ukrainian) is highly desirable so that we can offer services to families in their preferred or native languages.
• Consistent access to a personal vehicle is needed. Members who travel between service sites will receive mileage reimbursement at IRS standard rates.

This is a full-time position and members will serve approximately 40 hours per week for the duration of their service term. Members will frequently move or lift boxes weighing up to 30 pounds. This position will involve service in outdoor weather conditions, and may involve standing, walking, or moving around the service location for up to four hours at a time.

AmeriCorps Program Eligibility:

• Must be over 18 years old on the first day of service
• Must be a U.S. citizen, national, or legal permanent resident of the United States. Unfortunately, F1 visas are not sufficient.
• Must be available 40 hours per week through August 2024. Exact hours may vary by site placement, but will primarily be Monday – Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• Must undergo a Washington State Patrol background check, FBI background check and National Sex Offender Registry Check, plus state of residence background check if not currently living in Washington
• Per United Way of King County Policy, AmeriCorps members must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 by the first day of service. Being fully vaccinated means that an individual is at least two weeks past their final dose of an authorized COVID-19 vaccine regimen. If you are a selected candidate, you will be required to provide proof of vaccination. Please reach out to unitedwayamericorps@uwkc.org if you need information on medical or religious accommodation.

Please note that United Way of King County has moved to remote and limited in-person operations. As such, be prepared to participate in interviews remotely and to complete service responsibilities in a hybrid environment (in-person and remote) should we move forward with your candidacy. If technology presents a barrier to applying, interviewing, or accepting the position, please reach out to unitedwayamericorps@uwkc.org for accommodations.

Additionally, per United Way and public health guidance, all AmeriCorps members must be able to transition from working hybrid to commuting to their site to serve 40 hrs. per week at any time during their service year. Service schedules will be based on your service site’s needs.

To Apply: Create an application on My AmeriCorps Portal or click here: https://my.americorps.gov/mp/listing/viewListing.do?fromSearch=true&id=105666

• No resume or cover letter is required.
• The application process moves quickly, please expect a response within 1-2 days.
• Please contact unitedwayamericorps@uwkc.org with any questions.